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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Grandson still not walking....

21 replies

NanaNina · 14/12/2010 16:07

My grandson is still not walking at aged 16 and a half months and I'm a bit worried. His parents aren't worried! He is their 2nd child and the first one didn't walk till 16 months and neither did their father. He "walks" if you hold his hand and stands for a short period but doesn't seem to "walk round the furniture" but can crawl very quickly. I haven't said anything of course but can't help worrying now that time is getting on and he still hasn't taken his first steps.

Can one of you young mums give me your opinion please.

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belgo · 14/12/2010 16:09

It's good that he can walk if you hold his hand. I know children who didn't walk until after 18 months, and all was fine. It just sounds like late walking runs in the family.

Original poster

NanaNina · 14/12/2010 16:11

Thanks Belgo for your quick response and I suppose I was ok up to 16 months, but as 17 months is approaching I was starting to wonder.

OP posts:

morecheeseplease · 14/12/2010 16:11

HI, this is my first post but I really wanted to say 'don't worry'.

My DS didn't walk until 20months, wouldn't even walk holding my hand! My parents were determined I needed to take him to the GP but I knew he would get there in his own good time. And he did.

16months is still quite young. A lot of my friends kids didn't walk until 17/18months

Curiousmama · 14/12/2010 16:13

Mine were aroung the 17/18 month mark and are fine. Ds2 is one of the fastest runners in his school

SpringHeeledJack · 14/12/2010 16:13

don't worry

ds was on his feet at a year, dd not till nearly 18 months

iirc the HV wasn't bothered at all- they're much more concerned with speech delay

Curiousmama · 14/12/2010 16:14

morecheeseplease Happy First Post

ItsAHollyJollyTee · 14/12/2010 16:20

I was 22 months before I walked. I used to lift my legs and swing when my mum would hold my hands. Then, just as we were leaving to go on a houseboat for 2 weeks holiday, I walked. True story!

My own son walked at about 17.5 months. 16 months is still pretty young. I wouldn't worry!

fibernachi · 14/12/2010 16:24

NanaNina my son didn't walk independently until 17 months. Once he had done 3 steps with massive encouragement but he really wasn't interested. Then, one day he stood up and walked as if it was his usual mode of transport. 3 or 4 days later he had totally stopped crawling and just walked all the time. Now, a month later, he can walk backwards and manage a good toddely run.

My daughter walked earlier but moved through the stages, walking and crawling overlapped for several months.

16 months isn't at all late for walking, anywhere between 8 and 20 months is the normal / standard range of development but many children walk much later and are just fine.

fedupwithdeployment · 14/12/2010 16:26

My niece didn't walk until 22 months. No issues with her development at all (she was a huge baby though).

ConnorTraceptive · 14/12/2010 16:26

16 months isn't that late both my ds's were 18 months old before they walked

fibernachi · 14/12/2010 16:27

My daughter walked earlier but moved through the stages slowly, walking and crawling overlapped for several months.

Original poster

NanaNina · 14/12/2010 16:46

Oh thank you all SO much for your messages which have made me feel far less worried. I had sort of got it into my head that 16.5 months for walking was outside the normal range for walking. Thanks again all of you.

OP posts:

headinhands · 14/12/2010 16:54

If your dgs had some sort of underlying issue it would nearly always be obvious in other areas such as rolling, sitting and so on. If he walks when you hold his hand that in itself rules out a lot of stuff. Add to this the fact that he is still well within the accepted window and you really have little reason to fret :)

Tgger · 14/12/2010 22:18

Yes, don't worry!! My daughter (second child) didn't walk until 18 months, and she was 20 months before she was very confident.

My son walked at 16.5 months.

Just so you know the guideline these days is 19 months. If they don't walk before then then it's good to get it checked with the Health Visitor but anything up to this point is very normal.

Horton · 14/12/2010 22:29

16 months is pretty normal, I think. I know lots and lots of children who hadn't walked by then. I didn't walk until I was over two and then insisted on walking on my knees as I told my mother walking on your feet was too dangerous. I am a fairly accomplished walker these days and rarely fall over! By contrast all three of my siblings walked before ten months but you honestly can't tell the difference between them and me now in terms of walking skills!

Original poster

NanaNina · 14/12/2010 23:28

THANKS again for your posts - very helpful to know Tgger that the guideline these days is 19 months and you post made me smile Horton and thanks also headinhands for your reassurance. I rarely start a thread (think this is only 2nd time) and am really impressed by the number of you young mums who have posted and set my mind at rest. Thanks so much.

OP posts:

hogfather · 14/12/2010 23:35

Hi i think as long as it is only the walking that your GS hasnt achieved (ie achieved his other normal developmental milestones such as rolling, sittin, crawling) then I wouldnt worry just yet.

As other posters have said 18 months is still within normal ranges but if you are concerned the health visitor is probably the best first port of call

hth

freddiestarratemyhandbag · 14/12/2010 23:42

My DD was 14.5 months when she walked but didn't crawl or move at all until 2 weeks before her first birthday, and only then upon after huge amounts of intervention from me.

She could talk for Britain from 18 months though and still far exceeds her 2 year old peers on that front.

polarfox · 15/12/2010 13:07

I walked even later ......... at 24 months, how embarrasing!!
There wasnt any physiological reason for it, nor emotional etc; Maybe as a first born and from a large family I enjoyed being carried around!!

IAPJJLPJ · 15/12/2010 13:20

My ds2 was a bum shuffler and on a totally unrelated doctor appointment she told me that they tend to walk late. Also they consider it "normal" to not be walking until 24 months!!

willowthecat · 15/12/2010 13:58

I think it's great that you are thinking realistically about milestones (granny in a million!) - Of course it is still 'late end of normal' territory so there may be nothing at all wrong - is the rest of his development, communication, understanding,play on track ? If so then it's not likely there is a serious problem. My first ds did not walk until 17 months and has problems but then again my second did not walk until that age either and he has no problems whatsoever ! It is always going to be a back to front analysis as almost all children with serious developmental issues had early markers and early failures to meet milestones. However you have to factor in the larger numbers who also missed a milestone by a small amount of time but who did not go on to have those issues.

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