Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

DD now 19m and still not walking....

42 replies

Species8472 · 01/02/2011 10:27

Not sure what to do. Should I take her to the doctors?

She cruises very well everywhere, can stand unaided and does do a few steps on her own, but just doesn't put enough together to actually get anywhere. She'll do a couple to get from one piece of furniture to the next, before deciding to just crawl as I guess it's easier and quicker.

She has a baby-walker, but that doesn't seem to have made much of a difference and she's not that interested in it. She does like to walk with us holding her hands or hanging onto the backs of our legs. I really thought she'd be walking by 19m....sigh. She's very bright and fine in every other aspect, saying words, understands a lot of what we say, very interactive etc.

OP posts:

AnitaSmith · 01/02/2011 10:33

Hi, my friends' daughter was the same at this age and they went to see the doctors. They were told that the little one is healthy and just not brave enough to walk unaided. She's 2 years old now and walks normally.
All the best.

Original poster

Species8472 · 01/02/2011 10:38

Thanks! I think this sounds like my DD. Am getting fed-up of saying that she's not walking, and feel a bit sad for her that she can't run around yet with her little pals.

OP posts:

CuppaTeaJanice · 01/02/2011 10:41

Sounds like she's almost there. Keep encouraging her, holding both hands then just one hand, then fingertips. Make it fun and she'll get the hang of it soon.

Does she wear cloth nappies? The bulky gussets can make it difficult to walk. I'm sure that's why I didn't walk until 18 months, and it wasn't unusual in those days.

Original poster

Species8472 · 01/02/2011 10:48

Thanks, no, she's in disposables. Hopefully she'll get the hang of it soon (my arms are very strong now anyway from all the carrying!)

OP posts:

catfan · 01/02/2011 11:05

I feel your pain. My son is 17 months and not walking. He too cruises very well but it sounds like your daughter is ahead in that she likes to walk with hands (my son isn't that keen). With my son I feel that the issue is both that he crawls very quickly so why bother walking and also one of confidence. I'm also fed up with constantly having to explain that he's not walking yet.

smashingtime · 01/02/2011 11:16

From everything you are saying she sounds absolutely fine - just lacking the confidence!

My dd struggled with walking due to low muscle tone (which was very obvious btw) and we used to get her to take steps holding onto a wooden spoon - then we would let go when she wasn't looking!

GiveMeStrength2day · 01/02/2011 11:17

I understand your frustration and concern. My DD didn't walk until she was 19 months. It didn't bother her in the slightest as i) she's a very laid-back child and ii) she could get to where she needed to go by crawling so possibly didn't feel the need to walk IYKWIM. And I hated having to "explain" to people who wondered why she wasn't walking.

We bought her a pushalong walker which she enjoyed using and then one day she took a few tentative steps unaided and then built up from there. She's now 3 and has no problem walking whatsoever - although she's still quite happy to be carried if my arms allow it!

So whilst it's easy for me to say, please don't worry

Original poster

Species8472 · 01/02/2011 11:20

I'm with you catfan! DH's niece (now 11) didn't walk til she was 17m, and my ILs thought that was abnormally late, god knows what they think about DD....

They do get so good at crawling, I struggle to catch her sometimes! Hope your DS walks soon too .

OP posts:

rabbitstew · 01/02/2011 11:22

If she's normal in every other respect, then don't worry.

Original poster

Species8472 · 01/02/2011 11:22

Thanks all.

smashingtime - would it be obvious if DD had low muscle tone? I don't want to just assume that there's no physical problem.

OP posts:

smashingtime · 01/02/2011 12:51

Species8472 - my dd had problems sitting unaided due to her low tone and didn't crawl till she was 15 months. So yes, it was obvious there was something!

You do sound concerned though so I would take her to see HV or GP just to reassure yourself.

She really does sound like she's nearly there to me - as others have said she'll just choose the quickest way to get from A to B - speedy crawling!

musicmaiden · 01/02/2011 12:53

Another 17mo DS not walking here too - is so frustrating in this cold weather as they can't crawl outside. Am longing for it to happen, and think he is getting a little frustrated too at times, so I feel your pain.

However, it doesn't sound like you need to worry

Original poster

Species8472 · 01/02/2011 12:59

Thanks smashingtime. I think I might take her to dr, at least then I'll be sure and I can fend off the busybodies by telling them there isn't a problem.

musicmaiden I know exactly what you mean about this weather and crawling outside/when you're out and about. We met some friends and their DCs on Sunday morning in a cafe and the others were all running around but DD had to stay in her high-chair as I couldn't let her crawl around on the cafe's floor.

OP posts:

Turk1 · 01/02/2011 13:30

My dd was a shuffler who didn't walk until 22 months. Never rolled, cruised or pulled up and couldn't sit unaided til about 16 months. When she decided she was ready she pretty much stood up and headed off. That said, it got embarrassing when EVERYONE asked why she wasn't up and about. I stressed and worried but of course you can't force it!

hazeyjane · 01/02/2011 15:05

dd2 bumshuffled until 21 months, with her it was obvious there was a problem because she couldn't bear any weight on her legs. We saw a physio who said to put her in really sturdy shoes to support her oversoft ligaments, and she started walking pretty soon after.

It sounds as though your dd is able to bear weight on her legs, so it may be more of a confidence thing, but I would ask your hv or gp and if they are concerned they will refer you.

hazeyjane · 01/02/2011 15:08

Oh I was also going to say that I used to put dd2 in really thick trousers/waterproofs so that she could join in anywhere, park, cafes, playgroup, she just bumshuffled whilst her friends toddled around. She used to get through a fair few pairs of trousers and end up in right state, but she seemed pretty happy!

SpangleMaker · 01/02/2011 15:58

DS only started walking at Christmas when he was going on for 21 months. With him I'm sure it was a confidence thing (he didn't seem to have any physical problems as he pulled up at 10m and cruised not long after) and not seeing the need as he speed-crawled everywhere and was happy playing on the floor.

DS was pretty much doing what your DD is doing at 19m. All of a sudden he just decided he could do it and that was it, from then on walking was the way to get around. This week he's been trying to walk on tiptoes, not sure where he's got that from!

DrCosyTiger · 01/02/2011 19:41

Hi Species, I sympathise. My DD only started walking in the last few days and she is 22 months. I posted on here at 19 months as well and got lots of helpful advice. Your DD sounds fine - the main thing is that she can weight bear so it's very very unlikely anything is wrong. It really does sound like a confidence issue. But it may be worth getting her checked out for the peace of mind. My DD turned out to be mildly hypermobile (basically over flexible joints). Not a huge problem at all as it's very mild but good to know. Is your DD unusually flexible? Or very very wobbly when she walks? If so she may have the same issue. The other main cause of delayed walking is cerebal palsy (I did a lot of googling when I was in your position ) but if your DD has no other developmental delays this is massively unlikely.

If it helps at all, my DD just suddenly started doing it out of the blue and has gone from a few wobbly steps to literally running along in the space of a few days. So once your DD gets going she should catch up quickly.

Good luck. Happy for you to PM me if it would help.

Original poster

Species8472 · 01/02/2011 20:08

Thanks for all your really helpful replies .

DrCosyTiger, thanks, I haven't noticed any extreme flexibility. When she does the odd step by herself she doesn't look unusually wobbly either. She didn't crawl until almost 12m, but did it pretty much straight away, never commando-crawled, so hopefully the walking will take off in the same way. I think she can do it, maybe she just needs a bit more confidence

I am going to take her to the gp, just to make sure; it will either set my mind at rest or point out any problem that might be holding her back.

OP posts:

aPixie · 01/02/2011 20:12

Some very good advice here.

To encourage my ds1 though I sat on the floor and cuddled him to me while he was standing up then picked him up and stood him at arms length then sort of clapped him over iygwim? It was only a couple of steps to get to me but when he got there I'd tickle, laugh, hug and kiss him then put him a little bit further away. Carried on with this for about half hour until he was walking across the room to me and there was no stopping him then.

catfan · 07/02/2011 19:36

Hi Species,

Hope you are well. Just wondered how you are getting on. Still panicking about my non walking DS...

Original poster

Species8472 · 07/02/2011 19:58

Hi catfan

Well, actually, DD is walking now! , have been meaning to come back here to update.

She just started putting a few steps together a few days ago, and now there's no stopping her! It was similar to her late crawling, not much and then it just started.

I'm sure your DS will be up and away soon,as he's cruising around. I think it was a confidence thing for DD and just realising that she could actually do it and didn't need furniture for support.

OP posts:

Original poster

Species8472 · 07/02/2011 20:10

I meant to say as well, it happened when I had a friend and her slightly older DD round, who's been walking well for some time. We were just sitting talking and my friend said, "oh my god littlespecies is walking around!" I think she was copying her little friend perhaps.

Hope you're not worrying too much catfan. This thread shows that it's not such an unusual situation, but I definitely can empathise about the annoying comments from well-meaning relatives etc.

OP posts:

DrCosyTiger · 07/02/2011 22:07

Species that's great news, what a relief for you.

Catfan please don't despair. I know exactly how you are feeling as my DD didn't walk until 22 months. If your DS can weight bear it will happen. It may not be of much comfort but your DS is still well within the "normal" range for walking, which is 9-18 months. He wouldn't even be considered "late" yet by the medical profession. I do know exactly how frustrating it is though and how other people's comments drive you mad.

MaybeTomorrow · 08/02/2011 11:53

My DD didn't walk until 18 months. She's now 20 months and since she finally plucked up the courage to walk, she's never crawled again!

Some babies do a bit of both for a while, but maybe your LO will be like my DD and when she decides to finally go for it, will never look back. Like your DD, she used to take a few steps from one person to another, into their waiting arms and then just started walking between bits of furniture and then just walked.

She will be fine I'm sure. But I know how easy it is to worry.

Flip

1 2