How late is late walking?

[alana39]

DS3 is 18 months and not walking. DS1 walked at 14-15 months, DS2 not until 20 months, so although I know it's at the late end of the scale, it doesn't feel abnormally late to me!

I'm only really asking now because MIL, who lives in the US, asked last night why we hadn't taken him to a paediatrician. My immediate thought was that they probably get referred too early there so that someone can make money out of it, but I'd like a more grown up response so that we can tell her when HVs or GPs would usually suggest a referral.

DS2 was never referred and our HV was aware he wasn't walking until 20 months, so if anyone knows what the current guidelines are I'd be grateful for the information.

It sounds as if you are family of late walkers, so don't worry.

Gross motor skills are entirely genetic, so yes, if your other DCs walked late then it's almost certainly fine. As long as other milestones are being hit, then I wouldn't worry! Remind MIL that your others walked late too.

My Dss walked at 14, 18 and 21 months respectively. All quite normal now. Only with DS2 did the health visitor try to make me think it was any cause for concern. So long as they could use their legs (support weight, bounce and kick) I wasn't remotely concerned. Mine all had huge heads and tiny feet so I don't see how they could balance

DD1 was 18 months and HV wasn't remotely bothered. DD2 was 16 months and DD3 a really early walker at 12 months!

All these parents (presumably of uni students/lecturers etc since it's berkeley.edu) have late walkers, mainly in the US, and all that seems to happen is they get referred to a physio at about 18 months (who in all the cases I've read seems to make bugger all difference)

parents.berkeley.edu/advice/worries/notwalking.html

Some kids have other priorities and walk late - since your other two did, then it's not surprising DS3 is. I think by the third you'd notice if there was something odd he was doing that was different.

DD walked at 19 months and DS at 13 months. Wouldn't worry at all at 18m.

Thanks everyone. I think the problem is that because MIL doesn't see her grandchildren often, it means that instead of seeing a healthy 18 month old moving around the house and furniture at an alarming rate and developing in all sorts of ways, she just fixes on the "not walking" bit and starts worrying.

I suspect that whatever I tell her she will still think there's something wrong, but I'll try the "geniuses walk late" fib from the Berkeley link and see how we get on!

Guideline in U.K. now is 19 months for referall, but if you had a child that didn't walk until 20 I think you could probably wait a bit longer...

My DD didn't walk till 18 months and that was only first steps, wasn't walking confidently until 20 months. One set of grandparents (the ones who don't see her much) were worrying but no one else was.

dd1 ked at 22 months, the day fter we had taken her to Drs, he said it would only be a worry after 24 months

My ds is 20 months and not walking. Doctor said give it until 2. My parents are also driving me mad

After 24 months as long as they are willing to pull up and weight bear, I believe.

DD is just 2 and isn't walking independently but has been having physio for a while as she has been monitored due to previous health issues. She has now been referred to a paed because the physio is concerned but that's another story. The HV did a developmental review for her at 21mo and said that as she was pulling up to stand and weight bearing, it wouldn't have triggered a referral if she wasn't already seeing a physio anyway.

Thanks again to everyone. I will just have to put up with a child who looks like something out of Oliver Twist because he crawls all around the garden and his trousers are getting shredded.

I think anything between 9 months and 2 years is considered within the normal range.

My son was referred for physio for not walking at 23 months and started physio at 25 months. He had orthopedic problems which stopped him from walking.

Children who bum shuffle are often late walkers. In my experience child physios are far more relaxed than health visitors or MILs. My son's physio told me that if a child can sit by two then they usually able to walk by four years old.

Dd was looked at at 19 months for not walking: nothing very definite was identified then, but she was later diagnosed with a joint condition and has mobility problems (sometimes uses a wheelchair). Earlier intervention probably would have helped.