Late walker

[happygilmore]

My DD is 18 months and still not walking. She can hold on to the furniture, cruises a bit and can stand on her own but prefers to hold on to things. She can walk a little holding hands but doesn't seem to like it, she can however crawl very fast.

The thing that concerns me is that she is very, very wobbly on her legs, when she stands her legs wobble loads. I've never seen a child do this, so I hope that makes sense! I did mention it to the GP a couple of months ago, but he was very dismissive. I think I want to go back now, and am getting a bit sick of being fobbed off (by anyone I speak to) as a worrying, anxious mother. I'm actually very laid back about development in general (she's a late talker but understands pretty much everything we say, which hasn't worried me). This however, I think is beyond normal and wondered what others think?

I know there will be lots of late walkers out there who are fine, but it's the 'wobbliness', for want of a better word, that I wonder about.

Can she pull to stand?

Yes, she can do that, can still be a little wobbly but OK holding on to something.

DS was really, really wobbly so I know exactly what you mean! We used to say he had Elvis legs!

He walked at 17 months but never crawled or shuffled or rolled.

We were assessed by a physio as he wasn't weight bearing at all by 12 months. She diagnosed hyper-mobility (which is just a posh name for double jointedness) and said this is what was causing the wobbles. She said she did not have any major concerns, his physical milestones would just happen later.

He is now 21 months and atill a bit wobbly at times but can run and (finally!!) stand up from sitting down (he never pulled to standing).

As long as she is weight bearing then the rest will come with time. Maybe ask your GP for a referral to a paediatric physio? If nothing else it will put your mind at rest. We have a private appt initially as I wanted quick results and it cost £85 for an hour assessment (we are in London).

Thanks IWill - you are the first person who I have spoken to who knows what I mean! I can see she is making progress, but I do think the wobbliness means something. I am quite flexible (although I was an early walker) so I wonder if she may have inherited it from me?

She is weight bearing so glad to hear that is a good sign.

Hi - DS2 is 4 now but was a very late walker about 20 months. Crawled at 14 months, never rolled etc. He was much the same as your DD at 18 months. He didn't cruise, but could pull to standing holding onto something and would walk if someone was firmly holding his hand but was like your daughter a little wobbly.

He did walk at 20 months (the day we visited the paeditrician obv!) and at the time the Doctor said he was just lazy, nothing wrong with him and would do it in his own time. However when he was about 3 he went to the Doctors with a flat foot (now fine and no treatment needed) and we were told that he too was hypermobile and how old was he when he walked as it can delay things.

He is now absolutely fine, no problems at all. I would ask to be referred if I were you just to double check that everything is fine but as other poster said, I think if she is weight bearing hopefully there is no problem.

Also - how are her ears? This can affect balance too if she is prone to ear infections.

Chances are, if she can pull to stand, crawl, cruise, walk with her hand held, stand without holding on, all of which require pretty good muscle strength and joint stability and, in the case of standing without holding on, balance, she just needs a bit of time to build more strength around her joints to become stable and confident - ie needs more time to practice. I seriously doubt anyone would do anything whatsoever to help you or her with that, even if, eg, supportive boots might help speed the process up, although now she is 18 months old they might be willing to listen to you and give her a check-up (and then tell you they won't do anything until she's 2...).

Thanks everyone. Her ears seem fine, she's never had an ear infection or anything like that.

Have been to see GP today as they had a late appt, dr said he thinks it's a case of she can get around by crawling well so is reluctant to walk. He asked her if she would walk and she shook her head very firmly! Anyway, he said if she's still not walking by Jan/Feb he will refer us to a paed, which I think is fair enough. I do wonder about the hypermobility though, as she is so very wobbly, I have never seen anything like it. I know all children are a bit unsteady, but it's different - she just can't stand without her legs wobbling. It is improving, but still very apparent.

happygilmore none of DS's little friends wobbled nearly as much as he did!

If your DD is hypermobile then the wobbliness is just her learning to keep her joints firm and stopping them from over-extending (if I remember correctly). This is much, much easier for people who aren't double jointed. It just takes a bit more effort, practice and strength.

I look back on little videos we took of DS when we were on holiday (16 months old) and I can't believe how wobbly he is. I'm not sure how to share videos but I'll try...

It's not great as it's the wrong way round, but it will hopefully give you an idea!

thanks so much for sharing, that is exactly what she is like - she was much worse when just standing but now she is cruising she is a bit steadier.

I'd definitely keep asking about the hypermobility in case it's bad enough to warrant physio.

A friend's DS has just started walking a few weeks short of his 2nd birthday. He has hypermobility and has been referred to physio for strengthening exercises.

I have hypermobility in my feet and I have foot problems because of lots of 'micro-traumas' ie too much wobbling without any exercises to help strengthen the muscles to hold the joints in the right place. It wasn't diagnosed till I was in my 20s and I can't help wondering whether earlier diagnosis would have helped avoid some of the problems I have now. (My mum has the same problem.)

DS3 only started walking at 22 months, and at 24 m he is still wobbly. BUT the change in 2 months has bee unbelievable, with no help other than lots of walking.

I don't doubt that physio helps some children but sometimes it is just a case of the child needing to practise walking more than others.

Well after posting all that, we decided to pay to see a paediatric physio and I'm so glad I did.

She thinks DD is fine and making progress, but lacks core muscle strength and has extra flexible ankle joints. She has given us lots of tips on things we can do to help, including reaching a lot for toys, moving the furniture slightly so she is encouraged to cruise more, walking holding her shoulders etc. She also recommended shoes that were more sturdy both on ankle and sole to offer support.

She also said it was a good to see her now, as if she was closer to two it can be really hard to encourage a child to walk who has learnt other ways of getting around. Really pleased to have seen her, she was lovely with DD too.