20mth old still not walking

[Zeeky]

He only started crawling at 18mth. He's a big lazy boy (10lb 7oz born). I haven't been worried about it until now, as I thought he would start walking when he was ready, and I ddn't walk until around 20mths either.

Shoud I now be worried that something is wrong?

Is he pulling up and cruising round furniture?

Personally, as you walked late, I would assume that this is the case here, but I would also err on the side of caution and ask your GP for a referral so any potential issues can be ruled out.

I think you have nothing to lose by seeing the GP and asking what she thinks.

He doesn't pull himself up at all, only to kneeling position. He will bear weight on his feet if you stand him up & hold him, but can't stand on his own.

Should I see GP or contact the health visitor?

See whoever you trust more :)

My DS is nearly 17 months and I was wondering the same!!

He cruises and can stand on his own but for the love of god will not walk!!! Actually as of yesterday he started walking... on his knees!

I wouldn't be too worried, maybe go and see your GP for your own piece of mind :)

family legend has it that my husband didn't walk until he was 3! Then just got up and walked. He walks fine now 30 years later.

If you are concerned get the doc to check his hips/legs but if all is fine just accept that kids develop in their own sweet time x

Ms ds was like this, nearly two when he started walking/pulling up, hasn't been still since.

My ante-natal group friend had a daughter who didn't walk until 22 months. Her second DD who was close behind walked at almost the same time. It seems like he is on his way, and nothing shows on friends DD now to say she walked so late. If you want peace of mind then do talk to either HP or HV but I think it's not 'that' late at 20 months.

If you want to see someone about it, I'd recommend your GP as they can refer you on to a Paed/paediatric physiotherapist if they think it's necessary.

You HV will probably just refer you to your GP if they have concerns.

(or is it only SW London HVs who are totally useless?)

Hi Zeeky, my DD did not walk until 23 months. I did go and see my GP but he said nothing would be done unless she was still not walking at 2 years old. The fact your DS can weight bear is a good sign. By all means see your GP if it would put your mind at rest (I wouldn't bother with the HV - there's not much he/she can do other than tell you your DS is still within normal range for walking, which he is). But as things stand I don't think you need to worry yet. (Although it's frustrating isn't it when you see all the other little ones of the same age running around? And it nearly killed my back carrying DD when she was almost two.)

PS she is absolutely fine now - a year on. You would never know as she can run and jump as well as any almost 3 year old.

I was told by my ds's physio that they like children to be walking by 2 because it's good for their bone development to be weight bearing in that way by then. They also have less far to fall when they are practising than older children...

My ds1 started having physio from 15 months, but at that age he still couldn't roll over, get from lying to sitting, sitting to standing, couldn't bottom shuffle, couldn't crawl, couldn't cruise, couldn't walk holding on etc. He also couldn't bash toys about the way most babies do, so couldn't, eg, get the lights to turn on toys even if he pressed the buttons correctly. He was walking by 23 months, though - once the physio had got him to the stage of being able to push a little baby-walker cart along, he would plough up and down for ages, and that really helped strengthen up his muscles. The problem with it was, of course, that all the baby walkers, etc, were designed for much smaller children, not children who are a year older than most and already very tall for their age... Basically, it was obvious to me that there was something outside the norm with ds1's gross motor development and muscle tone and that he would benefit from some outside help.

I would go and ask if you should be worried - it's hardly going to do any harm to ask.

I have three children, my first two sons didn't walk until they hit 19 months old. My five year DS1 is a normal little boy. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between him and a child in the playground who walked at 8 months.

DS2 my three year old is autistic and has learning disabilities. He did not crawl until he was about 16 months old, he missed nearly ALL his milestones including sitting up, keeping down solids, babbling, laughing and hand use, walking was the last straw. I knew there was something wrong since he was only weeks old but I was given the old chestnut about waiting until he is two and that "all babies are different" and I was even labelled "paranoid" by my health visitor. Well mine was and my instincts are right.

I am not saying there is something wrong with your child but I am also not going to tell you everything is OK without even knowing you or your child, please persist with any assessments you feel he needs and do not be fobbed off by some so-called professionals. Use your instincts.

And also it's not black and white - it's not 'either something wrong, or everything is fine'

For example my 2 DSs have Dyspraxia, and they didn't walk till they were 16 months.

I'm sure most people think they're 100% fine, they can walk and run as well as everyone else. But actually they're not 100% fine - only 90% fine, they have subtle fine and gross motor problems.

Walking late was one of many early indicators of these problems - which I didn't pick up on. I thought once they started to walk that meant everything was fine.

Hmmm, Indigo Bell, you have sparked a thought, although my late walking son is like any other child in the playground he does have some problems with motor skills but I've never ever thought of linking them to late walking. For example, he is in year 1 yet still cannot pincer grip a pencil or pen to write he still holds it ham fistedly with handwriting only a mother would be proud of, lol. The school has noted this among other minor co-ordination issues and he is slightly unadventurous in terms of playground apparatus and such also quite clumsy in attempts to ride a bike (stabilizers) or trying to ride a scooter (whilst other kids whizz by he is quite slow and over-aware).

PS - you really should get him assessed for dyspraxia (or DCD) - it's highly related to the ASD your other child has......

Wow, I have just googled it (never heard of it) and several of the symptoms heavily apply to my son! One of the symptoms is quite prominent my son comes home from school most weeks, the record was 3 in one day with an "accident slip" where he has bumped, tripped or fell, the most common one is bumping into other children. I will deffo look into it, his teacher did suggest early signs of DYSLEXIA as his handwriting is muddled and infantile, he is also behind intellectually and gets special help with reading but I never worried so much as he is the youngest in the class and a specialist who works within the school I approached in regard to his slow learning in school told me not to worry or even consider looking into dyslexia until he is in year 2 at least. Other than that he appears a normal, cheeky, happy little boy who likes the usual star wars and soldiers, albeit likes to spend a bit too much time with adults (as I mentioned in the telly thread, another of the symptoms). I shall have to ask...

It's very likely he has both dyslexia and dyspraxia.

School probably can't do anything about getting a diagnosis for dyspraxia, you should go to your GP and ask for a referral to an occupational therapist.

Although some schools can refer to an OT. So as well as talking to your GP talk to the SENCO.

You might want to read Is that my child?

my son is 2 next week. He doesnt walk crawl or bum shuffle. He has seen a consultant in oct. Hes had a multi agency asseesment, and blood tests (which seem normal) He has over senitive hands and feet. He still will not weight bear. Hes seeing Pysio, OT, speech and lang, and now partage. Hes a very happy little boy who enjoy other children and people around him. Im not happy that the consultant as she willnt see him again till april. Any one with any advice would be very much appreciated.

@PoodleShyt How is your DS2 doing now?