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

17 months, not walking unaided - looking for support

26 replies

Olivetti · 15/04/2012 10:24

Hello, I've posted a few times about my DD not walking yet. She can take about 15 unaided steps, but will only do it in our sitting room! She can climn well, and stand alone, but her gross motor development is very very gradual. She's a brilliant crawler, so she always wants to do that when we go out, even in the park.

The doctor doesn't think there is anything wrong - she has normal tone, and she is developing really well in all other respects. But I still feel anxious - I am a worrier anyway. But worse than that, I'm so sick of all the comments from other adults, including strangers. I feel like I shouldn't have to explain for her, she's just a lovely little baby! It's really getting me down.

Does anyone esle have a late walker, and does anyone have any coping tips. Thanks so much.

OP posts:

yousankmybattleship · 15/04/2012 10:27

My DD was about 18 months when she walked. Then there was no looking back! I'm sure she's fine and will be off before you know it.

ragged · 15/04/2012 10:32

Mine were all early walkers but (toddler group devotee) I've known loads of late walkers & none of them had problems that weren't evident in other ways. DC have a 2nd cousin who didn't walk until 20 or 22 months. Just didn't fancy it. He's now almost 10yo & you couldn't tell difference between him & any other 10yo boy.

Babies who walk very early are a huge nuisance, they get into things when they have that much less sense.

BikeRunSki · 15/04/2012 10:34

A good friend of nine's DS was 19 months before he walked. At 18 months the HV referred him to hospital to make sure there was nothing wrong, but he had started walking a little by the time the appointment arrived. He still went, had some investigation and diagnosis was "lazy". He is nearly 4 now and quite capable of running round like a loon like my DS of the same age, but would still rather sit.

Tonksforthememories · 15/04/2012 10:34

DD2 didn't walk until 19m, and was a bum shuffler so could get everywhere fairly fast anyway! My HV said that if she didn't walk by 22m they would refer her.

Sometimes it's just a confidence thing, even after DD2 took her first steps she still wouldn't walk far or outside. She was 4 before she learned to run and jump. (MIL tells me DH was 23m before he walked, but also claims it was at SIL's birthday party so he'd have been 20m! Still late though! :o )

Your DD sounds like she just wants to be good immediately! :) She will eventually work out that walking is better and do it more outside, especially as the weather gets warmer. Does she have a push along walker you can use outside? Just to give her a bit more reassurance.

hazeyjane · 15/04/2012 10:34

My dd2 didn't walk until 21 months and never really crawled, she was a bumshuffler. It s odd, because I remember a few comments, but don't really remember being bothered by them. She ended up seeing a physio who said she was hypermobile, and would be better learning to walk in good shoes.

Ds is 21 months and has only recently started cruising, he is delayed in all areas, he crawled for the first time last weekend (yay!) I very rarely get comments about his lack of walking, because it is obvious to people that there is something else going on, and so I think they feel uncomfortable.

I think most people say things because it is something to say, they really don,t mean anything by it. The best response is to shrug and say, 'she'll get there in the end'.

It really does sound as though she is well within normal range and is doing really well, so just ignore what people say.

Loshad · 15/04/2012 10:37

mine were all early walkers, but in the same baby group as ds3 was a little boy who wasn't walking at 18 months, and was nearer 20 months before he was properly walking. I then didn't run across him for about another 18 months when our dcs were both in the 3+ tumbletots group - you could tell no difference between this lads physical walking, running and climbing abilities (and he had worried his mum sick) and my lads, even though mine had been walking at 9 months. The evening out of skills was so rapid.

CecilyP · 15/04/2012 11:14

If she takes 15 unaided steps, she is walking. DCs are always more relutctant to do it outside at first - and its hardly walking weather at the moment. As the doctors says she's fine, I am sure she will walking more as we move into summer.

Hanleyhigh · 15/04/2012 11:16

My dc walked at 18 and 22 months, both bum shufflers.

The pressure from everyone else to worry about them was immense but it never worried me (had to avoid toddler groups for a while with ds as other parents were just so rude about his perceived lack of development, that got wearing).

As Loshad says, within months it was impossible to distinguish the early walkers from the late ones.

5madthings · 15/04/2012 11:23

my dd is 16mths and like your dd will walk indoors but when outside she prefers to crawl, its much easier to walk on a flat smooth carpet or wooden floor than it is outside, she knows she is much quicker when crawling so at the moment with her if she wants to get to something she crawls, she will walk outside holding my finger or if she pushes along one of her brothers micro scooters!

your dd can walk!

i have had two early walkers, 9mths! one who walked on his first bday and then two who walked at 15/16mths, you can tell the difference with my boys as to who walked early and who walked later and they dont ask on ucas forms when they leanrt to walk, ditto talking, potty training etc, they all get there eventually :)

Theas18 · 15/04/2012 11:29

Don't worry. Shell get there. My youngest was a knee walker and walked at 10 months. It's just when it seems " all the other babies" are walking etc

MyDogShitsShoes · 15/04/2012 11:38

15 unaided steps is walking!

I didn't get off my arse til 18 months, no crawling rolling, pulling up at all. Just sat there. Now that's lazy!

She's fine. I know that won't make the slightest bit of distance if you're a worrier, but she really is.

Time to ignore this one and switch to another worry. Is she potty trained yet?

Original poster

Olivetti · 15/04/2012 11:40

Thanks to all who have replied.

MyDog - ha ha! No, not yet!

OP posts:

3duracellbunnies · 15/04/2012 11:40

Mine were between 15 and 17 months when they started walking, can now win races at sports day so really not a long term problem. If anything early walkers are worse because increased chance of bow legs as bones not as strong.

One thing that did work (not sure is mumsnet approved technique!) is I put toddler reins on them, fairly tight and supportive, and 'dangled' them - though not in a michael jackson way. This was once I knew they could walk - eg holding my hand but I wasn't giving any support. Having the reins just gave them the confidence that they could walk on their own. One or two sessions and they didn't realise when I let go.

CoffeeMum · 15/04/2012 11:49

My DC were 18 months and 19 months when they finally deigned to walk

However, I wasn't overly worried as didn't walk until 24 months!! I am a great walker now and will walk for miles. DC are equally fine on the walking front

MyDogShitsShoes · 15/04/2012 12:05

If it helps I also know someone who absolutely refused to talk until he could.form proper sentences!

He has 4 siblings so his mother wasn't exactly pfb but even she started worrying when he was barely even babbling by 12 months.

He saw some doctors and such like but he's in his 40's so not so much help around as there is now. She was advised he would probably just be a but "slow"

After approx 20 months of relative silence he walked up to his father and said "can I have a drink please?"

I have said it before but babies are weird. Fact.

sleepyover · 15/04/2012 12:07

2 of mine walked at about 20mo. The eldest is very sporty and coordinated now so it doesn't seem to 'mean' anything.

If she can walk, then she can walk iyswim. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Loshad · 15/04/2012 13:28

mydog, know of another child like that, also in his forties - could barely speak at word at 3, mum was advised he would always be "behind", He got a scholarship to Cambridge!

pumpkinsweetie · 15/04/2012 13:40

My daughter has just turned 21 months and still doesn't walk unaided so do not worry......infact only just this week she has started to cruise furniture and has become a lot more brave in doing so.
I have taken her to the doctors for advise and have been told aslong as she is walking by 24 months they cannot see a problem as some children are just 'late' walkers.
My 3 other dcs all were walking by 14 months so i was as worried as you were, just see your gp to rule out any problems but other than that i wouldnt worry.
My HV has a tendancy to be quite ott about milestones and made me worry when she was 12 months that she wasnt walking so i decided to see the gp who would be the best option for advice

pumpkinsweetie · 15/04/2012 13:46

Sorry about the gp bit-you have already been (read thread properly now)
Well its sounds as though everthing is fine stop worrying-early walkers are a nuisence anyway.
As for worrying about what other people say regarding your baby just ignore them thats what i am doing as i constantly get it in the neck about how she isnt walking yet bla bla it drives me nuts.

MissMarjoribanks · 15/04/2012 13:52

Another DS here who didn't walk till 19mo. I was heartily sick of the comments from others by the time he finally got on his feet. It was worse because my main mum friend has a DS 3mo older who walked at 13mo so he'd been walking for the best part of a year before mine did - people assumed they were the same age. Oh, and DS was kept down in the Tots room at nursery while all the others moved up as they needed the Toddlers to be walking.

You would never know any difference now though.

Savannahgirl · 15/04/2012 13:53

My DS1 walked at 11months but my DS2 not till about 18 or 19 months.
He's 10 now and just runs everywhere!
Try not to worry - she'll get there, and when she does you will forget what it's like to sit down for longer than 10 minutes at a time!

MooseyMoo · 15/04/2012 19:31

My dd has just starting walking unaided at 23 months. She has been knee walking since 13 months so her balance is very good. She just got up and said 'I'm walking mummy'. Didn't twig until she was in the middle of the room. She stopped for a week as had a cold and then back to walking. It's a confidence thing with her. She still sometimes grabs my finger to walk outside.

5madthings · 15/04/2012 19:35

btw if you want to encourage her to walk more do you have a push a long walker ype thing, you know trolley for bricks?

just today i dug out the old toy stroller we have, the cheapest toy pushchair you can get, it was like £3 in tesco years ago and the boys played with it, anyway dd LOVES it, she has spent all day pushing it around the house, it doesnt actually give her any support/help to walk as its too light it would just tip over, but because she is 'holding' something she is more confident too walk! strange child, so has happily tottered around the house and front garden all day!

Timeoutofmind · 15/04/2012 20:16

My 15mo is not walking yet, she cruises and is an expert crawler but cannot stand unaided yet and won't even try to walk using a walker so I wouldn't be surprised if its another few months before she gets the confidence to walk.

To me it sounds like your DD can walk just hasn't got her confidence yet. I know its easy to worry cos I do it myself but I bet she'll be there in a couple of weeks!

Original poster

Olivetti · 16/04/2012 08:55

Thanks everyone. On the push-along issue, she does have a v-tech walker, and was zooming around with it for about 6 weeks, but the doctor said to remove it now, as she needs to move as freely as possible and build a bit more strength in her core. I've started taking her to soft play a lot more - she seems to be getting really confident in climbing, which I would have thought is harder than walking!!

OP posts:

Flip

1 2