14 m.o DS can walk perfectly well, but won't let go of our hands.

[Bet01]

DS started walking along with our hands for support at 8 months. 'wow, he'll be walking soon' I thought. Fast forward to 12 months and he finally takes a few steps by himself. He's now 14months and does walk up and down the living room a bit, but only every now and then.
Holding onto one of my fingers though, we'll spend literally hours every day walking about outside, he can more or less run actually. It's a bit exasperating as my back is sore from all the hand-holding, and ten months of walking practice later, you'd think he'd be pottering about loads by now.
Not holding his hand when requested either leads to crying, or crawling. If I let go of his hand mid-walk he just drops to the floor.
Obviously he's a cautious boy and will let go at some point, but has anyone else experienced this going on for so long? And when did it end?!

Have you got a walker?

DD went through this stage so we got her a pushchair type thing so she could hold onto something and walk

Ive got one of those trolleys with blocks in it. He does use it sometimes but it tends to get ignored as it can't go up and down stairs or through doors over and over again (DS's favourite things!)
I should encourage him to use it more though you're right, as I think it gives him independence.

DS1 was like this - he didn't cruise quite so early, maybe at about 10 months, but from 10 - 15 months although he wanted to walk everywhere and could, from about 12 months, take a few steps unaided, he basically just wanted me to hold his hands. I remember the sore back! Anyway, at 15 months, DH brought him to watch me play in a sports tournament. DS1 spotted me across the gym hall, and pretty much ran to me, it was a good 30 meters or so (far too many steps to count). I will nevet forget DH's face!! I think he was just waiting until he was absolutely competent. TBH this has been a bit of a pattern for him generally - he's coming up for 4 now, and with things like speech, swimming, drawing etc he's seemed at the slow end of normal for a while, but once he decides he's ready he then streaks ahead (e.g. very few words at all until 20 months, then long sentences by 21 months).

Thanks Nearly, that's very reassuring. My DS sounds just like yours, he's cautious with food too, not a great eater still, and no words yet just lots of babbling. I'm not worried as you can see him practicing all the time, he never shuts up!
I'm expecting him to be turning cartwheels and reciting Shakespeare in a month or so!

Ahh could be as he likes doors and stairs he 'leads' you to them?

Stop holding his hand ! Except when you have to, for safety - and maybe use a baby-rain instead. I think he's just got used to the fact his balance is much better when he's holding on to you, but a week or two of no hand holding will sort it out!

Could well be leading me to them, but he also does it if we're just out and about. I think it's definitely a confidence thing so I'm going to get his trolley out this afternoon.

Oldmum I know you're right, I just can't stand the crying!

Bet, ds (13.5 months) is exactly the same. He can take steps by himself but prefers to hold my hand. I've got him a walker but he's not too keen on it tbh..

DS1 was like this. He didn't walk till he was 18m, but once he did, he wasn't a wobbly, falling over walker, we was just walking! completely missed the few steps & falling over business.
He was also very fast at crawling, & i think he saw very little point in a slower form of transporting himself about :)

Good to know it's not just mine, eb, although I'm sure we'll be regretting it when they're running everywhere!

Bet01, I know the crying is not nice but I bet it would only last a day or two if you can stand it that long!

DS's Dad didn't walk til 18 months Sock, and exactly the same thing happened apparently. So I'm guessing DS will take after his Dad, whereas I was walking at 9 months but needed stitches for a cut forehead not long after!

my 16mth old dd was like this and then all of a sudden over easter she started walking by herself! she would also walk holding a peg! daft child, she just needed the reassurance of something in her hand!

we have a little toy pushchair which is too light to give any support/balance but again was something to hold onto so she used that a lot.

he will get there dont worry about it :)

also, dd had a trolley that had bricks in it, she didn't like walking with it because she kept banging her feet on it.

My dd also needs the assistance of holding something, her favourite at the moment is a spoon, as she's realised that she can cause great pain with it

How funny 5madthings, I wonder if I should try giving DS something random to hold?!

you may as well try bet01 for a while dd would hold a toy if i was holding it as well and would walk like that and then i gradually managed to let go of the toy myself!!

the little pushchair is great as it light and doesnt support her much, but again its something to hold onto, she would also walk with one hand/fingers touching the wall or furntiure etc, she just gradually got braver and would take a few steps on her own and then lunge towards the nearest bit of furniture or person! but literally in the last 2wks she has started walking more and more on her own, when outside she still crawls a bit and depending on the distance she will also still crawl here and there but is mainly walking now :)