Taking a few steps unaided but doesn't stand unaided...

[smallwars]

My DS is 17.5 months and this week started to take unaided steps. I suspect he's hypermobile which has slowed him down a bit, but just as we were about to see a physio he's started to walk a little

But he can't seem to stand unaided - or doesn't.

Would this suggest a weakness that I should explore via a physio?

I'm sorry - I can see you are worried about this but can you clarify?

Can't see how you can walk unaided without being able to stand? Do you mean he falls over if he stands still? But that if you stand him up and let go he will walk a short way?

Anyway bumping this so you get a chance for a better reply :)

Yes, that's right - he'll walk a few steps - up to 9 - but won't stand unaided, as in stand in one place...

My DS is hypermobile and has only just started walking properly a few months ago (at 2yrs 2mth) and even though he can run already and is really steady walking, he rarely stands still without holding on to something. I think its maybe just easier to keep your balance if you've got some momentum going whereas if your standing still you have to hold the joints steady without buckling which requires a bit of concentration for a toddler with hypermobility who's only just started walking. I'm sure once the muscles round the joints strengthen as a result of walking then your DS won't feel quite so wobbly when standing still.

Mention it to your physio but I'm sure now he's walking the standing will come with time

HTH

Thanks Weelors, that's really helpful.

Did your DS have physio? Has he got any ongoing issues with hypermobility?

DS did see a physio a couple of times but there's not that much they can do when they're that young (in terms of giving exercises etc), we were just told to encourage him as much as poss and try to get him to use his feet a lot (kicking ballons/bubbles etc). No mention of special shoes or anything, but maybe thats cos I'd been doing a lot of reading and he was already wearing really supportive shoes we'd bought ourselves. She discharged us as soon as he started walking but keeps in phone contact.

No ongoing issues as far as I can see apart from his ankles still roll in slightly (so he puts his weight slightly on the inside of his foot; has corrected itself a lot over the past year though) and he walks with his feet turned out a little bit (a balance thing that I'm sure will improve). He 's going great though, the first time he walked properly unaided it wasn't just a few steps, we were outside and he let go of DPs hand and walked all the way round the block!!!

I'll be keeping an eye on the ankle rolling in case it doesn't correct itself but apart from that I don't think he'll have any issues.

He sounds like he's doing great Weelors!

Yes, my DS walks with feet turned out which I assumed was balance, and again, I assumed the more walking he did, the stronger he'd get.

He's definitely getting stronger. He walks much more, and initiates it almost all the time. If I say the word walk, he will, just holding onto one finger and not that tightly so it's confidence, I think. He is very flexible. He can put his foot to his mouth which I think is v flexible (when sitting) although DH thinks all babies are flexible so...

When he kneels on the floor do his legs form a sort of W position? As in, he doesn't sit with his lower legs and ankles underneath his bum but has them out to the side? Hard to explain but a lot of kids with hypermobility do that. Sounds like your DS will be taking off on his on soon though, he'll just get the confidence to let go of your finger for good one day!!
Then once he's walking he'll strengthen up really quickly.

Good luck, not that your DS will need it

My DD could walk before she could stand unaided. She has hypermobility and low muscle tone in her core which has led to poor balance. She would project herself from one side of the room to the other but gradually learned to stand without support and now she's 4 walks ok.

I'm sure as he gets stronger this will all improve but a physio's input could be helpful in the early days just to ensure he's using the right muscles and won't learn to compensate for any weakness in the wrong way.