Late Walking

[PastaB]

My 15 month old can't walk. She pulls herself up, scoops down to pick things up, crawls everywhere and climbs the stairs. She does a strange monkey crawl on one leg when she wants to move and carry something.

Until a few weeks ago I took the attitude she will do it when she is ready but now I've made the mistake of googling. Google informs me that 90% of children walk by 15 months and those that don't have underlying problems or simply aren't given enough encouragement at home.

I've taken this to heart somewhat. I don't know what else I can't do to encourage her. I play with her but if I suggest she pushes her trolley or stands holding my hands she cries and shouts 'up'.

I am wondering if I am holding her back as she is very slight so not too difficult to carry round and she is quite a patient child so we do a lot of baking, drawing, ipad apps, books etc.... Should I stop this in favour of more mobile activities?

Should I take her to the Dr? She goes to nursery 3 days a week and baby groups so she sees other children walking.

Apologies for the stream of consciousness.

[3birthdaybunnies]

One of mine walked at 15 mo, one at 16mo and one at 17mo. Two were fairly big, one is tiny. They can all walk now, infact dd1 is a great at sports, won hurdles at sports day, dancing in school play. 90% is a silly yardstick, I mean there aren't 10% of 5 year olds who have difficulty walking, yes maybe by 2 seek some help, but it sounds as if she is on her way.

With dd1 it was purely confidence in the end - it sounds a bit cruel/funny, but we ended up putting reins on her - she would only walk holding a fiinger, we only had them on for 10 seconds or so, and showed her that she could walk without holding our hand, but the reins would support her if she fell, by the next day she was running. We knew she could do it though, she just needed to believe it.

[MimsyBorogroves]

DS1 walked at 16 months, rarely pulled himself up, never stood alone, didn't cruise much, started commando crawling at a year.

DS2 has been commando crawling since 8 months, proper crawling since 11ish months, cruises a lot, sometimes stands alone - but isn't walking. He's 14 months.

My advice is to enjoy it! If they're not walking, then they're not running - and it's a whole lot easier that way. Plus you get to use the pram without the whole "I want to walk, even if I don't want to walk, and you're sure as hell not putting me in the pram because I'm going to go rigid and SCREAM"

[TokenGirl1]

Your dd sounds just like mine at that age.My dd was under 6lb at birth and was clothes two sizes smaller than her actual age.

She didn't take her first steps until she was 18 months and wasn't really properly walking until 21 months.

I wouldn't worry for a good few months yet.

[Fuzzymum1]

Out of my three children only one was walking at 15 months. DS1 walked at 17 months - not a single step before that age and he is perfectly normal, within a few weeks you couldn't see any difference between him and children who'd been walking months. DS2 walked at 18 months, he doesn't have a diagnosis but i suspect a degree of dyspraxia due to other motor issues and a diagnosis of ASD. DS3 walked at 14 months. I've known lots of children who weren't walking at 15 months to be honest and they're all fine.

[mummytowillow]

My daughter was a bum shuffler, never rolled over or pulled herself up.

Went to a doctor said there was nothing wrong with her and walked at 18 months!

[Bouncey]

My little girl is 14 months and won't even stand up supported for more than a few seconds. We got a referral to an orthopaedic consultant as our health visitor and GP thought she might have hip problems, but her X-rays came back completely clear. The consultant said many babies don't walk until they are 2 and that it's nothing to worry about as long as the rest of her development is fine.

[IceBergJam]

DD 14M is small 17lbs, and crusing but not walking. She just looks so wobbly and weedy! I'm not concerned about the walking, but do have to catch myself not fretting about her weight.

It's more other people comments. I just try to ignore them. We are all different.

[CecilyP]

The encouragement thing is nonsense, so I would stop worrying about it. DCs walk when they are good and ready. By saying 90% of children walk by 15 months, they probably mean up to and including 15 months so your DD is still in that time frame. And what of the other 10%; if they don't have any underlying problems, they will get there in the next few months and by the time they are 2 nobody will be able to tell the difference.

I doubt if your DD's size has anything to do with it; DS was equallly small and an early walker. It sounds like your DD has a way of getting around that suits her for the time being, but that is sure to change soon.

[PastaB]

lostonthemoors she manages to empty the washing machine but that's where her work starts and finishes!

Thanks again for reassurance.

[thegreylady]

My cousin's dgd was 21 months too.She would walk holding a finger of an adult but as soon as she let go she crawled.She would run and dance holding on just to one finger then one day it happened!

[33goingon64]

My friend's DD didn't walk until 21 months and there is nothing wrong with her.

[LillethTheCat]

DD2 has only been walking for a few weeks. She was 15 and half months when she finally took a couple of unaided steps. I put her down to being slow as she could crawl. She didn't need to know how to walk as she could get to where she wanted to go on her hands and knees (neither DS or DD1 could crawl so walked a lot quicker) and the idea of using her feet never crossed her mind.

Now she's a bugger for getting to places and reaching for things that she really shouldn't.

[hazeyjane]

15 months isn't late. I would be curious to see the website that said that it is, most sources say to seek advice if your dc gets to 18 months without taking steps.

If she is cruising and weightbearing then she is well on her way.

[StrawberryMojito]

She sounds like she's on her way. My DS is 16 months and only just started walking. He is long in the body, v short in the leg with a big head (but gorgeous!) and has tiny feet so like Janek said, I think he struggled with balance. I think they only do it when they are physiologically ready, maybe she just hasn't got her balance yet.

[lljkk]

15 months is not late. 22 months is late but still most likely not be a problem.

[SingASongOfSixpence]

Here's the link : www.mumsnet.com/Talk/behaviour_development/a1454516-Late-walker-Let-me-reassure-you

[SingASongOfSixpence]

Hi, I posted on this topic last year. I don't know how to create a link to the post but the subject was 'late walker? Let me reassure you!' . My son did not walk until he was almost 26 months. I hope my story helps you.

[yellowsubmarine53]

My children walked at 16 and 18 months respectively. They were both bum shufflers and I think being able to carry things around as your dd does means that they walk a little later.

Don't think size is a particular factor.

A friend of mine's child has some hypermobility issues and their paed told them that they don't get concerned about children not walking until they're 2, so she's got plenty of time.

[Princesspond]

Honestly I have only ever used google and been reassured on one occasion, every other time I feel about ten times worse! My two were both bottom shufflers and walked at 17 and 21 months. (We happened to see a paediatrician for something else and he said bottom shufflers on average start walking at 24 months). I have other friends whose children had hypermobile joints and they were also late walkers. I think it's other people's reactions that start to bother you, I felt like lying about their age so I didn't have to discuss it with random strangers.

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

One of my boys walked at 9 months of age.... the other took his first steps at 22 months of age, and my girls were 11 months and 16 months.

You can't tell who was first now! Honestly back away from google and enjoy your little girly:) I didn't do anything different with any of them..they just developed at different rates:)

[PastaB]

Phew! I know I shouldn't google.

funnypeculiar she can cruise but has very limited interest in it. I will definitely do as you suggest and hold things out more. I do it already but she will dip down and crawl to the remote control the classic development toy I am holding out so if I am being honest I don't do it as much as I should.

janek she is small for her age with a small head and long legs for her body shape. She still wears 9-12 month clothes apart from trousers which are 12-18 months. She only weighs 20lb which I suspect is a contributing factor. She eats normally but is just naturally small. 6lb birth weight at term.

Thank you for the reassurance. I think she is perfect in every way so it hurts to read articles on the Internet that suggest she doesn't walk because I haven't encouraged her.

[saycheeeeeese]

My 18mo dd still prefers her knees and will walk only occasionally, shes still unsteady.

I've learned that there's nothing I can do to make her walk. Your DD will do it in her own time too!

[MoonHare]

Don't worry, she's perfectly normal. Neither of mine walked til 18 months either. Plenty don't even walk til 2 years.

I understand how you feel and while you try not to make comparisons it's hard to keep smiling when other parents of children who walked at 11 months say things like 'oh well at least you know where she is' 'it's awful to have an early walker I have to chase him/her around all the time'.

It will happen and with hindsight you'll forget this phase of anxious waiting.