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Original poster

How long did your LO walk holding on?

28 replies

nutella81 · 15/06/2013 21:55

My DD is 11mo and has not once ever got in the crawl position, but she does walk reasonably well holding on. Problem is, she's been doing this for three months now, with no signs of going solo.

She has just started (very begrudgingly) cruising along the sofa on the odd occasion, as well as pull herself up a few times. Her balance isn't very good, so she generally leans against sofa when walking along rather than standing upright. I'm starting to get a bit frustrated as she is mentally wanting to investigate things, but needs me to get there (she holds arms out for me to take hands and moans until I do so)....this is most of the time now. It also makes her a sitting duck in classes as she can't really get away from other more boisterous babies if she needs to.

I'm quite tall, so back is starting to kill a bit and I'm really hoping shell get it soon. How long did it take with your LO's and any other suggestions? Thanks x

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GentlyGentlyOhDear · 15/06/2013 22:08

Ages!
DD has just turned 14 months and has been walking holding on since about 9 months and its only this past week she has started doing it on her own.
I think it has been a confidence thing with her and she is looked after by MIL two days a week who has been walking her everywhere and I think this has hindered her doing it on her own. I would suggest stopping walking with her. Does she have a walker? Or any large toys you can place a couple of steps away from each other to encourage her to cruise around?

We also did a lot of getting her to walk between us just a couple of steps to get her confidence up.

GentlyGentlyOhDear · 15/06/2013 22:11

Just to add, I do think it is ultimately when they want to do it and feel ready.
My friend's dd started crawling at 10 and a half months, but she then started standing up herself and walking at 12 months, whereas my dd was crawling at 7/8 months and has only just started walking at 14 months.

Original poster
nutella81 · 15/06/2013 22:17

Lol, thanks gently - based on your experiences I'm halfway there :)

I think confidence is the big issue for us too - I let go of one hand and she just tenses up her body and comes to a halt. Tried a walker and she hated it, but am trying toys and even used chocolate buttons last couple of days which help a bit (I do most things for chocolate too!).

I think I'll try a bit of tough love next as you suggest and see what she does.

You'll be able to buy proper first shoes now - exciting!

OP posts:
Original poster
nutella81 · 15/06/2013 22:23

Just seen latest post...Yes, they are all different and you shouldn't compare. I guess I also don't want her left behind, but she'll do it when she's ready....and then I'll think back to times of pre stairgates!! :) x

OP posts:
Sheshelob · 15/06/2013 22:24

Over 6 months Smile

Now he runs. I miss the days when he hung on.

BrianButterfield · 15/06/2013 22:26

Ages. Ds could walk holding on from about 8 months and walked unaided at 13 months. He was close for so long.

maillotjaune · 15/06/2013 22:30

Oh ages - my second and third were very late walkers (20 & 22 months) but both could stand, cruise round furniture barely touching it, or walk holding our hands above head from before 12 months.

They do it when they're ready. Sympathise about the back though, mine is terrible.

HerrenaHarridan · 15/06/2013 22:34

She started walking with help at 9mo and still at 16mo walks holding on but she has mobility issues and tbh we don't know for sure that she'll ever walk without aid.

Your dc will get there in their own good time (especially if your not always on hand to help them Wink)
And then you'll wish they'd just sit down an stay put a min Grin

Fairylea · 15/06/2013 22:37

Watching with interest as ds is 12 months and has been hanging on for what seems like a life time.... my poor back !!

Original poster
nutella81 · 16/06/2013 07:51

Thanks for your replies all. By the sounds of things it's quite normal to take a while, and I'll just have to be patient with the odd button chucked in for encouragement!! :)

OP posts:
Yonihadtoask · 16/06/2013 07:54

Ages here too.

DS was walking holding on from about 12 months, but didn't take his first steps unsupported until 17 months.

justabigdisco · 16/06/2013 08:00

Stop walking her along! It doesn't help them to learn to walk any quicker and would save your back!

Fairylea · 16/06/2013 20:22

If I just stopped walking ds along he would be absolutely miserable and having a tantrum a second. He's determined to get walking!

ItCameFromOuterSpace · 16/06/2013 23:42

Dd walked holding on from about 5 months til she took her first steps at 9.5 months, so a fair while.

AllegraLilac · 17/06/2013 11:46

She didn't. She didn't crawl either. Just got up one day and walked. Was bizarre.

HerrenaHarridan · 17/06/2013 13:41

Of course it helps them learn to walk quicker it builds their muscles up! Hmm

HerrenaHarridan · 17/06/2013 13:42

Of course it helps them learn to walk quicker it builds their muscles up! Hmm

MrsBungle · 17/06/2013 13:44

My ds started walking round the furniture around 8 months and walking on his own at 11.5 months - so a good 3 months.

My dd never crawled and never walked round the furniture! She didn't bear weight either until she was 16 months. She just stood up and took about 4 or 5 steps in a row when she was 16.5 months.

CecilyP · 17/06/2013 16:02

DS was walking around the furniture for nearly 4 months before he finally let go, including, cautious little chap that he was, a final week of edging along the wall.

Doitnicelyplease · 17/06/2013 16:10

I read this recently and it inspired me to NOT walk my baby around.

www.janetlansbury.com/2011/03/9-reasons-not-to-walk-babies

My DD2 is nearly 1 and not crawling/cruising - but loves to stand up at furniture or be walked, however reading the above article made me realise I am not helping her walk any quicker by doing that.

We have gone back to doing more floor play, rolling, sitting, reaching so she can develop the right muscles and strength for walking/cruising. She is now getting really close to crawling and much happier on her front than she was.

I would rather have a late walker who was confident and sturdy than months and months of wobbles and hand holding.

hth

Original poster
nutella81 · 17/06/2013 20:57

Thanks for further replies and thanks doitnicely, that's a very interesting article.

I think over the last day or so I've realised that she needs to 'take a step back or two' if you know what I mean, as I guess they get the core strength (which is key) from floor play as you say. Even if she finally crawls that'll be AMAZING.

X

OP posts:
thegreylady · 17/06/2013 21:42

My cousin's dgd started to walk holding a hand at the age of 14 months.She was 23 months before she finally let go and ran across to her mummy! she is now 2.3 and walking,dancing,running as well as any child I know.Her speech has always been advanced and she used to say,'No thankyou' when they asked her to walk by herself-she just dropped to her knees and crawled!

HerrenaHarridan · 17/06/2013 22:06

Hmmm, I find that link a bit worrying. This woman gives some sort of class and basically seems to think parents shouldn't sit their babies up or put then in positions so they develop te transitional muscles.

So what you just lie them down on their back where they can't see what's going on and hope that they twitch and wriggle enough to build up the muscles to sit!

Dd sees a paediatric physiotherapist at a very good specialist children's hospital, she actively encourage me to walk her around as much as possible.

She also said that to aid their development of balance it was better to let them hold your hands (or fingers) rather than you hold them and that whenever possible it was better to offer your hands as low as possible, preferably below the shoulder

Doitnicelyplease · 18/06/2013 01:44

I agree her ideas are extreme, but I see a lot of sense in them.

This is a link to a video that demonstrates what she is talking about. ie Letting babies find their own way to move around...

I taught my DD2 to sit up, so she was sitting really well by 8 months (which I thought was really late) - but once she could sit she had no real interest in exploring or developing other skills, it was like she was just stuck and didn't know where to go from there (plus she was happy sitting playing with toys).

Only recently since we have actively placed her back lying on the floor (after watching this video) and placed toys out of reach, has she made progress towards crawling/pulling up. I do believe that if we had left her lying on the floor more a couple of months ago rather than pushing for her to sit up, then she would be more confident in her abilities now Sad

Doitnicelyplease · 18/06/2013 02:05

For anyone that is interested this is the sequel to that video about crawling

If the links don't work just put 'Baby Liv' into you tube.