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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Does anyone else have a non-walking 21 month old?

41 replies

showtunesgirl · 10/09/2013 11:42

Because I don't know any other in RL!

DD is fit and healthy, eats like a horse, sleeps like a dream but just does not walk.

She was born with her right leg bent back the wrong way due to her position in the womb but this self-rectified within two weeks and she has had ultrasounds and x-rays which confirm that everything is fine.

She only started crawling at about 11 months and that was commando crawling for quite a while. At about 14 months, she started to do proper crawling and that's what she's been doing ever since and she does it very, very fast.

DD likes to cruise and will occasionally go for a walk with the baby walker. She pulls to stand and likes to walk only if we are holding her hands. If I try to trick her into walking holding onto just one hand, she will do it for a bit and then will deliberately lose her balance when she sees that she's only holding one hand, or will just drop down to sitting.

At the moment, she is starting to do squatting to pick things up and then will pull herself to standing again but she has never just stood up by herself.

Verbally she is getting on great and has about 100 words and her childminder has said that she just seems to be prioritising speaking over walking right now. She is also starting to learn letters which was prompted by her looking at an Alphabet book and correctly identifying the letter O and S and sounding them out.

I've mentioned it to the GP and they just said come back when she's 2 but I am getting worried that we are fast approaching 2 and she's still not there yet.

I'm finding the idea of there being something wrong with her a bit upsetting and a lot of people are now asking if there IS something wrong.

Does anyone else have any similar experiences and what happened in the end? Thanks!

OP posts:

LongDivision · 10/09/2013 11:56

Yes! Mine is 22 months now. I know he will walk eventually (well, at least that's what the physio and paed have told us) but nevertheless it's depressing.

MaireadnotMermaid · 10/09/2013 11:58

My DD. didn't walk until 21 months. Just turned 2. She was delayed in meeting all physical milestones in fact.

stillwaters76 · 10/09/2013 12:28

My son is 20 months and not walking. He's not talking either so I don't have that to fall back on! I've decided not to worry about it and go back to doctor/ health visitor when he's two if he's still not walking. He has only just started to pull himself up to standing in his cot. It's good to know there are others in the same situation, because like you I don't come across it at toddler groups etc.

Original poster

showtunesgirl · 10/09/2013 12:46

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Janek · 10/09/2013 13:07

My dd is now 4.10, but she didn't walk till she was 21 months and was no great talker either (i recently watched a video of her running around the garden when she was about 2.6 and she was virtually silent, not the normal 'tree, grass, pushchair' commentary one 'usually' gets from a toddler).

But she has just started school and no one can tell that she used to neither walk nor talk, and she regularly starts conversations with strangers, whether they like it or not!

I did notice from a holiday photo that along with her larger than usual head, she also has a long body and then tiny short little legs. No wonder she couldn't balance, poor thing! Even now, at nearly 5, she wears age 3-4 jeans, yet she is the same height as dd1 was at the same age. She too is/was physically cautious and that, coupled with a very laid back attitude (she doesn't get that from my side), meant that she was perfectly satisfied with the last stage of her development, rather than trying to get on to the next stage.

LongDivision · 10/09/2013 14:37

From what I gathered from the paed, late walking itself is usually not a cause for concern, but it does add to the overall profile of the child when there are other issues.
There's been another thread about late walking recently where we discussed what our physios are doing at this stage. In our case, much of it is core strengthening. I don't know how much the physio helps (I suspect that walking just happens when they are ready for it), but I think it provides good peace of mind - your HV might be able to give you a referral if you express your concerns.
DS is also quite physically cautious...I often wonder if we were too careful with him when he was tiny. Then again, I'm not really much of a daredevil so he probably inherited my scaredycat genes.

Original poster

showtunesgirl · 10/09/2013 15:16

Thanks for the info!

I suspect that DD maybe have hypermobility. I think her ankles look a bit wobbly and she often sits in her pram with her legs akimbo doing the splits!

I am a bit hypermobile myself and my fingers bend back at very funny angles so I can't do things like click my fingers as my fingers aren't firm enough!

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LongDivision · 10/09/2013 15:31

oh, I forgot to mention that DS was fitted for piedro boots due to wobbly ankles!! they didn't solve the problem but he likes the boots and it got him cruising around more.
i would push for a physio referral. all of these things take a while to come through (physio, measuring for the boots, ordering them, etc.) so it's worth getting into the system.

JoinTheDots · 10/09/2013 15:32

DD walked at 24 months - she is hypermobile (and had to have physio for it as she was not even rolling over until she was 15 months!) she now does pretty much everything the other children her age are doing (albeit a little more wobbly usually!)

Albaba · 10/09/2013 20:13

Yes my daughter is 23 months old (21 months old corrected age) and still not walking. She has been late in meeting her milestones and she had a MRI scan done which showed that she has mild cp. I am certainly not suggesting this for you but this is my situation. She can crawl fast and cruise around furniture holding on. Verbally she has great words.
She sees a physiotherapist and is making steady progress.
Sometimes I feel terrible though. People have noticed that she is nearly two and still not walking and make comments which makes me feel like crap but we are doing everything we can for her and she will get there but it is just going to take longer for her to do things. I agree that it is depressing. I am the only one in rl who I know whose toddler doesn't walk. Most of the ones I know have been walking confidently for many months.

MiaowTheCat · 10/09/2013 22:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

showtunesgirl · 14/09/2013 22:03

DD decided today to walk holding onto only one hand.

My cousin came for a visit and we took her round the local museum and she just suddenly decided to take my cousin's hand and go for a walk!

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WeeLors · 15/09/2013 10:41

DS didn't walk until 28mths and has hypermobility. He would walk quite long distances holding one hand for a few months before he finally let go though and the day he did walk himself he just walked right round the block like he'd been doing it for years!! Within a few days you wouldn't have known he was late to it, we did always have him in boots though, makes all the difference to stability

LongDivision · 15/09/2013 17:56

hooray for your DD, showtunes! DS also walked a good distance a few days ago just holding onto one hand (he was distracted and i think he didn't notice). it feels good to finally see some progress. he still prefers both hands, though...

MaireadnotMermaid · 18/09/2013 21:34

well done babyshowtunes!

Flojobunny · 18/09/2013 21:40

DS walked at 25 months. He would walk holding hands for about a year before.
He's fine but struggles with PE etc, hopping, walking on beam etc.

TeamSouthfields · 18/09/2013 21:46

Children normally have more developed social skills or physical skills.... Ur lo is obv more social

Original poster

showtunesgirl · 18/09/2013 22:24

Yes, she IS very social. Gets on great with older children and likes to take part in social situations. She seems to be quite confident and happy to get stuck in.

She's getting steadier day by day now and still walking holding one hand. Sometimes she wants two hands to walk up stairs but that's fair enough!

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thegoldenfool · 19/09/2013 12:37

a girl at my DCs nursery wan´t walking at 23 months, a month later running round like she had done it forever :)

Bouncey · 19/09/2013 15:39

Mine walked at 18 months, and wasn't much of a talker either. She wouldn't put any weight on her feet or pull up until she was 16 months, but progressed quite quickly after that. Specialist told us that it was perfectly normal for kids to talk until they are two to walk. A little boy at my daughter's nursery was nearly 2 when he walked.

Original poster

showtunesgirl · 05/11/2013 12:18

DD is two at the end of this month and still not walking independently. She needs a hand to hold onto and I can feel that it's not for support as she is supporting her own weight but she seems to be scared.

The day before yesterday I stood her up and she walked towards me, four steps and did it twice but afterwards she wanted lots of hugs and reassurance. So can it be she is just simply scared and what can I do about this?

I'm starting to get paranoid now as I got the 2 year old check-up questionnaire through the door yesterday and all I could see were all the gross motor questions where I will have to answer Not At All.

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Alanna1 · 05/11/2013 12:29

Ask your GP for physio assesment.

LongDivision · 05/11/2013 14:18

hi showtunes! we're still in the same boat, as DS is not walking or standing on his own, and about to turn 2. at this point it definitely seems more confidence than ability.
the physio has recommended standing him in front of activities/toys he loves - drawing on a piece of paper taped to the wall, for instance. in that way, he kind of forgets that he's standing, but he builds that strength and muscle memory and confidence.
i would imagine at this point the best thing for you to do would be to fill out that questionnaire and attend the 2 year check up. they may or may not decide to refer you to physio, but i think you'll feel better once you've addressed the situation.

Original poster

showtunesgirl · 05/11/2013 19:41

I will give the piece of paper on the wall a go.

Tonight before bed though, again I stood her up and held a toy a few paces away and asked her to come to me. She ran towards me and then got a big hug. She did it again and then did the: I am not a performing monkey mother look and wouldn't do it again.

It's so frustrating as I get the feeling that she is so on the cusp and her childminder says the same.

My friend says not to get too hung up on it and remember all the things that she CAN do.

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Original poster

showtunesgirl · 06/11/2013 18:34

STOP THE PRESS! DD has decided to walk! DH brought her home today, put her down and she waked across the room to me.

Apparently, she's been doing little bursts of walking today, mostly doing it for things she wants like biscuits or toys.

Hooray!

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