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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

21mths and still not walking!

29 replies

KLouise · 15/09/2006 13:43

My son is now 21 months and he still doesnt walk! He has been seen by the community paediatrician and there is no physical/medical reason for this, except he has a large head, small feet and very flexible joints (apparently!) He sat at 6mths, bottom shuffled at 10mths, crawled at 12.5mths, started to pull hinmself up at 15mths and started cruising round the furniure at 16mths! he has taken a few 'proper' steps but doesn't seem to want to do any more.Any ideas on how to encourage him without pressuring him? He has push along toys and ride ons which he loves, and he has just learned how to get up on the sofa and back down again! I'm so fed up with other people staring at him and muttering to each other (and no i'm not just paranoid!). Any ideas hugely appreciated!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Elibean · 15/09/2006 13:55

One of my friends didn't walk until she was well over two (and is very sporty now!)...it does sound as though your ds is going through all the same stages, just a little later than others.
My dd spent about four months able to take a few steps, but unwilling to - without clinging on to my fingers, anyway - then suddenly got up and walked across the sitting room (16 months): motivated by a toy she wanted to get to faster, I think.
No real ideas as to how to speed things up, or even if its possible/advisable to, especially if he's just waiting till his feet are bigger IYSWIM...maybe someone else will, though; I just wanted to say he's not alone, and sounds like he's well on his way to getting there!

musa · 15/09/2006 15:12

Hi klouise don't worry yourself, my son did'nt walk until 22 month's than all of a sudden he just let go and went, trust me they all get there in the end. My son also has a large head, he could't hold his head until he was gone 8 months.

Try and take no notice of other people. He will do it in his own time.

Original poster

KLouise · 15/09/2006 15:31

Thank you, it's so good to hear that my son is not the only one thats a late walker Iknow that there are probably lots of other children that dont walk unti they're neary 2, but it's so reasurring to actually hear about it! Thank you

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 15/09/2006 15:37

DD1 didn't walk till 22 months. She walked on her knees from about 18 months - even jumped on them.

No stopping her now!

fairyjay · 15/09/2006 15:40

My bum shuffler started walking at 17 mths - when his sister was 2 mths old! Everyone told me it was because he was a 'big boy', so supporting himself was so much harder. From the minute he walked he has been Mr. Independent, and we couldn't get him to stay in a pushchair - try not to worry

fairyjay · 15/09/2006 15:42

Oh, and he's now 14 and has just been selected to play for the 1st Rugby Team. Sensible these boys - they conserve their energey for when it's really needed!

oliveoil · 15/09/2006 15:45

dd1 was about 17 months, dd2 was 22 months

I know what you mean about people asking if they were walking yet but they usually asked in a nice interested way, not a nasty judgemental way. Or that is how I chose to look at it!

dd2 was 2 last month so has been walking for the grand total of 2 months and you should see her running, a gorgeous staggering toddler

fret not

oliveoil · 15/09/2006 15:46

(by the way, I probably have a million threads on here fretting so I am rubbish at taking my own advice)

Claudie1 · 15/09/2006 15:50

I'm worried about my little man, he's never been interested in using his legs, he's now 8 months old - he hardly stands on my lap, and just swings around in his door bouncer - I've tried encouraging him to push off but he just seems not interested - should I be worried??

oliveoil · 15/09/2006 15:51

nope!

Claudie1 · 15/09/2006 15:53

You say this but people have commented and its making me worry!

Original poster

KLouise · 15/09/2006 17:22

I dont think it makes any difference whether they bear weight on their legs at that age or not! My son has 'stood' holding on since almost birth and as this thread started he's now 21 months and still not walking...my sisters little girl didn't bear any weight until she was about 12 months old and learned to walk beautifully by 14 months! Dont worry,....he's stila baby!

OP posts:

Pastarito · 15/09/2006 17:36

My friend's little girl didn't walk until she was nearly 2 but once she was walking she was also jumping and running and doing all the other things 2 yr olds do.

Their health visitor had told them that they were being too over-protective and walking around with her too much holding her by the fingers. They stopped doing this and within a couple of days she was walking on her own.

Don't know if this helps at all...

Elibean · 15/09/2006 17:38

dd was totally, but totally, uninterested in weight bearing on her legs until nearer 12 months! Even the HV said it didn't matter a bit. And she's a running, jumping, climbing 2.9 yr old now...

Pastarito · 15/09/2006 17:48

Oh - and by contrast, my own ds2 walked very early (10 months) but now at the age of 4, is very clumsy, trips/falls over a lot, has only just mastered riding a bike (with stabilisers of course, not trying to force him ride a big bike at age 4), has trouble on climbing frames, doesn't run particularly well. So the age at which they walk doesn't seem to make much difference somehow.

mumeeee · 17/09/2006 22:11

Bottom shufflers are often late walkers. DD1 one now 19 was a bottom shuffler and didn't walk until she was 21 months. She could cruise around furniture at 14 months and would walk if you held her hands at 15 months but would not walk on her own. She talked early and was talking like a 3 year old by the time she was 21 months. One day she just got up off of her little chair and walked across the room. It was if she was waiting until she could do it properly and never toddled. at 2.5 years she walked up a small mountain with her Dad! so don't wory you son will get there in the end.

sockmonkey · 18/09/2006 20:55

My DS1 was 19 months before he walked. He was a very fast crawler, and I don't think he saw any need to walk IYSWIM. He was always very good at talking, I guess he just developed that side faster.
One day he just got up and walked and that was the end of it.
DS2 was 11 months, and is still very clumsy (although he is only 13 months now). I think maybe it's just a sign of a perfectionist. Doesn't want to walk until they get it completely right.

Original poster

KLouise · 08/11/2006 14:55

Hi guys, me again!!

Well my son is now nearly 23mths and he's STILL NOT WALKING!!

I'm really getting desperate now!! I've been making him 'walk' everywhere, as he'll walk quite well holding just one hand, he just wont go it alone!! My back is killing me from lifting him (he's a big boy, nearly 2 and a half stone) I just NEED him to walk!!!!

HHHEEEELLLLLPPPPP

Karren

OP posts:

helenhismadwife · 08/11/2006 16:28

Hi Karren

its so hard not to worry when every one elses baby seems to be doing it, but you do know that the paediatrician says there is nothing physical or medical wrong with him, that could be preventing him from walking. He will do it in his own time, he gets himself round and will eventually walk and then I bet there will be no stopping him!!!

lazycow · 08/11/2006 16:39

Claudie

I used to get comments all the time as ds never put his feet down or bore weight on his legs when he was a baby. He would just bend his legs. He never did that standing on the lap stuff and pudsing with his legs. He also didn't sit very well without support until he was about 9 months old.

He did crawl at about 9 months old and then at about 12 months old he started walking on his knees and pretty much stopped crawling (expat - I never saw another child do that so it is good to know others do) and then eventually walked at around 16/17 months old. He used his knees for so long I thought he'd be on them forever but he wasn't of course.

He walks fine now. 8 months is WAYYYY to young to worry honestly.

voch · 09/11/2006 09:09

Karen -- if you're concerned maybe you could ask to see a physio or orthopedist. My daughter has very flexible joints was similar to your son - would walk while holding our hands, but not on her own.

Our physio got us some Piedro boots which have more support than most shoes. These didn't quite make her steady enough, so she now has splints and has taken off on her own since. Both the boots and splints can help make them steadier on their own.

loopity · 09/11/2006 10:04

Hi karen

Another mum of a late walker here, just to reassure you! Ds is now 21 months and has only just taken first steps few days ago. Still prefers to hold onto your hands or bottom shuffle though. Sounds like your lo hopefully will take off in next few weeks and I can totally identify with the physical strain of carrying them about as ds is a good size too!

All the best x

twoisenoughmum · 09/11/2006 18:43

KLouise - There is a picture of me taking my very first steps in my Mum's photo album. It is dated "August Bank Holiday 1964". I was 2 on 29 September 1964. There's absolutely nothing wrong with my legs (apart from being too chunky) now and no probs whatsoever with any of my other development - I think. If you've been seen by the community paediatrician and told not to worry - then I'd try very hard not to worry! Especially as he has already taken a few proper steps.

mumeeee · 10/11/2006 17:25

My DD1 didn't walk until she was 21 months but had very good spech and could talk like a 3 year old by that age. Ahe bottom shuffled like your son and also didn't start cruising around furniture until she was about 15 months. She would walk if we held her hands but just say down when we let go. Then one day she just got up offf her little chair and walked acros the room! It was if she didn;t want to bother with toddling but wanted to wait until she could do it properly!So don't worry he wil get there in the end. Is he a good talker I was told thsat children often seem to be comcentrating on one area of develpopment and it all evens out in the end.

missymoosal · 10/11/2006 17:52

My youngest dd, now just turned 6, didn't walk until 2 weeks before her second birthday!!
I was desparing of her ever walking she used to bum shuffle everywhere and yes it is mortifying but what can you do.
Found out later that she has hyperflexible joints and even now she is not as confident as children of her age does not run and jump as well.
Seen by a physio and reassured that she will eventually catch up. I suppose she must in some way be aware of it and realise that she has limitations and just takes it easy.
The upside for her is that she just sat and looked through books instead of moving and now has a reading age of an 8yr old.

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