DD is 2 but still too uncoordinated to run or jump

[Catt]

Hello Mumsnetters, I haven't visited the site for months and reading all the threads I realise what I've missed!

I would really like to know if anyone has similar concerns about their ds or dd. DD is 2 and a quarter and only started walking when she was about 22 months - I was beginning to wonder if she ever would get off her bottom.

Anyway now she's perfectly happy walking - although her legs are a bit bandy and she walks with a bit of a swagger because of it - but she hasn't got the coordination to jump or run. She doesn't seem to have very good balance - she'll wobble and topple over quite easily. Basically, she just looks a bit precarious all the time. What do you think? Should I take her to the doctor?

Hi Catt - welcome back.

If your dd is alright in other ways, no developmental problems, and is improving in her agility, however slowly, then I wouldn't be particularly worried. My ds is 3.5 and only learned to jump when he was about 3 and cannot yet hop. He's only now just getting the hang of pedalling his trike, and going up stairs using both feet. On the other hand, he has always been extremely advanced in his language, so I have always put it down to the fact that some childrend develop everything together, but some develop one aspect at a time.

Have you tried getting her a trampoline? The sort with a bar to hold on to while bouncing. Both of mine adore it, even the baby, who would bounce herself on it before she could stand alone! I think that being able to completely 'let go' and bounce wildly, while having the security of the handle, helped ds improve his mobility. Also swimming.

Hi Catt
Your dd sounds like mine, she walked at 22 months too, but we got her some physio to get her started. She has taken longer than her peers to run, she will be 5 in July and can run, albeit not very fast. She isn't good at jumping but she keeps improving, which is what matters. We got her a trampoline which has been great for her (with handle). She does ballet club and dance club at school and that's helping too. I agree with the swimming idea. If she keeps making progress, she must be fine. How about the rest of her development?

Hi there

My dd will be 3 in June and she still can't run properly-does a kind of "speed walk" although it is very effective for disappearing over the horizon in Tesco or wherever she chooses!
Thinks she can jump, but does it 1 leg at a time!!
She walked at 18 months, which was a long time after her peers who are still more agile than dd now.
However yesterday she suddenly decided to do a forward roll-with no encouragement from anyone and the way she is going at it she will be getting her BAGA award by next week! (do they still exsist?)
She seems to prefer doing things with her hands which involve fine motor skills, and always has done.
I think they will all get there eventually, so unless you have any other worries, then I wouldn't bother with the doctor. Might ask HV, but then again....

Sounds like I should just take things in dd's stride. I like the sound of the trampoline - I thing I will buy that for her.

Catt my DS1 was a late-ish walker (17mo) and then seemed to take a long time to do the things others here have talked about - jumping, hopping etc. He did a pre-school gym class which was fab but certainly showed this issue up - ie all the others were hopping and he was 4yrs+ and still not doing it well enough. He got it in the end tho and now at nearly 5 (in June) can suddenly hop really well and confidently - but I am aware this is late. He's not the most mobile but running is improving and he is learning to swim really well (no armbands now). Trampoline (bought last summer) is fab and v recommended. DD who is 3 in June cannot hop and struggles to jump tho also thinks she can (sort of runs on the spot, quite sweet). A lot of 2.5 yolds can jump (and I have seen 20month olds do it), but that doesn't mean they all should. However, even if we say "they will get it, don't worry", I do think it's sometimes worth raising things with health professionals and perhaps badgering for some help if you think it's needed. Physio might help. I say this because I have a friend whose DD did have mobility probs at 2yrs, we all said oh no, she's OK, but now at 5 she still struggles and it's a shame she didn't get help earlier. Not saying that this is the case with your DD of course, but I would certainly be aware and take action if YOU think it's needed.

Hi Catt
If you're worried I would take her to the doctors to check things. I'm sure she will be absolutely fine, however it's better to get these things checked for your own piece of mine.

Don't want to panic you, but some friends of ours have a daughter who was a 'lateish' walker and then walked with a stagger, and wasn't very mobile. They assumed it was just a developmental thing, but then when things still progressed slowly after she was 2 they went to get her checked out. They have discovered that she has BOTH hips totally dislocated out of the sockets. Apparently 'developmental hip dysplasia' is a relatively common things - especially in girls.

They were devastated. And now their little girl will have to undergo two lots of surgery (each hip in succession) and be in plaster over the next year to correct things.

I don't want to alarm you either but I think 22 months sounds very late. I would also get it checked out, no harm done. Frenchgirl says they used some physio, maybe that would help. Of course some people are just less "sporty" than others. My son walked at 16 months and I felt this was on the late side of the "normal" band.

Catt - along with most of these posts - I've had experience of this too - and don't think you should be unduly worried. If there was a problem it should have been picked up by now - You would hope anyway.

DD1 now 4.5 late walker (20 months) and took ages to walk properly, and even now isn't a good runner. It did improve after starting playgroup and trying to catch up with the kids there - although she was always way behind them all. Bless!

When she was a baby HV pointed out that her feet were pointing inwards, it was checked again at 18 months and 2.5 and GP said they were turning in but not from the hip - and that she would grow out of it - which she did.

If it will put your mind at rest and you have a good GP I would check it out - its probably just something that will improve with time.