Not walking at 21.5 months and referred to neurologist - help!

[garbo]

DS is 21.5 months old and today saw a paediatrician at our local hospital. He was on their 'books' for an unrelated condition last year but they kept him on because in June he wasn't walking and the paed say he may as well see him again.
Anyway, today he said he was 100% sure there is nothing wrong (?) but to be sure would refer to a neurologist in Sheffield, just to check. He said they would know immediately if he was OK but has also asked for bloods to be taken this Friday. He said he is worried about muscle weakness which he said would be 'not good'.
DD didn't walk until 19.5 months and I just thought DS was following the same pattern, although he does seem a bit weaker than she was. He cruises round the furniture and walks on my hands, when he's not bum shuffling.
I don't know what I'm hoping to achieve by posting but maybe someone has some words of wisdom or has been in a similar situation. The rest of his development is normal. He has a good vocabulary and is very 'busy' with his playing, bricks, trains, etc.

i dont have any advice just wanted to say that i know a friend whose son didnt walk til very late on, about 23months i think. I hope it goes ok when you see the specialist. Good luck x

It is still within normal limits to be not walking at this age - As you are already in the system, they are just keeping an eye on you. Take it as reassurance that somebody has your best interests at heart, and try not to worry.

If his development is fine in other areas, which appears to be the case, then maybe there is nothing to be worried about.
It is fantastic though that they have referred you to a neurologist to make sure nothing is wrong.

My two were both bum shufflers and both walked at 25 months. They are fine now although ds has flat feet and has insoles in his shoes. I really wouldn't worry, they just like to "keep an eye".

Thank you everyone. He asked me what my gut feeling was and I didn't know! I think it's mostly that he's OK but there's an underlying worry that he's not, perhaps that's been put there by everyone else thinking it's odd he's on his bum at this age! Unfortunately it was nearly lunch time and after a lot of prodding around, plus the fact I took him away from the train in the playroom at the hospital, I found it difficult to concentrate over the screaming!!
As you say, it's good they are keeping an eye on him so I am grateful for that.

Hi just thought i'd add my experiences in the hope of putting your mind at rest.My eldest didn't walk until 30 months,she had a few health problems and has always been very small for her age but walks and runs fine now (4 in jan).

You said that he had been seen for another problem and you often find that when they are poorly for any length of time it can hold them back for a short while .The fact is children vary so much, my 2 year old was cruising at 7 months.

When my daughter had physio to help her walk they showed us some exercises that seemed to help.Try rolling up a towel and looping it around his front (like you're playing horses),you hold the ends and walk along behind him so he gradualy learns to put more weight on his legs,and doesn't associate holding your hands with keeping upright.Normal push along walkers are great too (not the kind they sit in though).The baby bouncers you hang from a door can also help strengthen their legs if set at the right height.
Hope the appointment goes well and puts your mind at rest.Better to feel you're doing something about it than sat at home worrying -although that is easier said than done!

My sis was very late walking and talking, turned out to be extremely bright (and can walk and talk fine now!).

Thank you squachette, will be getting the towel out tomorrow!
Took him for the blood test today but it was just before lunch time and they said he had to have cream on to numb his arm and it would take an hour to work! Why doesn't someone tell you these things in advance?! Of course hadn't got any lunch with me for him so am going again on Monday, as if I haven't enough to do. This time will be prepared for an hour's wait prior to the actual procedure (which I am dreading).
Have spent all week staring at his legs wondering if something is the matter with them!
Thank you again everyone.

AWW Garbo,you must be so worried.The cream they use is ametop or similar my dds had it lots of times and she doesn't seem to feel a thing.Take something new along to distract him too( e.g cheap toy ) so when it actualy comes to taking the blood he isn't watching if poss.
Have you got the appointment to see the neurologist yet?I'm sure his legs are fine if he's cruising round the furniture.Remember the pead said it was just to be sure. He's just covering himself because you've raised the issue and he has at his disposal, the means to check and put your mind at rest.Good luck for Monday anyway and let us all know how it goes{{hugs}}.

Hi Sorry cant offer any advice, but good luck hope everything goes well. My 8 month old son wont weight bear, his legs buckle underneath him he not particularly heavy, 17lb 5oz, waiting for x-rays at present.

Hi My dd is 20mnths nxt week and also bum shuffles. She can't walk except holding hands, can't pull herslf up on the sopfa and doesn't cruise. She wears boots and a bar at night as has clubfoot, the consultant tells me this shouldn't have affected her walking though. I go back to pead cons in Jan re clubfoot and will ask about walking as I too am getting concerned. She is about to move up a group at nursery where all others run around so its becoming a problem. Good luck and I'd love to know what your Drs say.

my niece didnt walk fr AGES
she had some osrt of dypraxia and weak muscle tone that has almost gone
sh eis now 9 and does ballet exmas

I have a friend (from my antenatal class) whose daughter was a bum shuffler and din't decide to walk until 22 months. She was way behind all the other "babies". She is now 3 1/2 and walks runs just like all the others. The mum was worried, but was also told by HV, GP, etc. that this was normal for bum shufflers. Apperently if you can shuffle round on your bum (which frees up your arms) there isn't really a lot of reason to get up and walk.

My DS (now 18 months) has only just started to walk a couple of weeks ago. So, I'd say you really aren't that far behind (if at all).

Just to update you all and thank you for your messages of support. DS has had blood tests (hated the cream, didn't notice the blood being taken!) and they have come back negative, thank goodness. Paed still wants to refer to neurologist in Sheffield. DS can now stand for nearly a minute shouting 'balance, balance' but won't take a step. He has spent all of today on his feet, standing at tables, chairs, etc, shuffling on his bum between 'stations'. I can't believe he's anything but a bum-shuffling late walker!
My sister's dd, one year younger almost to the day, is now whizzing from room to room and I am praying she doesn't beat him to it.
While I'm on, anyone heard of a virus when the child can't walk? My friend in France has a dd one month older than my ds and last Saturday morning she just couldn't walk, hasn't been able to since. The hospital have done lots of tests and found nothing so have put it down to a virus, but one week on and she still can't walk.

Oh and squachette, have been practising the towel walk!

My son is now 30 months and was referred to a paediatrician in August as he was showing no interest in walking at all. He was referred to a physiotherapist as it was decided there was nothing physically wrong with him. He's been fitted with special little boots which are actually really nice, and we've been given a few things to do with him, and he finally seems to have cracked it. The physio did actually say his problems were 60% in his head.

We were so worried for such a long time, and now it's really funny seeing him wandering around, and you also have to watch out he doesn't disappear - not a problem I've had to worry about before! They really will get there in their own time, something I didn't believe before.

Most of the exercises we were given were just getting him more confident with his movements, such as sitting astride a round cushion and rocking from side to side.

Ds2 walked at 17 months - reluctantly, he was a very big baby and we thought he was too heavy for his legs. My friends little girl bum shuffled until 2.5 then got up and walked. Could it be a confidence issue?

Hi garbo. My ds4 is just 17 months and has only been sitting for a couple of months. He has hypotonia (low muscle tone) and developmental delay. He sees the specialists at the CDC every few months and we have finally been referred to a neurologist, appointment is in Feb.
My ds's situation is different to yours in that we know he has some kind of SN but I'd be really interested in hearing your experiences with the neurologist after you've been.
We've been through the blood tests a few times now. My ds gets more distressed at the being held still than the actual test. how did it go with you today?

The appointment hasn't come through but ds is finally walking at 23 months yesterday. I would say he started to confidently walk round the house a week ago, the best Christmas present I could ever have! His style is going to take some working on but hey, all the other children his age have been at it for nearly a year!

I shall ring the paed next week and I presume he will cancel the appointment with the neurologist.

Happy New Year and thank you everyone for your messages of support xxxxxxxx

What great news. I hadn't read the thread before and it's lovely to hear such a positive turn of events. You sound joyful - good for you. And well done DS!

Both me and my brother didn't walk until 24months so maybe it is something that runs in families? And as yours st didn't walk until late DS is maybe the same.