16 month old not walking...

[Rose138]

Hello!

My son is 16 months old and still not walking. He's such a character-making us laugh all the time. He understands so much and the hv commented at his 12 month check that he's got really good understanding of what it said to him etc. So I hate to be one of those parents that is worried that they are not doing something by a certain age. But I was just hoping for advice of how I could perhaps help him?

He rarely sits down, he prefers to stand up holding on to the sofa, his play table etc. He also walks whilst holding on to sofa, walks around his play table holding on. He is also a superb climber! We walk him from my husband and I but he knows our trick so refuses to let go of our hand/finger. My sister in law suggested walking with him and only holding one of his hands and so we do that and he laughs. He's just really not interested or in any rush to do it himself! He hasn't yet stood on his own, but as said previously he does stand holding on to things and he pulls himself up.

Are you supposed to see a HV at a certain age if they're still not walking?
Thank you in advance! X

My son took his first steps last weekend, he's 17.5 months. My first son was 15 months when he walked, he's 4 now and trust me you'd have no idea when he or any of his mates didn't walk. Don't worry about it he'll do it when he wants to.

Honestly don't panic - as long as he is weight bearing and cruising then there is nothing to worry about.

My son was 16 months when he walked. He was also almost a year old before he even crawled! He's 3.5 now and runs everywhere. Apparently, I was 18 months before I walked! I think HVs aren't worried unless they are 2 and not walking. He sounds like he's almost there - I'm sure he will do it when he's ready! He sounds lovely.

My 16 month old sounds just like yours and I've been told to not be worried unless he's not walking at 18 months.

All 3 of mine walked at 16 and a half months and right the way up to the event none of them looked very interested in walking ( I think they could get around so fast crawling, walking was frustratingly slow!) So could happen any day.

My friend was worried about her ds not walking and they said to bring him in at 18 months if he still wasn't interested (he started just before 18months). This was a couple of years ago though so things may have changed.

My daughter was 16 months before she took her first steps. Older by the time she could reliably walk by herself. She's 2 and s half now and there's no stopping her! Some kids just start walking later. Don't worry!

Mine only cracked it just before 2. They are all different.

My daughter was 17 months before she took her first steps. Like your son she was cruising the furniture etc but just didn't seem to want to let go until 17 months., we were worried but it really is true that they all do it in their own time, I like to think that she wanted to wait until she was sure she'd mastered it before trying! I know it's hard when everyone else's children seem to be walking and yours isn't yet but please try not to worry. He will be walking before you know it and there will be no stopping him!.

It's meant to be between 10 and 18 months that they walk isn't it? So I wouldn't be too worried yet.

Where I work as a HV we would only refer to physio if he wasn't walking at 18 months. What is your living room like? Is there room for him to take independent steps or is there a coffee table/chairs etc taking up room

DD1 didn't walk until she was 22 months. Until then, she just sat and waited for people to hand things to her.

She has a DH to do that for her now

Thank you all for such supportive and helpful advice.xx

Anything up to 18 and including 18 months is normal for not walking. Mine walked the day before she was 18 months

Our DS was 18 months before he walked: he waited until he knew he could do it without falling down!