DS not walking yet - when to worry?

[1sttimeunicorn]

My DS is nearly 16 months old now and not walking.

He’s a tall and long limbed boy - I wonder if that’s part of the problem. People often seem surprised when I say his age.

All of his baby pals the same age and younger are walking, even some that are only 10 months or so. So I’m worrying.

He stands up and holds on to furniture. He can pick things up from the floor and put them on the furniture. We regularly hold his hands and ‘walk’ with him but he tends to cry after a few steps and sit down.

He hasn’t had a baby walker (the type with a seat) because I read that they can stop them putting their feet flat - but now I regret it - maybe it would have helped.

Any advice out there?

If he says crying after a couple of steps and sitting down quickly, I’d go to the GP to check his hips and to make sure he’s not in pain. Usually they can walk quite a bit holding your hands before they start to walk independently.

Ok thank you I will do that!

Anyone else?

It's good he's supporting his own weight and cruising, I was told up to 18 months is considered 'normal' for walking. I second a trip to GP to get hips checked though.
Was he late to crawl?
Have you tried the a- frame pushalong walkers? My DD started with that first before progressing to walking on her own, she was a bit late to start walking and crawling but we had hard floors throughout the downstairs which I don't think helped.

Yes we have the a frame walker, he’s not much of a fan! We also have hard wood floors throughout our downstairs. Maybe I will persevere a bit longer with him then!

DS2 always refused to walk holding hands: he'd cry and sit down. Wasn't a fan of the walker either. Just wasn't interested. He didn't walk till 18 months. He's 2 now and if in the mood will happily walk a couple of miles on foot.

There's no harm in getting your DC checked, but up to 18 months is within the range of normal, so I'd try not to worry.

Thanks @FurryGiraffe that’s reassuring.

like other have said if you have worries when he cries when you walk him take him to the doctors, there is no real age for when babies walk, my nephew was 19 months and a friends DD was 21 months she was quite happy bum shuffling x

My first didn't walk till 19 months....just stood up one day and was off. I would try not to worry...they do it in their own time.

My son was almost 19 months, was later to crawl so I wasn't surprised. He cruised for about 5 months though at 2.5 he can "run" (in a toddler way) and jump a bit although I'd say he's still behind. Part of it could well be his personality though, he's very cautious by nature so doesn't charge about like some his age. It does mean fewer bumps and bruises though!

Thanks for the replies. He is definitely physically still fairly babyish, he’s very ‘cuddly’ and goes shy easily, he also hates swings at the park...! He is now happily pushing his walker around and seems to be enjoying that so we are possibly getting there!

He sounds fine. My DD wasn't walking on her own regularly until she was a couple of weeks off 2. She's completely fine. Some children are just slower to hit this milestone.

two of my nephews were a year and a half starting to walk, my nephew now is 15 months and isnt walking where as mine took his first steps at 8 months abd running at 11 months. it doesnt matter when they start walking it doesnt mean a thing but what worries me is that you say that he cries after a few steps... is it a scared to walk cry or hurting his legs cry? wouldnt hurt to take him to gp just incase.

@enidlowrij thanks for the reply. He’s stopped the crying when I try to get him to hold my hands and walk, mainly because he’s now pushing the walker and taking a few steps. So that’s good, I hope it’s a sign he will start to walk unaided soon.