Late walkers

[Rocco85]

Hey.. so my little boy is now 16 months, he took a few steps on his own at just before 15 months and had one evening where he just wanted to walk between me and his dad for ages, probably a max of about 10 steps at a time. Since that night he's done the odd one but doesn't seem interested, he'll walk for ages holding my hand but if I let go he sits down. He's always been a bum shuffler, never crawled and has actually never rolled over!! Not sure what I'm after but just if anyone has had a similar situation and walking has eventually become the way to get around? He's developing really well in all other aspects, has quite a few words now and is brilliant with his fine motor skills just no interest in walking alone, he can shuffle on his bum pretty quickly so maybe just prefers that way 🤷‍♀️😂

perhaps you could try and encourage him to use a walker like this? start with holding his hands, then guide him to the baby walker and place his hands on the handle? best of luck x

Thank you, I should've said he will quite happily walk with the walker too, it's literally just walking on his own that he won't do 🤷‍♀️ I guess he'll get there soon 😊 x

DD1 didn't walk till right at the end of her 18th month (completely the latest end of "normal"). Now 6 years old, usually found swinging upside down on things, or climbing something she shouldn't do. She just didn't want to do walking until she'd got it all figured out in her head - but did pretty much skip that wobbly as hell toddler phase and was very steady on her feet from fairly early on when she did get going.

It's actually my early walker that ended up with the dyspraxia diagnosis and lots of coordination difficulties.

My DS is 20 months and took his first steps last week! I got hugely stressed about his not walking just before he turned 16 months. I had been told multiple times by paediatricians that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him, and that he would walk in his own time, when he was ready. They were right. The doctors would be concerned if he wasn’t able to pull to standing position at your son’s age, but if he can do that, and weight bear, they won’t be worried. My DS is probably very like yours in that he so used crawling, (or in your case getting around on his bum) that he just doesn’t see the need to walk. Although mine has taken steps and can clearly do it, he will drop to his knees to move around rather than keep walking. I think it is partly an issue of confidence, and partly related to the fact that they can get around so effectively already, that they don’t feel the need to walk. Try not to worry. It sounds like he’ll get there soon enough.

Both of mine were late walkers.

DC1 never crawled, barely bum-shuffled and prefer to sit where she was and ask for things to be brought to her! I'm her case, she seemed very focussed on talking, and didn't seem to have capacity for both! Now 4, she's pretty average for walking and talking!

DC2 Crawley at 6 months, pulled to standing at 8 months. Didn't walk unaided until 16 months. Now at almost 2 walks/runs everywhere!

My DS was late sitting up and crawled commando style. I could count on my one hand how many times he pulled himself up and used furniture to hold on to to walk. Like your child he would walk when holding his hands, but dropped to his bum when the support was taken away. I got worried he’d never walk. Then, one day at 18 months he got up off the kitchen floor, leaned against the cupboard for a few seconds and took off walking. Couldn’t believe it. All in their own time.

Thanks everyone, I always try not to compare and know they all do things in their own time but occasionally you can't help but wonder! Thanks for all your lovely replies.. back to enjoying the time while I don't have him running off at every opportunity 😂