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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

16month old DD still not walking, advice please!

23 replies

kirstygem · 10/10/2007 13:50

My DD is 16months old. She will walk fine holding your hand or along the couch etc but will not stand or walk on your own. If I lean her against couch she will sometimes take 3 steps and then fall into my arms. getting bit fed up of MIL asking me every 2 days if she walking yet? Any advice or suggestions how to help her along?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Iklboo · 10/10/2007 13:51

DS was 17 months old before he took his first steps. We got him a puch along walker toy type thing which might have helped a bit but he just took his own time

PetitFilou1 · 10/10/2007 13:57

You probably can't do much to help - frustrating as it is. My dh didn't walk until 18 months - some children don't - but how many do you see crawling down the street as adults? I'd politely ask MIL to stop asking the question and tell her you will update her as and when!

Original poster

kirstygem · 10/10/2007 14:14

Thanks for reassurance. My niece walked right on her first birthday and she at home fulltime with my SIL. I work fulltime so MIL told me and DH our DD would be walking long ago if I was a SAHM

OP posts:

Lulumama · 10/10/2007 14:18

both of mine walked 'late'. DD was 17 months, but didnlt actually like to walk if she could help if for a while, and DS was 18 months

sounds like she is almost there, so don;t be worried !

jsut tell MIL you are training her for the baby marathon and she can't peak too soon!

geogteach · 10/10/2007 14:20

DS2 was 21 months, he got out of buggy walked across the playground and climbed to the top of the highest slide. They just do it when they are ready.

kinki · 10/10/2007 14:20

Kirsty, ignore her! My ds1 was at nursery full time when I worked, he walked at 10 months. Ds2 was at home with me the whole time, because I gave up work, and he walked at 16 months. Its nothing to do with work!

Btw, when ds1 walked at an early age, he went through a long stage of tottering and falling over. Ds2 however was practically running on the day he learnt to walk. He took to it very quickly being that much older. I'm sure it won't be long now.

TheApprentice · 10/10/2007 14:21

I myself didnt walk till nearly 20 months! And I can assure you there's nothing wrong with my walking now....

Also my Mum was a SAHM so your MIL can put that in her pipe and smoke it - what an unhelpful comment to make!

OldieMum · 10/10/2007 14:23

Kirstygem - tell you MIL that (a) late walking tends to run in families and (b) it's sometimes associated with being an early talker and/or having good fine motor skills. It's got nothing to do with anything you, or a carer, has or has not done with her. So the theory that it's because you are not at home with her is, to put it bluntly, nonsense.

I researched this question myself recently because DS is 15 months and not walking. When I found out the above, I found it very reassuring.

lulurose · 10/10/2007 14:25

My DD is 20months and took her first faltering steps at the weekend. She hasn't repeated it yet! I was worried but she will get there in the end....I too get the "lazy baby"comments, its soooo annoying.

LucyJones · 10/10/2007 14:26

my ds was a late crawler (one year) and a late walker (21 months) and now he is the saem as his peers (three) so please don't worry and ignore MIL!

kittywitch · 10/10/2007 14:29

I think all children dance to their own tune. There are averages and some will always be either side. A mum at my kids' school is a childminder. She has a mindee atm who was 2 in July and STILL can't walk very well. There's nothing wrong with her!
My dd3 started walking at 9 months unaided. She still, at 22 months has a very limited vocab.
They can't do everything at once. It'll all even out in the end. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about

TheApprentice · 10/10/2007 14:31

Yes, OldieMum, I was an early talker which people who know me find v amusing as I'm still a real chatterbox!

funnypeculiar · 10/10/2007 14:34

Agree with oldiemum - good points.

Dd and ds both walked around 17/18 mth mark. Both early talkers.

Oh, and you also want to drop into conversation that early walking isn't a 'sign' of anything in child development terms, so to speak - ie doesn't corrolate with better physical skills later on/intelligence etc

fibernie · 10/10/2007 20:19

My dd is 21months and still not walking. She walks on her knees and will walk fully upright holding our hands.
I don't see it as lazy, I see it as perfectionism. She's not going to do it until she can do it properly! (She gets that from me )
It's annoying yes, but don't worry, it'll come.

Kewcumber · 10/10/2007 20:24

it sounds perfectly normal to me, she's walk in her own time. My DS didn;t walk until around 17 months (I think ) and at 22 months he is probably one of the most agile in his age group. Try to ignore MIL if possible.

I work too - nothing to do with it.

Lakelover · 11/10/2007 10:34

Kirstygem - my ds (nearly 16 months) is exactly at the stage of your dd, cruising, walking ok holding onto a finger, can stand up ok unaided, but no sign of walking yet, still v wobbly. Everyone constantly asking me if he's walking yet! V annoying, am sure he'll do it when he's ready, but am still a bit concerned like you. I work full time too and have been worried that he's lacking in confidence or something? (feel silly just typing it, but I hate leaving him everyday...and feel so bad about it)

damewashalot · 11/10/2007 10:35

Not read other replies but my advice would be don't worry, children delelop at different rates and she will do it when she is ready

RubyShivers · 11/10/2007 10:36

DS is 16 months old
will happily cruise round the furniture
walk holding onto my hands
walks a few unaided steps here and there

Crawling is so much quicker for him

don't panic and ignore MIL comments like that

Soph73 · 11/10/2007 11:12

DS was only walking with a push along trolley at 16mnths, he never crawled or shuffled along the floor. However, he must take after me as I was 2.5 yrs old before I walked & I didn´t crawl - just got up and walked one day, my mother nearly passed out

Soph73 · 11/10/2007 11:14

oldiemum - just read your message. My son had exceptional fine motor skills at 16 mnths.

pelvicflawed · 11/10/2007 11:23

Sounds exactly might my DS - cruised and walked with me holding a hand for ages but not independently then about 6 weeks ago (16 mths) he just started walking on his own literally overnight (he did one or two independent steps a couple of weeks before but was reluctant to repeat the experience!). He was a fast crawler and people I spoke to said if they can get there by crawling the don't always feel the need to walk. Know how you feel - thought he was never going to get there, especially when friends months younger were doing it for ages - but he did and now goes like a bullet!!!!

Original poster

kirstygem · 11/10/2007 19:47

Thanks for all the support ladies. This why I love mumsnet

OP posts:

katendmom · 11/10/2007 21:09

kirstygem sounds like you got all the support that you needed but just the last one on this one I guess - my DS started RUNNING at about 12 months... but get this - he's 20 months now and doesn't talk (no words, no sentences)... He is VERY physically mature (was rated at 24 mnth skill level when he was 19 mnth) but has speech development delay. So walking SO doesn't hold the key to anything! LOL

Now - MILs are put on earth to remind us - when our children grow up and get married - we just HAVE to be different. Just HAVE to! (Unrelated to walking but related to MILs - we actually lost our first child, she was a stillborn. My MIL would come over for holidays and make comments like - "isn't it time for you to fill this house with children's laughter?!" It would make my blood boil!)

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