DELAYED WALKING

[emab]

MY 2 YEAR OLD SON IS STILL OT WALKING OR WEIGHT BEARING, HE HAS BEEN SEEN BY CONSULTANTS WHO HAVE FOUND NO CAUSE FOR THIS, IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, CAN ANYONE GIVE ME AN ADVICE, THANKYOU

[Annholls]

Hi there, I know it's been a long time since you posted this but I know a child with exact same issues at 2 yrs old now and no one can say what the cause it. I was just wondering if you got any answers and what your outcome was. Thank you in advanced.

[MomHopeful]

Found the message string about late walkers. So glad I did, my daughter (26 mo) was born with a cleft palate (surgery done at 14 mo) and didn't get much tummy time. & is catching up on her speach (when she wants to). She refuses to "traditionally" crawl and bum scoots instead. She finally started "wanting" to walk around on her own (with us following close by) using her walker toy, but that only lasts for a short time until she is tired or bored & she will walk with us helping hold her. She will stand against things like the furniture or toys just fine but doesn't want to stand alone, pull to a stand or walk around the furniture. She is otherwise healthy and very happy and will talk clearly when she chooses to, but that delay is expected due to her CP during her 1st year. I'm glad to know I'm not alone. Also my first 2 kids walked by 1 year and did the "traditional crawl" so I feel I'm having to toss the so called parenting handbook out the window and start fresh.

[Beckstarbee]

For those of you out there who are stressed about a late walker... I have so been there, but just yesterday my beautiful 23 month old girl stood up and started walking quite well!! She was late at everything but excelled in her fine motor skills and talking too. We took her to physio starting at 13 months and right after that she started to bum scoot. At around 18 months, she all of a sudden started crawling and climbing stairs and also learned to pull herself up to a sitting and standing position. She took her first steps at 21 months and then for some reason decided to stop progressing and we became quite worried. We took her to a pediatrician at 22 months and were told that she would not walk until well after her first birthday. He was quite discouraging and sent a referral to neurology. Well, the next day, we got video of her walking from one couch to another and we were so thrilled. She's always been very stubborn and gts frusterated easily. At 23 months now, she can do it all. We were amazed when I asked her to walk yesterday and she just stood up and did it! Incredible feeling. I can relate to those of you who have been watching all these 9-11 month olds walking and just so people know, that is considered early, not the norm. People questioned me all the time on whether she was healthy or not and failed to see all the positives with her, like the early talking and fine motor skills she had. I wish we could all just see the beauty in our children instead of comparing them to one another. It really is silly. Children really do things at thier own pace. Don't let anyone tell you different. Your child is unique and special. But on a different note, do what you think is best for your child, if you are concerned, get a referral to a doctor. We are parents, and we know what's best for our children.

[mintyfresh]

marj8 - from our experience, CP is usually diagnosed following an MRI scan and obvious signs that muscles have been affected by brain injury. However, not all variations of 'normal' muscle tone lead to CP i.e. it is possible to have low tone and not have CP iyswim. It has to affect motor milestones fairly significantly before they diagnose and more often than not, they will be cautious as some children may just be delayed.

[ilovesprouts]

hi my ds2 whos now 3 walked at 2.6 but has gdd ,now hes all over the place

[marj8]

yomellamohelly, how did they diagnose your ds2 with CP? That is what I think may be the issue with my son, have repeatedly asked physios and consultants but no one willing to commit. He had heart op at 2 months old and is still very underweight so that may also be contributing to developmental delay. Am going to go down route of getting prviate physio tho as don't think seeing an NHS physio once a week every 3 weeks is enough.

[yomellamoHelly]

Oops - Just seen how long this thread has been going! Tis the time of day! Sorry

[yomellamoHelly]

My first ds walked 6 weeks shy of his 2nd birthday. Always v behind on the curve developmentally. Aged 6 he is fine - still behind emotionally I think.
Thought ds2 (now 3 1/4) was same. Was always SO chilled, laid back and happy. At 3 he doesn't walk either and needs a lot of support to weight-bear. We were told at 18 months he has cerebal palsy.
In your situation I think I'd be looking for a second opinion on the physio front privately. Our experience has been that the NHS service lacks decent therapists with relevant experience who will come off the fence and tell us where ds2 is struggling and what, if anything, we can do about it. Wouldn't be without the help we found - though obviously everyone is different.

[Phoenix4725]

i to have a ds who did not walk till 3 but does still struggle now , he uses a wheelcahir most of the time .But he is and was always way behind physically he has hypermoblity and low muscle tone and as yet undx disablity !!

The main key is to get as much support as you can ot/physio and mumsnet to blow steam of and get support for yourself

[marj8]

Hi Msupa
I am in sw5, have an 18 month son who is not walking. Crawled late, is cruising but not interested in walking. Sees physios and has had lots of tests but so far we have just been told he has "muscle imbalance"
am just round the corner so do get in touch if you want to talk more. Am glad that i found this thread as completely understand how you feel - so frustrating seeing everyone else's kids running around.

[moomoomalarky]

My dd walked at 20 months and was crawling from 15 months so another late starter. I wish I'd seen a thread like this when we were going through all the stress of 'will she ever walk or won't she'. It must be reassuring you I hope, EMAB to find so many others in the same boat.

My dd has low muscle tone in her trunk and had physio almost from birth as she was starved of oxygen. She is very, very determined though and now at 2.5 walks ok most of the time, is running (albeit strangely!) and is just about able to jump! We've been told she probably won't be a ballerina when she grows up but hey ho!

[msupa]

What a relief to find so many mums whose kids do not walk either. My son is 19 months old - started to bottomshuffle at 16 month, crawling (badly) even later than that. He can bear his weight and cruise ok and occasionally can even pull himself up. He also just learned to climb up the stairs. All fine otherwise.
It is so awful watching (what seems like) every child on the planet walking and running around, while my son is still shuffling on his bottom.
Is there anyone in London's SW6 who has the same problem? If so, please let me know - I am dying to talk to someone with a similar issue and not to hear: do you make sure he has lots of opportunity to walk/climb/run!

[devientenigma]

Hi terib, my son is also downs. He has severe hypotonia and more. He didn't stand or start to walk until he was nearly 5 years old. Average for downs is around 2yrs. He is now nearly 8 and still hates walking. He only goes about 10 yds before he sits down. Don't worry it will come. I always thought it wouldn't. Mind the physios had only ever known one more who didn't walk before 4. Have you got the blue badge, parking for disabled. If not you can get this at 2 year old. I literally just carried him in and plonked him on the floor, the half an hour or so that we were there he didn't move so it was issued instantly. LOL. Hope this helps.

[wrinklytum]

Hi terib might be worth posting in Special Needs section of this site.

My dd couldn't walk or crawl at 2 but after physio and having a mobility aid (Kaye walker) she took her first independent steps at 3 sO DON'T GIVE UP HOPE,

(She doesn't have ds but other sn)

The little girl at dd SN group with Downs but is not yet weightbearing or walking,I am sure it will come it just feels like forever when you see all their peers running around and your child is stillrooted to the floor

Welcome to Mumsnet

[terib]

hi, im new i hope someone can help my two year old daughter who has downs will not weightbear she never has im becoming very worried she has lots of physio but still nothing

[Flissrose]

Hi,just wanted to say mt daughter has started to walk she is 2yrs 2 months, a long wait but worth it, she is a bottom shuffler and still shuffles if she's tired. So just to say really try not to worry too much they do walk when they are ready.

[scattyspice]

Emab (and others) my dd didn't walk at all (unaided) until 2.3 and didn't walk regularly (ie still preferred to bumshuffle) until 2.6. We saw Peads who said there was no reason and it would happen by itself (which it did). Late walkers tend to be bumshfflers.

She is now 3.4 and still abit unsteady (especially steps) but has recently started running and is gradually walking further.

Try not to worry, it will happen.

[Flissrose]

Hi,great not to feel so alone, would love to recieve the exercises, could you post them on this website? Many thanks fliss

[Symesy]

Hi to all, I just wanted to add my support to all mums out there with late walkers. My son didn't start to walk alone until he was 21 months and, like others on this page, I was worried, wondered what was wrong. He'd had all the tests UK hospitals can offer, scans, x-rays, blood tests. My son was able to do the splits (I think he probably still can), and had hypotonia in his hips. Also his muscle tone was poor in his legs, ankles and hip areas. A few weeks before he started to walk, he hurt his foot - pulled muscles in one of his feet, which held us back again. Eventually he did it, but he can be stubborn, and sometimes refuse to walk, even though he can do it. Since his walking has started, he's found new independence and with that the Terrible Two's have well and truly started - tantrums!! My doctor told us that his kids didn't walk until 22 months old - wish he'd told me that at the start of our investigations, would've made me feel much better!

[DRAGON30]

Hi Gidigal. Have you tried walking with reins on, and letting him push the buggy? That way, he's supported, has something to concentrate on, and is not walking with one hand stretched above his head - NOT a good idea for balance/ posture etc. I have a daughter with Hypermobility, and I posted on the other recent 'walking' thread about exercises etc. DD1 started walking by either holding the buggy, or the curved handle on a folding umbrella -I had the other end! This kept her hands lower, and gave her confidence.

[Zep]

Hello gidigal

My son has hypotonia (low muscle tone in his legs) and isn't standing alone without holding onto something or walking.

He is having physio and I have exercises to do with him. I can post them if you like.

[gidigal]

wow, i can't believe there are other people going through what i am going through. my younger son is 25 months old and still requires assistance when walking. he won't even stand on his own. he'll bend at the knees when he thinks we are about to let go, and as soon as we let go, he drops. he's stood on his own a few times, although he gets quite upset or is too preoccupied to know that he is standing on is own. he is unable to stand up on his own, which concerned his pediatrician (who, btw, did not walk until he was past the age of 2). we have to see a neurologist in a month's time. i just hate having to explain to people when they see him crawling around (and boy, does he move fast!) it's always the same speech.. "yes, he's 2 years old and no, he isn't walking yet." i just want him to have a happy, healthy life, and i am such a worrier as it is...does anyone have any good exercises for me to try with him while we wait for his appointments? any ideas would be helpful. thank you to everyone who has posted on tis website...i feel less alone, and certainly know how you feel. we all just want the best for our children...

[asteamedpoater]

katedan, I think you will find it isn't very unusual for a child to walk later than 16 months. More rare later than 18 months, and very rare indeed later than 2 years if there is nothing wrong.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with my younger son, who walked at 17 months - he's actually rather physically able. My other son walked just before 23 months and he has low muscle tone (no diagnosed cause - there frequently isn't...), but his grandfather walked after the age of 2 and had no motor problems whatsoever in later life - he was, in fact, a very good tennis player and no-one could beat him at billiards...

Did your DD have trouble with her other gross motor skills? Apart from being a bit on the late side with the early ones, my younger son didn't, but it was just so obvious to me from a very early age that his older brother did have a problem - he was obviously bright in all other ways, but couldn't even roll over at 15 months, let alone get himself from lying to sitting, bottom shuffle, crawl, pull to standing, etc. Even with that rather troublesome start on the gross motor skills front, my DS, now 4, can skip and jump and run - the only things he still finds a bit of an effort are cycling up a slope and climbing stairs without the help of bannisters.

So, please try not to worry about the more serious possibilities (I know it's difficult - I used to cry myself to sleep, worrying about my eldest DS and why he couldn't get about, despite his obvious desire to). Usually, it turns out to be something that in the long term doesn't add up to anything that serious.

[katedan]

Hi Flissrose.

Just wanted to let you know ou are not alone. My DD is 19 months and not walking, her ID twin has walked for the last couple of months. She crawled at 10mths and pulled up and walked holding on by 11 months but has not progressed. We have an appt at the ospiartl at the end of the month but I really don't know what to think. Mt DS did not walk untill 18 mths but he was a bum shuffler and we were told this can lead to late walking. I was determined to not worry but I never thought we would get to summer and she would not walk. It is very hard and I guess we will have to see what the hospital appt brings up. It seems to be so rare for a child to not walk past 16 mths and there is not much written about it.

[dizzysteph]

Mabs, thank you so much for your message, its just what I needed to hear.

Looks like I'll be using that pushchair for another year