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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

Walking on their own? Advice please

14 replies

adee1974 · 30/03/2008 20:40

Hi there, my little one is nearly 14 months old and still not walking on her own...should I be worried?

She can 'toddle' holding my hand or pushing her walker (also cruises round furniture) but family and friends are making me paranoid when they ask if she is doing on her own and running around yet?

Any advice would be appreciated as would any tips on how to help her walk on her own and what ages your lo started their independant travels.. Thanks x

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levan · 30/03/2008 20:42

My dd didn't walk until she was 15mths - all her friends seemed to do it much earlier so I did worry a little bit, but as soon as she got going there was no stopping her. I think there is a wide variation - they just do it when they're ready. My friend's dts didn't walk until 20 mths and they are fine!

Original poster

adee1974 · 30/03/2008 20:44

thanks for that, how did she start toddling, did she just get up and start?

Did you use one of those walkers?

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happynappies · 30/03/2008 20:50

My dd has only just started toddling at 15 months. She took a few steps between me and dh after a couple of months of walking holding our hands, and pushing her walker toy. For a few days it was a 'novelty' act - to much praise and applause, but then we went away to visit some friends with an older daughter who was walking and she didn't look back from there. Just starting walking all the time. She's been on her feet for two weeks now - now my family can all get off my back about it!! I think walking can be as late as 18 months without there being any particular cause for concern - and even then I think you might flag it up with HV for a check. I wouldn't worry - sounds like your lo is well and truly on the way, won't be long now!

grannyslippers · 30/03/2008 20:53

My second DS walked at 19mths. Cruised, crawled, stood and shuffled for months on end! I developed a thick skin! He had a few push-along toys (they need to be really stable though, like a wooden trolley), we also, a bit obsessively, did a lot of "training": Me and DH on opposite sofas: "walk to mummy" "walk to Daddy" etc.

Then one day he was standing next to a piece of furniture, and just walked across the room when he was good and ready. In hindsight, no real problem at all.

I'm sure your LO will be fine too - tomorrow could be the day!

Smithagain · 30/03/2008 20:55

DD1 - 13 months - stood up one day and walked - very weird

DD2 - 17 months Could stand up unaided for several weeks before that, but never felt confident enough to take a step. Once she did, she became difficult to stop!

Sounds like she's doing just fine.

Original poster

adee1974 · 30/03/2008 20:55

Thanks for that happynappies and congrats with your little one, bet she keeps you busy now!

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K999 · 30/03/2008 20:56

My dd is 13 months and the best thing I ever did was get rid of the baby walkers/push along things. She took about 10 steps on her own today and is clearly loing being able to move on her own. She has never crawled/bum shuffled etc but I have been holding her hand to walk and today I let it go (was standing behind her all the way!) and she did brilliant!

Original poster

adee1974 · 30/03/2008 20:57

thanks guys for your advice, just being a paranoid mummy!

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JingleyJen · 30/03/2008 20:59

DS1 started walking whilst hand holding at 10 months but didn't have the confidence to let go until 16 months. in the end it was an accident, he was holding DH's gardening glove and carried on walking when DH stopped. He never looked back!

DS2 started walking/cruising 8-9 months and let go at 13 months..

for both boys it seemed to be about balance and confidence with balance rather than ability to walk.

I kept in mind that a little girl down the road bumshuffled until she was 21 months then just got up and walked so as long as we were there before that I felt we didn't have a problem.

Good luck, I am sure your little one will be independant in no time.

rowe · 30/03/2008 21:03

my dsi was 12mth dd2 was 15mths ds3 was 15mths but my sisters were 22,19mths and brothers 14mths and youngest brother is 17mths and sttill not walking all kids are diffrent dont worrie sounds like she on the right trak1 good luck!!

neolara · 30/03/2008 22:29

I was talking to a mum of identical twins the other day. She said that they had reached most of their motor milestones within a few days of each other - that's got to be preprogrammed by their genes! (Oh, and their first tooth had appeared within two hours of each other.)

peacelily · 30/03/2008 22:43

Hi adee1974, I too felt very like you do, was v worried when dd still wasn't walking at 15m especially with all the comments. She finally branched out on her own at 17m and hasn't looked back! (18m now)

As another poster has mentioned we did encourage her by standing on opposite sides of her nursery doing come to Mummy/Daddy with lots of praise. I'm sure she'll get there soon! xx

sophiebbb · 30/03/2008 22:47

My nephews started walking at 17 months. 14 months is really normal, in fact in my NCT group they all started walking between 13-16 months and no earlier.

Why do people feel the need to make silly developmental comments all the time which only serve to make mums even more paranoid than they naturally are!

Original poster

adee1974 · 31/03/2008 18:27

Thanks very much everyone for your advice, will just be patient!

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