16 month old not walking yet

heavenlylily · 2008-06-26T11:40:43+00:00

Dd can stand independantly, cruise with furniture and is a very fast and able crawler but is not walking yet. She has taken a few steps on a few occasions, mainly at nursery, but does not want to do it at home. I know that she will probably walk in her own good time but I would have thought that having done it on a few occasions it would have been something she would want to practice over and over, like she did when first crawling, but she just doesn't seem bothered. Also, why will she take a few steps at nursery but not at home? Any comments greatfully received!

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Elmosgirl · 26/06/2008 12:44

My DD was a late walker, think she finally got going properly about 17 months. She didn't crawl either as she was a bum shuffler.

scattyspice · 26/06/2008 12:48

DD was 2.3 when she took her first steps and 2.6 when she started walking regularly. We were referred to peads at 2yrs who was quite happy that she was developing normally and would walk eventually. She is now 3.3 and walks and runs almost as well as peers.

PuppyMonkey · 26/06/2008 12:50

Looking at the tots at my toddler group, I'd say there's nowt unusual about yours!

desperatehousewifetoo · 26/06/2008 12:55

Is your dd talking a lot?

My two dc's walked 15-16 months but started talking when lots of other friends dc's were learning to walk.

Imho, children are either 'talkers or walkers'.

If she is cruising round and has already taken a few steps, it won't be long, don't worry. Enjoy it until all the tumbles start and they want to, but can't, walk everywhere!

scattyspice · 26/06/2008 12:56

Thats interesting desphw. DD talked really early.

PuppyMonkey · 26/06/2008 13:00

Mine's a talker and a walker though! First word nine months, first step 12 months.

Now 14 months and her new trick is singing...

ThingOne · 26/06/2008 13:02

Many children don't start walking until 18 months or later. Our HVs said it wasn't even considered a "problem" until two and that some "normal" children (as above!) still weren't walking until over two.

desperatehousewifetoo · 26/06/2008 13:02

And they don't need to crawl or walk to get things because they can ask for (demand) them!

One particular good friend of mine (an OT and who also had a dd who talked early and didn't walk till much later) and myself (an slt), used to console ourselves that early communication is apparently a better indicator of intelligence than early walking!

Although, all the children of mnetters are perfect in every way and very intelligent

desperatehousewifetoo · 26/06/2008 13:05

Puppymonkey, many years ago my ds sat in doc surgery waiting room (can't remember what exact age but prob similar to yours) singing the tune to 'neighbours'. I was so proud

MrsWB · 26/06/2008 14:12

My DS is almost 15 months and not even standing up yet! He will stand and hold a piece of furniture briefly if we put him in that position, and he can pull himself to kneeling, but that's it. Have seen GP and health visitor who both said not to worry but just see how things develop over the next few months. They think he will just get there in his own time, and it sounds like your DD is the same. The fact she can stand and cruise and take a few steps means she has all the right balance/muscle tone etc. I know what it's like though when their friends of the same age are running around everywhere (especially as DS bottom shuffles which is not ideal in the playground).

On the nursery point, I think sometimes children do things at nursery because they are copying/inspired by the others. I have been told a few times that DS has fed himself all of his lunch, but he never does that at home. I give him a spoon and he scoops food out and smears it all over his highchair tray without even attempting to put it in his mouth!

PuppyMonkey · 26/06/2008 14:32

LOL desperate-h.

Mine likes Twinkle Twinkle, just the bit where it goes: Up above the world so high... completely in tune too.

TotalChaos · 26/06/2008 14:34

DS was like this when he started walking at 15 months. very tentative indeed, he needed lots of coaxing for 2 or 3 months till he gained confidence.

smallwhitecat · 26/06/2008 14:36

This reply has been deleted

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TotalChaos · 26/06/2008 14:39

btw I wouldn't class this as not walking, if she has taken steps independently!

MummyToOneForNow · 26/06/2008 14:59

dd recently took first independent steps at 18mo and not talking yet either (didn't bear weight on her legs until about 15/16 mths) - were referred to a paediatrician but he doesn't think there is anything wrong - development within the the normal range. The rate at which she has progressed recently is quite fast.

asteamedpoater · 26/06/2008 22:17

My younger son walked at 15 months - all around our upstairs rooms. For the next 2 months after that, he would scream hysterically if we tried to persuade him to walk again, and didn't try the walking trick again until he was 17 months old.

My elder son has low muscle tone and hypermobile joints. At 15 months, he couldn't roll over, pull to standing, get from lying to sitting, bottom shuffle or crawl... Even he managed to walk (with the help of physio) just before he was 22 months old and can now hop (rather pathetically, admittedly!) and skip, aged 4, although strength, muscle tone and hypermobility are still a bit of an issue. So I really wouldn't spend much time wondering why your daughter won't try her new skills out on you at home - she sounds totally normal from your description of her and is obviously capable of walking, she just needs a bit more time to decide it's a sensible means of getting around in the long term (after all, crawling is just so easy in comparison...).

asteamedpoater · 26/06/2008 22:17

My younger son walked at 15 months - all around our upstairs rooms. For the next 2 months after that, he would scream hysterically if we tried to persuade him to walk again, and didn't try the walking trick again until he was 17 months old.

My elder son has low muscle tone and hypermobile joints. At 15 months, he couldn't roll over, pull to standing, get from lying to sitting, bottom shuffle or crawl... Even he managed to walk (with the help of physio) just before he was 22 months old and can now hop (rather pathetically, admittedly!) and skip, aged 4, although strength, muscle tone and hypermobility are still a bit of an issue. So I really wouldn't spend much time wondering why your daughter won't try her new skills out on you at home - she sounds totally normal from your description of her and is obviously capable of walking, she just needs a bit more time to decide it's a sensible means of getting around in the long term (after all, crawling is just so easy in comparison...).

asteamedpoater · 26/06/2008 22:17

My younger son walked at 15 months - all around our upstairs rooms. For the next 2 months after that, he would scream hysterically if we tried to persuade him to walk again, and didn't try the walking trick again until he was 17 months old.

My elder son has low muscle tone and hypermobile joints. At 15 months, he couldn't roll over, pull to standing, get from lying to sitting, bottom shuffle or crawl... Even he managed to walk (with the help of physio) just before he was 22 months old and can now hop (rather pathetically, admittedly!) and skip, aged 4, although strength, muscle tone and hypermobility are still a bit of an issue. So I really wouldn't spend much time wondering why your daughter won't try her new skills out on you at home - she sounds totally normal from your description of her and is obviously capable of walking, she just needs a bit more time to decide it's a sensible means of getting around in the long term (after all, crawling is just so easy in comparison...).

asteamedpoater · 26/06/2008 22:18

My younger son walked at 15 months - all around our upstairs rooms. For the next 2 months after that, he would scream hysterically if we tried to persuade him to walk again, and didn't try the walking trick again until he was 17 months old.

My older son has low muscle tone and hypermobile joints. At 15 months, he couldn't roll over, pull to standing, get from lying to sitting, bottom shuffle or crawl... Even he managed to walk (with the help of physio) just before he was 22 months old and can now hop (rather pathetically, admittedly!) and skip, aged 4, although strength, muscle tone and hypermobility are still a bit of an issue. So I really wouldn't spend much time wondering why your daughter won't try her new skills out on you at home - she sounds totally normal from your description of her and is obviously capable of walking, she just needs a bit more time to decide it's a sensible means of getting around in the long term (after all, crawling is just so easy in comparison...).

asteamedpoater · 26/06/2008 22:18

Wow. Multiple messages! The wonders of modern technology.

WarmFuzzy · 26/06/2008 22:25

I think 15 months is the average walking age in this country - which means half a year either side is well within the 'normal' range.

Original poster

heavenlylily · 26/06/2008 22:28

Thanks for all your reassuring replies! Dd is a very chatty little girl with lots of recognisable (well to me anyway!) words now so maybe she has concentrated her development on this somewhat! I suppose as a physio I get hung up on the physical side of things so always interesting to hear what slt's think!!

OP posts:

desperatehousewifetoo · 27/06/2008 10:43

Ahh, us health professionals. As soon as it involves our own children all our knowledge goes out the window.

I was exactly the same with my two dcs who both had feeding and reflux problems as babies. I used to be a feeding specialist and would diagnose possible reflux in children and adults every week - but still needed my gp to confirm my two had reflux!

It sounds as though your dd is doing fine.