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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

Late walking, 'tis probably nothing but just tellme if I should do something about this...

53 replies

Bensonbluebird · 02/10/2008 11:20

DS2 is nearly 17 months and still crawls most of the time. He took he first steps just before he was 1 and his walking has been developing verrrry sllllllowly since then. He will walk a fair way holding my hand (with regular stops to poke things with sticks). When he does walk his right foot is turned out slightly and he drags his foot a bit. The reason I have a slight worry about this is that MIL has one leg longer than the other.

Does it sound like DS2 may have a problem? or is dragging a leg totally normal? Should I take him to see the HV?

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Original poster

Bensonbluebird · 02/10/2008 15:07

Muppet - DS2 was 8lb 2oz, so not heavy, but was 56 cm long.

Is your DS2 a happy baby? I think that they have to be a bit discontented to want to make a developmental leap. I don't think DS2 could give a monkey's that he isn't walking. He is perfectly happy on his knees.

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muppetgirl · 02/10/2008 15:30

I think you're right about the happy/not happy. Ds came out frustrated and wanting to do the next stage. ds 2, in contrast, couldn't give a hoot about not being able to do things. He does show the same determination as ds 1 but in a totally different way. He DOES NOT want to sit up so if he notices you taking cushions away to try to encourage him to sit by himself, he throws himself back and refuses to sit at all.

TillyScoutsmum · 02/10/2008 15:36

muppet - dd was just shy of 10lb born and was always 98th centile for height & weight. She was late sitting, rolling and crawling but then seemed to go to cruising and walking very quickly from crawling iyswim. She was walking consistently from 14 months

HereComeTheGirls · 02/10/2008 16:35

My DD was 6lbs 2oz, is still very slim ....

HereComeTheGirls · 02/10/2008 16:41

I agree that a referral can be helpful, my DD sees the child development physio every couple of months and it was so reassuring that she told us that all her movements were normal, just delayed

lingle · 02/10/2008 16:45

My neighbour is a consultant paediatrician and her daughter is just walking at 22 months. My neighbour said that had she not been in a position to judge the situation herself, she would have taken her daughter to see someone at 18 months if not walking.

Hope that might help someone.

scattyspice · 02/10/2008 16:55

Benson. We saw peads (via GP) at 2. She said they see babies from 18mnths who arent walking to rule out any problems so Id wait til then and ask GP to refer.

cory · 02/10/2008 17:47

My dd is hypermobile and did not walk until 19 months. Wasn't sure about whether I should post on this thread as dd has had quite a bit of trouble with mobility: she has what is known as hypermobility syndrome which is basically where hypermobility causes pain. (this is fairly unusual so don't get needlessly worried)

Dd also walked very unsteadily, even as a pre-schooler, had a lot of falls and started getting ankle pains in early junior school.

Ds also hypermobile, walked at normal age but turned his feet inwards so got the ankle pains (flat feet). Insoles sorted him out: dd has needed quite a bit more help.

Original poster

Bensonbluebird · 02/10/2008 19:34

Herecomethegirls, Scatty and Lingle - THanks, that's really helpful. I'll wait till he's 18 months and if it is still an issue then I'll take him in for a referal. In the meantime I'll try not to worry and will spend my evenings patching trousers.

Cory - Poor DD, I think the only advantages I've had from hypermobility are being good at yoga and fast labour.

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littlefrog · 02/10/2008 20:08

this is a v comforting thread: ds is 18 months and it feels as if he's the very last baby in the world to walk! all his little friends, even ones a couple of months younger, have been toddling about for ages: not him. have been wondering about taking him back to the GP, as we were referred to paeds when he was about 10months because he REFUSED to put any weight on his feet - would pick them up off the floor rather than stand, that only changed when he was 15m. anyway paed said come back if he's not walking at 18m, but he's so clearly wanting to now that i can't think it'll be so much longer.
interesting that so many of you comment on tiny feet - ds has feet of a 12 month old, and can't wear 4 year old hats... no wonder he can't balance!

HereComeTheGirls · 02/10/2008 20:10

littlefrog- don't worry, definitely not the last, my DD will be 2 in 2 weeks time and isn't walking

MrsWB · 03/10/2008 13:56

It's nice to hear we're not the only ones. My DS is like yours littlefrog and didn't weight bear until 15 months and even then wasn't keen. He is now 18 months and cruises and walks holding my hand. The HV said she is not worried and they only worry if they are not weightbearing at this age (if that helps anyone).

He also has tiny feet - easily fits size 6-12 month shoes!

All his friends have been walking for 6 months so we do feel left out when they race around the park and DS is still shuffling around on his bottom. Rainsuit idea is a good one.

rempy · 03/10/2008 14:00

The so called "limit" age for walking is 18 months. Of those that take longer, the majority are completely normal, just haven't gotten round to it. A small proportion have a problem.

If your child has started on their feet, its almost certainly OK.

Ohforfoxsake · 03/10/2008 14:04

It won't hurt to get him checked out, but I don't think you need to worry. My two DSs didn't want until they were 18 months. Actually DS1 could walk, just refused to do it infront of us DD walked at 10 months. DD2 can stand up when she can be arsed, but isn't that interested in it, she's 15 months.

So they are all different, and will do it in their own good time.

Proserpina · 03/10/2008 14:11

My son didn't walk until 22-23 months, just had no interest in learning and was quite happy knee-shuffling everywhere. I never thought his late walking was a problem (although it was a nuisance carrying him when heavily pregnant!) until other people kept on at me about it and seemed to think I should be doing more to "encourage" him. Ds is very quick to pick up on unspoken pressure and usually reacts by doing the exact opposite of what you want - I have a vivid memory of clapping when he took a few steps and him pointedly turning his back on me! Anyway he is 25 months now and loves going for walks so no harm done by his late walking. He's just getting interested in talking too, now, after two years of silence...but that's another story....

HereComeTheGirls · 03/10/2008 18:01

My DD was just discharged by physio today, she says all thats holding her back from walking now is confidence and not having a real desire to walk! So, they are all different I think!!

HereComeTheGirls · 03/10/2008 18:02

Proserpina..she is exactly the same, will only walk when you catch her unawares or is distracted, if you say "lets walk" or try to take her hands to walk she flops down onto her knees and refuses!!!

ACL · 03/10/2008 18:37

Trust your gut feelings and ask for an assessment if you are in anyway concerned.

My son has Hypermobility Syndrome (there are lots of here I think with this!) - and was a floppy baby, late with all stages of development (walked at 2, walked OK outside at 3 - the first walk in autumn leaves was such a big thing for us) but helped with physio.

He has a large head (on top end of the scale) - runs in the family - and we were told this would also not help him learning to walk - defying gravity is hard work! We did have a scan of his ventricles etc to check all is OK - and was told all is OK - by a radiologist who equally had a large head!

Yes we were the ones at Mums/Toddlers with the only one who was not standing etc - in fact we changed to a different Mums/Toddlers where there was a quiet room so that he could play with age appropriate toys rather than being stuck on the baby play mat and look rather not amused! I used to get really fed up with some of the comments especially if others were so competitive about their milestones. I used to reply that he would get there in the end, quoting the driving test examiners "in your own time"!

Bottom shuffling - my daughter did this - again this gets comments at Mums/Toddlers. Bottom shuffling can be symptom of hypermobility as the lax ligaments/muscles in the wrists can make weight bearing on your wrists too tricky.

Having been there and got the hypermobility Tshirt twice (in fact three times as I have it too) and have experienced developmental delay for all three of us, all I can say really is go and ask for help if you have any concerns - getting physio/OT/orthotics can really help our little ones - the earlier the better. I wish I had had this help as it may have prevented some of my deformities etc and would have encouraged my independence, and my play.

Oops a long message!

Proserpina · 04/10/2008 16:35

HereComeTheGirls, oh that brings back memories, the flopping down on the knees! Looking back I can't blame him as it really was my agenda not his but at the time I felt like screaming especially when friends told me how their LO's had all been walking right on cue thanks to their skilful parenting!! I think ds has just inherited his father's stubborn nature but dp thinks he gets it from me [hmmm] To be honest I hate being pushed or rushed too and can't do things with people watching, need them to go away and let me get on with it in my own time so maybe ds is the same.

Am a bit about the talking in sentences - although the daily game of charades round our place can be very entertaining if you're not in a hurry...

hazeyjane · 04/10/2008 16:59

My dd2 is 16 months and has just started pulling herself up, after being a bum shuffler for the last couple of months (she is super speedy, and very good for cleaning the floors!). Its only now she stands that we (dh, actually) noticed that one of her feet really rolls out. Our doctor has referred us to the orthopedic paediatrician for physiotherapy, so we'll see how that goes.

She too has teeny tiny feet (and a huge head!), and we would be lost without our allin one waterproofs for her to bumshuffle around the park in.

littlefrog · 06/10/2008 09:35

so interesting, all these huge heads and tiny feet - of course it's going to be harder for them to walk! I remember a 6 foot plus girl at college, with tiny (maybe size 5) feet, and she had constant ankle pain, which she thought was because he feet weren't really big enough for her height...

am interested in the whole hypermobility thing - DH is super-flexible, and I have various double joints, so DS might be a bit too stretchy. But then his version of bottom shuffling has always involved using hands - he pulls himself forward, either sitting on bottom or knees: very hard work!

think I'll give ds another month (so he's rising 19m) before I go back to the gp and say look the paediatrian wanted to see him again if he wasn't walking at 18m: he seems really close now, and getting keener on it each day.

I really identify with this whole mother's - baby's agenda thing! DS just has never been bothered AT ALL by the fact that other kids walk, he just wants to get on with his own things in his own way. I guess a good lesson on not pushing and accepting them just the way they are.

ilovemydog · 06/10/2008 09:38

One thing that helped was a walker for DD who needed a bit more confidence...

But don't worry - they walk when they're ready...

Original poster

Bensonbluebird · 06/10/2008 19:47

Proserpina - I think my DS2 has a double dose of stubbornness from DP and I .

Ilovemydog - A friend was just telling me a story today about a little boy she knew who wasn't walking at almost 2. His GP had reccommended a walker for him, so off they went to buy one. Afterwards they went to the park and my friend and the boy's mum were faffing about trying to set it up. Just as they finished they saw him run off to the swings! he must have thought 'no way I'm going in that thing'.

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ilovemydog · 06/10/2008 21:04

that's hillarious - in a very Litte Britain sort of way

Original poster

Bensonbluebird · 08/10/2008 20:53

Just thought that I should give an update. DS2 started chasing his brother up and down the hall yesterday! ... and then he had a wee on the loo

His ankles are still pretty wobbly and you can see his wee toes scrunching round to stop his ankles tipping inwards, but he is definately doing well. I think I should still take him to the doctor to get his ankles looked at.

Hope everyone else is doing well too.

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