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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

18month old cannot walk and doctor said I should book a development test....

28 replies

cantpickyourfamily · 06/01/2009 18:49

It will be good to find out if there is a problem or not but I am worried.

The doctor asked if she can talk yet, which she can and talks very well for her age. But now she has made me worry about what the problem could be....

OP posts:

tattycoram · 06/01/2009 19:04

I wouldn't worry too much, I think it's quite common for children not to be able to walk at this age. DS wasn't much younger when he started to walk. Did the doctor give you any indication of what they might be looking for?

PrimulaVeris · 06/01/2009 19:04

I think it's sensible to have a test as 18 mo is supposed to be the limit.

If it's any consolation my eldest dc didn't walk till 18 mo and also a good talker. I didn't till 18m either. Hopefully your dd will be the same.

FAQtothefuture · 06/01/2009 19:05

is she cruising furinture/pulling herself up?

DS1 at 18 months couldn't talk, or walk (or crawl ), but he was cruising furniture

BriocheDoree · 06/01/2009 19:06

I'm glad it's not just me! DS 18 months is talking fairly well but not walking yet. He's been crawling for nearly a year!!

muppetgirl · 06/01/2009 19:08

ds 1 walked at 12 months but didn;t talk till 2 and is a fabulous talker now.

ds 2 is 14 months and doesn't really crawl, has just started to bum shuffle. Doesn't pull up on things though likes standing if you hold him but you couldn't leave him as he would fall down. Makes noises and is more understandable than ds 1 ever was. He shows he understands a lot too.

What do they do in a develoment test?

How is walking related to talking?

CoteDAzur · 06/01/2009 19:11

DD took her first steps at 18 months. Before that she was cruising for a short while.

However, she wasn't pulling up at all, and she had no idea about how to crawl. She would cruise and then walk a bit only if I stood her up. Put her on her tummy and she would scream until turned around

Her paediatrician said "She is fine, just lazy", which I was very about. At my insistence, she prescribed various tests - pelvis scan, blood test to see if she had muscle enzymes, etc. All was fine.

She was 22 months when she managed to stand up on her own Now at age 3, she is totally fine.

So, sure, do all the tests. But it's quite possibly nothing to worry about.

NAB3lovelychildren · 06/01/2009 19:13

I know someone who didn't walk until 21 months. Try not to worry but it won't hurt to have a check up done.

FAQtothefuture · 06/01/2009 19:14

haha Cote - that's so like DS1 (is the same DD that was similar to DS1 with his "sleeping" in the early days?). I had to stand him up to let him cruise the furniture, he did suddenly starte walking at nearly 19 months though, the pulling up came a little after, but he was MUCH older when he learned to stand up without holding onto anything else (ie in the middle of the floor).

muppetgirl · 06/01/2009 19:22

My son was late in holding his own head, late sitting up -nearly 9 months - and I'm not surprised he's late in crawling and we haven't really even thought about walking! He to hated being on his tummy (appeared to be very uncomfortable) Our son is very lazy and he often gets his brother to do things for him.

mawbroon · 06/01/2009 19:32

My HV referred ds to the GP for not walking (can't remember what age) and everything was deemed to be fine.

DS could stand holding on around 15 months and would take one step cruising, but nothing more until he was 20 months. One day he did two steps unaided then the next day he walked up and down the kitchen. He was always super duper cautious when walking in the early days, and still is actually, so I guess he just didn't want to fall over, so stood still instead!!

HV had just wanted his hips etc checked because he had been breech, and now at 3.2yo he is pretty much caught up with the other children his age.

My thinking at the time was that he was probably absolutely fine, but there was no harm in seeing the GP about it.

CoteDAzur · 06/01/2009 19:34

FAQ - Yes, it's the same DD. PFB syndrome played a big part, I think. Next time, I'm putting the baby on his tummy from day one, and not jumping to bring everything he can possibly want.

Divineintervention · 06/01/2009 19:37

DS1.. walked at 15 months but didn't say much until 2.5, DS2 walked at 19 months and talked, in sentences, by 13 months... DD1 walked at 20 months but talked well.
Trust your gut, it's probably nothing but best to check. By the time your appointment arrives your dc will be walking...'tis the law of sod!

FAQtothefuture · 06/01/2009 19:45

well DS2 walked at 10 months, but he is just SO totally different to DS1 personality wise that doesn't surprise me. DS3 was very lazy though - 14 1/2 months before he walked, and a late(ish) crawler, so not totally convinced it was PFB syndrome...............especially as DS1 at 8 is still one of the laziest boys I know, never in a rush to learn anything new, when younger he never went through a "why" "what's that" stage. He's bright, but lazy LOL.

CoteDAzur · 06/01/2009 19:48

"he never went through a "why" "what's that" stage"

Lucky you!

We just passed the "What's that?" stage and now are at "Why?". Some days I lose the will to live.

FAQtothefuture · 06/01/2009 20:01

We did have (and still do ) the "well I'll just sit and watch with no need to take part unless specifically told to" stage.

Whereby he would sit (he did that at 5 months!) and watch other children playing quite happily, if he couldn't reach a toy it was "oh well" (hence I don't think he could be arsed to crawl - he was happy without it so why make all that effort )........it now translates into

"watch and listen to mummy saying how messy the room is and how it could do with tidying up but don't actually DO anything about it until she specifically asks you to" (while his younger brothers, 5 and 19 months automatically join in

Original poster

cantpickyourfamily · 06/01/2009 20:21

DD could crawl from around 7-8 months and pull herself upto standin at 8 months she has taken 11 steps alone when my mum pushed her into it by standing her up and making her walk.

I think she just prefers crawling as it is quicker and safer for her to get around.

She crusies around the furniture and walks holding onto walls and holds my hand to walk.

I'm not sure why the doctor asked about her talking maybe she thought there might be a really buig problem for dd not to be walking at this age.

OP posts:

cory · 06/01/2009 20:33

There are various reasons why children walk late.

They range from simply-not-having-got-around-to-it-because-I-can-entertain-myself-in-other-ways over being-a-bit-careful to various physical problems or, more seriously, general developmental delay. It was to eliminate this last that the doctor asked about her speech. Which clearly is not the problem.

You may find that they look carefully at her legs and move her hips to cross joint problems off the list (dd who walked at 19 months did turn out to have a joint condition).

julietbat · 06/01/2009 21:54

My friend's ds1 didn't walk until nearly 23 months. Her hv told her that unless her ds had another problem (which he didn't), she wasn't worried. Now her ds is 4 and he is really sporty and very well coordinated. He was also a very good talker quite young - maybe just putting all his energies into developing that skill?

TooMuchMakkaPakka · 06/01/2009 22:45

It certainly doesn't sound like your child has general developmental delay, or general learning difficulites, as she is making good progress in areas other than walking specifically. 18months is a little early to worry about not walking, so don't panic, she will probably be fine. however, there may be some physical problems which are making it more difficult for her to learn to walk and the development check might be able to find these or rule these out.

swampster · 06/01/2009 22:55

I'm sure I've read somewhere that the average age for walking in the UK is 15 months with six months either side being well within 'normal' range.

CarGirl · 06/01/2009 22:58

My dd2 walked for 2 months pushing one of those useless dolly buggies that provide no support what so ever - for her it was about confidence, if your dd is cruising around then it could just be confidence - perhaps your Mum scared her and put her off!

wrinklytum · 06/01/2009 23:00

Just adding my twopenceworth

The fact your child has normal cognition and social skills is a very good sign.She is probably just a late developerTo be fair to the HCP the "Red flag " age is 18 months re walking.She will probably take off soonAt least getting flagged at this age means that if a problem is evident it can be picked up upon at this age rather than waiting for ages for a paed physio appointment.I am sure your lo will be fine,but if something untoward should be found,the earlier in the system the better xx

lisad123 · 06/01/2009 23:01

My dd1 didnt walk till just before her 2nd year bday and dd2 is 16months and not walking yet. Im not overly worried atm, and my hv isnt fussed. DD1 was an early talker and very bright and no troubke now walking. HTH good luck

castlesintheair · 07/01/2009 13:04

One of mine didn't walk until nearly 2 and a half. Tests are a good idea to rule out any problems but it's likely to be that she's just concentrating on communication at the moment. DD2 walked at 10 months but at 2 years is probably quite "behind" with speech.

Original poster

cantpickyourfamily · 11/01/2009 16:21

The othe day dd was at my mums house and my mum stood her up and put he arms out for dd to walk to her and she did it no problem.

I dont understand why dd is happy to walk to my mum ut not me. She walked to her at least 8 times while I was there and probably loadsbefore I even got there. She also looked very very steady not ike she would fall over.

OP posts:

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