nearly 17 months and still not walking.

[designergirl]

Do other parents have experience with this? Our other two dds walked at around 13 months, but our third dd is very different. She shuffles around on her bottom, and has only recently discovered crawling. She's not really pulling up on furniture but will stand with support. Should I be overly worried at this stage?

Bottom shufflers on average are later at walking than crawlers. Most children who crawl walk by 18 months of age, whereas health professionals tend to expand that "norm" for bottom shufflers to as late as 2 years. If your dd is making gradual progress, then it is unlikely to be anything of any great concern - she'll get there, eventually! She may be more hypermobile than her sisters (loose jointed), which will mean it will take her longer to build up the muscle strength to support her joints to enable her to crawl and walk effectively. If she's now crawling, that will really help her build up the right muscles, particularly around her hips, to enable her to pull to stand and start walking. It will also be good for her co-ordination. If she can crawl and sit up well, it is unlikely to be anything that needs any kind of intervention.

My ds1 was extremely hypermobile (at your dd's age, still wasn't even bottom shuffling) and needed some help to get moving, but once he'd built up sufficient muscle strength (with the help of physiotherapy and then, once he could crawl and push a cart about, a lot of practising these skills), he got along just fine and is now a very active nearly-6 year old. Pulling to stand was one of the trickiest things for him, as you do need very good joint stability to achieve this - loose hips, weak ankles and knees that will only support your weight if they lock back the wrong way are not good for pulling to stand!!!!

I hope you have joy with your dd's walking, soon!

My dd started bottom shuffling at 12 months & didn't walk until 20 months. One theory is that as they have their hands free when they shuffle there is not such an incentive to walk. I'm not sure about that but anyway within a month or so if walking you really couldn't tell the difference in her movement from her early walking friends. Try not to worry, I wasn't but people did used to go on & on at me 'oh not walking yet, you need to...blah blah blah!'

My ds walked at 18months - i was due to officially start worrying then. he runs marathons now.

dd2 didn't start walking until 21 months, she bumshuffled everywhere, but she also din't like to pull herself up to stand, and dh noticed that when we stood her against soemthing her feet would roll out to an alarming degree (it looked as though her ankle bone would touch the floor), She was referred to a paediatrician, who checked for hip issues etc. She said that her ligaments were very soft, hence she was unable to bear any weight, and it might help for her to wear sturdy shoes. We bought some full on sturdy up the ankle and across the foot shoes, and she started walking almost as soon as they were on.

If she seems happy to bear weight and her feet and ankles look ok, then I wouldn't worry about it, but if you are concerned ask your gp or hv to refer you.

Thanks for all your comments. I'm sure she'll get there in the end, but we took her to the GP on Thursday and she has referred her to the paediatrician, just to make sure everything is okay

Our dd (now 2) started walking at 18m to the day. Prior to that, had been a bum shuffler for about 6m and started crawling only after she learned to walk. W At 12m, we were referred for tests/x-rays/ultrasounds on her hips (normal) and joints (normal) and in the end, the consultant concluded that she was struggling as she was somewhat 'chubby' and needed extra time to build her muscles up! Bless her. She's now scooting around all over the place, and her late start on walking doesn't seem to have impacted on her at all. Fear not!