When to worry about not walking?

[tethersend]

I am slightly worried about 15mo DD who shows no signs of walking... she shuffles across the floor on her arse at lightning speed, but has never crawled.

She can hold her weight on her legs if she's holding on to a sofa/footstool etc., but does not pull herself up to standing (although she did this once when 12 mo, she hasn't done it again). She seems to have trouble balancing.

As she is my first, I have little or no idea what I'm doing and frankly, I marvel at the fact that we have been able to keep her alive this long. She is in great health.

Is it time to raise concerns with GP/HV? She was a breech baby, but all was fine at the hip scan. Could this be a factor? Or will she just walk when she's ready?

Hi there. I'm in much the same position. Still waiting for almost 16 month old DS to walk. He does crawl, pull-up and cruise, but he has absolutely no interest in walking. Last weekend he started to take a few wobbly steps and I got all excited, but since then he's totally lost interest and is back to crawling. He's the only baby in his room at nursery who doesn't walk and it makes me sad. My DS has trouble balancing too. He really struggles to stand unaided.

However, my understanding is that anything up to 18 months is completely normal and also that bum shufflers tend to be later. The fact that she can weight bear is also a good sign that all is well.

But you could maybe take her to the GPs just to be on the safe side. Either they will put your mind at rest or you will at least get in the system if she does need extra help. I was going to take DS, but since he has taken a few steps I think I'll leave it and see how he goes for another month or so.

It's so difficult isn't it. I'm trying not to worry, but with all the comments I've been getting it's turning it into a bit of an issue and I wish he'd just get it over and done with.

Arrggh, the comments! I'm glad I'm not the only one, dizzee

I took her to a museum and put her down in the play area.... as she shuffled across the floor, cue frightened children, pointing, sympathetic looks from adults, and more than one cry of "Look at the freaky baby". From adults.

She is also the only one at playgroup who doesn't walk.

So would I be best going to GP or HV do you think?

She is normal and sounds lovely. Children who bum shuffle are often late walking. The nhs does not consider not walking an issue until nearer the age of two.

My son wasn't a bum shuffler, but he took his first steps at 20 months, but could only manage two steps until he was nearer two and half years old. My son had orthopedic problems that made it hard for him to learn to walk. He had a child physio who wasn't in the least bit concerned. She told me that in most cases if a child can sit by two years old, they will walk by four.

Not all children follow the baby books. It does not mean that they are stupid or have a disablity.

Not sure whether GP or HV is best. I've not much experience with HVs. We moved house (and area) when DS was 9 months and we're still waiting to be allocated a new HV (I think we're totally lost in the system), so I'd probably go to my GP. In principle I suppose HV should be better as they see babies all the time and should get a feeling for what is just the late side of normal and what is genuinely concerning.

The comments are annoying aren't they. Even the kindly meant "Don't worry, he'll get there in his own time" are starting to annoy me. Very sad if you're getting nasty comments though.

If it's any help, the staff at DS's nursery told me that they've seen plenty at this age not walking and some even move to the toddler room not walking. They must have seen loads of babies over the years and I'm sure if they were genuinely concerned they would tell me.

There's loads of threads/comments on MN about late walkers, so it's obviously not that uncommon. Just seems it when you're out and about and all other 15 mo seem to be walking.

my second just took a first few steps at about 16 months and didn't do much with it after. He's just gone 18 months and has only properly started in the last 2-3 weeks and he goes everywhere on foot now. His brother walked at 13 months so I was worried he was so late (I even posted a similar thread on here a couple of months ago as I'm having No. 3 in 5 weeks and was really stressing). He's got there now - know what you mean about the pitying looks though. Seems to be so much pressure.

My dd did not weight bear or cruise until 17 months and she took her first steps around 19 months. She's 21 months now and is running around and climbing up climbing frames etc.

The hv persuaded me to take dd to the gp, must have been when she was about 16 months, because as I said she wasn't even weight bearing. He wasn't concerned.

Take her to the gp though, by all means, as it may reassure you.

She sounds lovely bless her. FWIW my brother didn't walk until 20 months, 15 months isn't really that late. Go to your gp to put your mind at rest but the fact she is mobile (bum shuffling) they see this as a hood sign and often babies get used to what they're comfortable with and what gets them from a to be the quickest. My dd is 9 months and does not crawl and if I get another 'at least you know where she is' comment again I'll do a 'hulk mad' impression lol xx

Thanks very much, your posts have put my mind at rest... it's the comments which make you worry, isn't it?

Charlie, my DD never crawled, and didn't start shuffling until 11 months. I got loads of those 'you know where she is' comments. Yes, I know where she is; she's on the floor in front of me wanting to be entertained because she is so BORED. Once she could move, she could entertain herself quite happily with plug sockets and mains cables - she is a lot more content.

My DD is 15 mths and has no interest in walking (can cruise and weight-bear, but just looks at you like you're mad if you try to get her to do more than that). She is a very fast, efficient crawler and I think she is reluctant to give up her speedy way of getting about. My first child walked at 10 months. Early/late walking means nothing in my book.

My Dad was nearly two before he started walking. He now doesn't drive and can out walk most people. I wouldn't worry unless you thought there was a serious reason why she doesn't walk

I suppose I just wondered if it has anything to do with her being a breech baby?

DS1 was 18 1/2 months before he walked

Couldn't crawl, pull himself to standing or anything (but could hold himself upright if you stood him up holding onto something) - just sort of sat there - then walked across the room at 18 1/2 months

toccata- that sounds like my DD!

Did your DS1 just get up and walk?

pretty much yes - he did cruise furniture (with me standing him up) for a bit before hand - but didn't learn to pull himself to standin on his own until after he walked lol

Hilarious.

I wait with baited breath

tethersend, my ds was a breech baby too. His hips etc were also fine and he was a "late" walker, although none of the HVs or docs were concerned at all.

He pulled up at 15 months, then just stood there looking until he took his first steps at 20months.

One day, he took two little steps, was all pleased with himself, and then the next day, he walked up and down the kitchen!

He is still a reluctant mover, age 4.3yo. I have to chase him around the park/soft play or wherever to get him moving, but he is perfectly capable!

I would certainly take her to get checked out, but if she gets the all clear then just trust that she will do it when she's ready.

My dc walked at about 17 and 21 months. They too both started walking without being able to stand - they had to pull themselves up using furniture, could walk a few steps and then, if they fell, had to bum shuffle back to something to be able to pull themselves up again!

I remember the hurtful comments at the time (more with dd - by ds I wasn't too bothered as I thought he'd get it eventually!!).

They are 6 and 8 now and it's all faded into insignificance...

My DD was also a bum shuffler- she never crawled and she started walking around 16/17 months. I think this normal for bum shufflers- they do tend to walk later, the GP told me not to worry unless she hadn't walked by about 18-20 months. I agree bout the comments- just tell 'em she'd developing her mind first- they can only do one thing at once .

My DD walked at 22 months. I think at about 19 months she had a developmental review because it's standard here to have a look at them if they're not walking at 18 months ish but noone was worried about her.

She didn't crawl till she was over 1.
Having said that, she did have a bit of physio as one of her ankle was a bit weak.
Like some other posters, when she did do some steps we all got excited but then days would go by before she'd do them again and if we encouraged her she would flatly refuse to try.
It didn't bother me too much but then we'd be at a playgroup or something and all the others would be running around and I'd feel really sorry for her. She was not remotely bothered though.
I've since had a DS who isn't quite walking but crawls at lightning speed and can reach up for anything. He is a nightmare and I quite miss my sedentary daughter!

My DS didn't walk until 19mths, not much of a crawler either. No ongoing problem - running everywhere pretty soon - but I did need to develop a thick skin!

I have 3 DCs. DC1 walked at 15 months, DC2 at 21 months and DC3 is 15 months and has only just started bottom shuffling within the last week. The other two were bottom shufflers too and didn't move at all until they were over a year old. I am not putting any money on DC3 walking any time soon!

My sister didnt walk until she was almost 2 and a half!!

After worrying my mum sick, and the doctors not finding anything wrong (hips etc) she apparently just got up on her feet one day and walked!

The doc said she was just being lazy, as mum was a little soft on her. She would point at things and mum, bless her, would get it for her. The doc told mum to stop it, and my sis got so frustrated she got up and got the thing herself!!!

My DD1 was 17 months before she walked & I think she only did it then because she wanted to go outside in the nice weather. I made a point of telling her she could only go out if she walked (mean mummy). I think it helps if they've got an incentive to want to do it.

My DD's 2 & 3 (twins) have only just started walking (at 20 months & 21 months). The HV came to check them when they were 18 months (it's a standard check round here if they're not walking by 18 months). She couldn't see anything wrong & just advised me to keep encouraging them & rope in the grandparents to hold their hands & walk them round the room. I used to worry & get frustrated, which was all a waste of time; in the end they walked when they felt like it. They were both breech babies but no problems were found at their scans. I think one of the reasons that they walked so late is because we bought them some toy ride-on cars which they became extremely skilful at using to get from A to B on our wooden floors. So while they were doing 3 point turns & running over the dog on their cars, they weren't too bothered about learning to walk.

I think it's worth getting your DD checked by your HV (or GP if you prefer) by 18 months if she's not walking just to make sure she's ok & then atleast you can relax a bit & wait for her to do it when she's ready.

Get yourself a referral to a physio. As soon as the HV agrees, your LO will get up and walk the length of the garden! Yep - my DD did that literally 2 minutes after I put the phone down from the HV telling me the physio agreed she needed to be seen!

mind you just for a complete shock after DS1 didn't walk until he was nearly 19 months old.......DS2 walked at just turned 10 months.,

OMG I didn't know what had hit me - at 18/19 months they're starting to get the idea of "no" and not being allowed to do stuff.

10 months...........not a chance