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Children's health

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Original poster

21 month old not walking

23 replies

mandmmummy · 18/12/2018 19:23

Hi guys.. hoping someone can give me some reassurance that their child has taken longer than 21 months before walking.

DD wasn’t crawling till after 1 and only started walking along furniture about 2 months ago. She has taken a couple steps on her own but nothing else since. She was referred by the HV to see the child physio who checked hips, joints etc to see everything ok. She said the thinks it’s a sensory issue my DD has, like she doesn’t enjoy the feeling of being on her feet. I have an appointment to go back in 6 weeks where they will try further tests if she is still not walking.

I have tried everything to get her to walk! Any suggestions would be great?!

P.s I know everyone says they will walk when they are ready which I totally agree! And people say there is no rush but I would like it sooner rather than later, she weighs over 30 pounds and carrying her everywhere is starting to take its toll on my back.. and we can’t take her anywhere outdoors (parks etc) as she just wants to crawl and it’s not safe

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Original poster

mandmmummy · 18/12/2018 19:24

Forgot to mention - the physio said she is abit flat footed but the curve in the foot is starting to appear

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Zebedee88 · 18/12/2018 19:42

Not sure if this will help, but if she held your hands would she try and walk a bit in a shallow end of the pool? So I'm thinking around her chest height, so deep enough that couldn't easily crawl?

Zebedee88 · 18/12/2018 19:43

Just thinking that the water would help support her a bit with you holding her but she would still be walking ??

1sttimeunicorn · 18/12/2018 19:50

My DS has only recently started to walk, he's 19 and a half months. I found that (weirdly) larger spaces helped, and the attraction of new toys. Also lots of holding their hands to walk, and loads of praise when they do it. Like over the top praise. I also used to get our dining chairs out and space them apart so he would need to take a step between. Then I would put his toys on the chairs and encourage him to move them from one chair to another, taking a step between each chair, with loads of praise when he didn't sit down between the chairs. Sounds bizarre but we got there in the end.

Soubriquet · 18/12/2018 19:53

I had a friend who’s dd didn’t walk until she was 2!

Poor woman had a new born and a toddler who refused to walk.

One day she just got up and did it

My dd didn’t walk until she was 18 months. And that was a one day get up and walked across the room

Original poster

mandmmummy · 18/12/2018 20:03

Zabedee88 - I’ve never thought of trying that, we take her swimming regularly so it’s definetely something we will try. Usually when we go swimming the baby bit is shallow and she just crawls in it.

1st time unicorn - the toys on the dining chairs sounds like a good idea. We have a large livingroom and that is where she seems to do most of her walking. I get what you mean about over the top praise! We do it too and she seems really chuft when she gets it, but not happy enough to do it all the time!

Soubriquet - oh god poor woman! Luckily for me my other DD is 4 so doesn’t need much looking after and does a lot for herself. I’m hoping one day she’s just going to start and not stop! Fingers crossed

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AndCallMeNancy · 18/12/2018 20:08

My now-4 year old didn’t walk til 22 months. She never crawled, bum shuffled but didn’t do that til about 13months. Around 19months started pulling herself up and cruising a little. So yes she was late with physical development but you wouldn’t know now. Loves going to gymnastics and running around. I don’t think she’ll be the mega sporty type as she doesn’t seem to have much core strength but I may be wrong. We are all different!

I didn’t walk until a similar age apparently so I wasn’t overly worried, however she was referred for physio, who in turn referred to orthotics for specialist footwear to give her lots of support around her ankles and almost weigh her feet down a bit. They may have been helpful. The developmental paed that we saw said that the normal age range for walking was anywhere between 12-24 months so not to worry. And she was right!

Hope that puts your mind at ease. She will get there in her own sweet time I’m sure!

AndCallMeNancy · 18/12/2018 20:09

Also physio recommended lots of soft play to encourage core strength - although if your DD is a crawler rather than a bum shuffler that might not be an issue.

Original poster

mandmmummy · 18/12/2018 20:14

Andcallmenancy - thank you for your reply it’s definitely made me feel more reassured! See my oldest DD was walking at 10 months and I know every child is different but it’s just made me worry there was something wrong. The shoes sound interesting, so far she has only had 1 proper (expensive) pair of shoes but because she crawls they scuffed all over the front within a few days so we just get her cheapy shoes for now until she walks. Thanks again for your reply!

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Knittink · 18/12/2018 20:17

My dd (now 13 yo) didn't crawl until 11 months and was nearly 2 before she walked. She was always much quicker with mental than physical development (very early talker). She was perfectly fine physically in every other respect, just slow to crawl and walk.

Notquiteagandt · 18/12/2018 20:20

With regards to shoes. Babies learn to walk by feeling the floor etc. So shoes maybe restricting this. If she isnt walking there really isnt any need for shoes yet.

Bones in babies feet arent that strong so shoes feel so much heavier to them.

Maybe try bare feet and let her get feel of things.

Redskyandrainbows67 · 18/12/2018 20:25

Def bare feet at home
And no socks
If it’s really cold make sure you have socks with grips
Lots of toys at a height she needs to pull up at
Don’t give her toys on the floor

Are there any other development delays? Is she talking for example? If so I would be asking for a referral to a paedatrian

Original poster

mandmmummy · 18/12/2018 21:08

Ok, I’ll keep her socks off too and see if that helps at all, thanks everyone.

I’m not sure if she is a bit slow because my oldest DD was so quick with everything, walking, talking etc. The physio mentioned she seems switched on when she was playing with toys etc so surely if she had any concerns she would have mentioned

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Octopus37 · 18/12/2018 21:11

My DS2 (now 8) didn't walk till he was 22 months. He didn't crawl until he was 13 months. There was absolutely nothing wrong at all. When he got to 17 months and didn't walk, I did take him to the doctors to check for hip issues, there were none. One day when he was 22 months (he is a Feb birthday so it was about this time of year), he just got up and walked. Within a day it was as if he had bee walking for a whole year.

Original poster

mandmmummy · 18/12/2018 21:12

Octopus37 - that’s great! I’m really hoping she will do the same and just get up and get going!

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loveskaka · 18/12/2018 21:25

My ds walk at 10months, he had a playpen which he would walk around and hold onto, me and do would practice every day. Definitely agree with no socks or non slip socks and make sure her trousers are rolled up. Is she in a walker to help her get used to the walking with support?.... we also done leg strengthening exercises.

loveskaka · 18/12/2018 21:26

Me and dp would practice with ds every day*$

Original poster

mandmmummy · 18/12/2018 21:54

Loveskaka - we practice with DD everyday too but unfortunately nothing has helped her. We have tried her with 3 different walkers and she refuses to walk, she will go onto her knees and walk on her knees!

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Zebrasinpyjamas · 18/12/2018 23:06

My dc2 wouldn't even put her feet on the floor until 18 mths and didn't crawl until around then. She suddenly decided at 20 mths to get up and walk and was scooting and running by 24 mths.
Until then, she preferred to have dc1 get anything she wanted and bring it to her! Our Dr ruled out any obvious physical reasons so I think for her, she wasn't very motivated to want to walk. When she decided she wanted to, she did. I don't have any specific advice other than to encourage her to do things for herself, especially in scenarios where there are other children walking around.
For outdoor areas could you put her in a padded waterproof suit and gloves and let her crawl around? That's what dc1 did.

loveskaka · 19/12/2018 07:37

Awww. Have u took her to the dr just to rule anything out? Does she stand on u it you hold her? Does she put any weight on her feet? X

Foodylicious · 19/12/2018 07:52

My now 4yr old rolled at 7 months, crawled at 11, took first steps at 15 but didn't walk until 22 months.
He then decided running was the thing to do and couldn't 'walk' anywhere until about a year ago when he finally slowed down a little

stressbucket1 · 19/12/2018 13:51

My DD didn't walk until 21 months. We got her some ankle boots from Clarks and they seemed to help. I think she liked the support around her ankle making her feel more secure. Her ankle joints are a bit hypermobile

LittleMonkeyJumping · 27/04/2024 11:57

mandmmummy · 18/12/2018 19:23

Hi guys.. hoping someone can give me some reassurance that their child has taken longer than 21 months before walking.

I have tried everything to get her to walk! Any suggestions would be great?!

Hello, hope you and the little one are alright. I am worried about the same thing now, and just wanted to check how is the little one doing now ?

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