Worried about daughters walking or lack of

[Greywillow12]

Hi I've booked an appointment for next week. But just wanting some advice or reassurance.

My DD is nearly 18 months and isn't showing any signs of being ready to walk. And I know that's not a major cause of concern just yet. But what does concern me is when I do manage to get her up on her feet to walk it looks so uncomfortable for her and she sits down after a few steps

Also when standing she constantly lifts her right leg up. And when knee walks about (this is her way of moving about) she stops and seems to grab the top of her leg/ bottom of her tummy.

I don't think these are normall and I'm worried I've missed something. Has anyones child had anything similar? I want to be prepared at the appointment so she doesn't get fobbed off.

Thanks for reading

Bumping for your OP. Does she have any siblings? I only ask as my DD is 13 months and only now doing 1 or 2 very tentative steps, but she's had a much older sibling daft enough to fetch and carry for her over the holiday. She also has an ideosyncratic crawl, where she crawls on one leg and steps with the other.

However, to me something like the crabbing feeling in her tummy and the sense that she's not comfortable walking is worth investigating. Have you had a hip scan for her when she was little at all? I'd go to your GP and ask to be referred to a hospital paediatrician / possibly for a hip scan because you have concerns over her lack of walking and possible musculoskeletal discomfort. That may take a while to come through though, so maybe focus on activities like swimming with her for now, where she's exercising her legs but not load bearing. If it is a hip problem, it's easy to sort whilst they're this little, and generally only takes about 12 weeks.

My DD didn't start walking until 21 months & had shown minimal interest until that point. People would always try and lift her by her hands and encourage her to take steps whilst holding her and like yours, always looked so uncomfortable and awkward. She's now 3 and just been confirmed she's hypermobile, although it was pretty obvious in the ways she can move and bend. It can take longer for hypermobile children to learn how to sit/crawl/walk but this may not apply to your DD of course.

Hi thanks for your replies. She's never had a hip scan or anything like that. Will take her to swimming more often. She does have an older brother but he doesn't do much for her as he finds her annoying.

That's interesting about being hyper mobile. She was delayed in her milestone didn't sit until 9 months or crawl until a 1. So it could be that she's just slower to do these things. GC

Has she had her vitamin d levels tested? Apparently I had a number of physical delays and signs as a child but I wasn’t diagnosed with rickets until I was an adult. My DN has recently also been diagnosed with rickets - it can run in some families even when you go out in the sun all day.

I was going to mention hypermobility too. At 17 months Ds2 couldn't walk and was diagnosed hypermobile. Suddenly at 18 months he could! His two cousins didn't walk till nearly 2! They are all completely normal and in fact reasonably sporty now!

No not had vitiams levels tested. Will see what the doctor says. I would rather just get her checked out for peace of mind.

Hello just thought I would update. The doctor we seen wasn't that helpful. My DD was very distressed during the appointment so it was hard to get my point across or for the doctor to do anything. But she understood my concerns so said she would refer to pediatrics.

Since then DDS appointment has been cancelled and pushed back twice. She has stated walking a bit more but gets very tired and falls alot also still keeps grabbing her leg and crying alot.

Is there anyway I can get her seen sooner. The appointment is now not until the end of October.

Get her to see a paed physio
You might be able to self refer locally but again a wait list
If you concerned book a private children's physio for assessment
At least they can give ideas of how to help her without learning bad habits

Also ask for any cancellation appointments at short notice