Full term baby, 18 + months & still not walking! Any thoughts?

[sotiredfornow]

DD is 18+ months now and still doesn't walk. At nursery (2 sessions each week) she's left with the young babies now, all her pals have moved up. In playgroups we're left behind with 9-13 month old babies who all seem SO much younger than my DD. except even some of them are trying to toddle.

What can I do? What should I do? Why would this be happening? I've read time and time again the 'normal' range for walking is 9-18 months. DD was 40 wks + 6 days.

Anyone been in my position? I just feel sorry for her that she can't spend any time with kids her own age now during her 5 morning activities.

Have you had a referral to a paed? We were referred - dd was referred at 16 months although this was not so much about her not walking and more to do with the fact she wouldn't bear any weight on her legs.

She stood up and walked 1 week before the consultants appointment when she was 18 months!

She literally just did it one day, I was beginning to think she would never bother!

Speak to the nursery/play group

Ask why she cannot be with others her own

She shouldn't be held back simply for not walking

Yes, I've been there! Firstly, don't worry. My son walked at 21 months and crawled at 15 months. He was happy building towers and showed no interest in walking but when he finally did, he missed out the cruising stage and walked very quickly! Our gp referred us to a physio and consultant at the hospital and after checking him over they said there was absolutely nothing wrong with him, he's just not keen to do it yet. Consultant said that as long as they are on track with other milestones for development there is no reason for concern, and they were right in our case.

I would say encourage her as much as you can to stand or pull herself up - put toys on furniture she'll want to stand to get to but we didn't do much else to be honest. If you're concerned, ask to be referred to be checked out but it is normal.

Just to reassure you, my DD didn't walk until 2 or speak until nearly 3. She is now 4 and although still under Speech and Language she is a chatter box and runs as well as anyone in her nursery class.

My DS was like magicrabbits, walking around 21/22 months and pretty much skipped cruising. I even got him fitted for his first shoes before he was actually walking. I know you're advised not to buy shoes till they walk 10 steps or something but they helped a little and seemed to give him a bit more stability.

I spent ages at the gps's and hvs trying to find out why he wasn't walking. He too was absolutely fine and simply had no interest in walking till he felt ready. Gp said that he would do it in his own time and he eventually did. The healthcare here (NI) is a little different and they would only refer on to a consultant/physio if he wasn't walking/showing an interest in weight bearing after the age of 2.

As long as she's weight bearing and pulling herself up/using a walker I'd say she's doing ok.

My son is 19 months and bum shuffling but not walking. In every other respect he is fine and his speech is good. We saw our GP when he was 15 months and we were referred to a paed who referred us to a physio.
The physio says he is hypermobile and has low muscle tone. We've been told he needs to spend more time on his tummy and kneeling on all fours to strengthen his arms so that he can pull up to stand and sit up by himself from lying down.

Lots of well meaning people have said to me 'oh he will do it in his own time' and 'I know someone who didn't walk till they were two & they were fine' etc but sometimes there is something wrong & it's best to get it checked out. Referrals to a paediatrician take about 2 months and we waited another month to see a physio so personally I would see your GP ASAP.

As for nursery they should be adapting their provision for your little girl.

Good luck. It's really hard watching other toddlers the same age running around but they will get there!

My DS (first child) didn't walk until 18 months.
What can she do? Can she crawl? Can she pull her self up and put weight on her legs?

Is she ok in all other areas ie, bright, alert, happy? If it's yes to all 3 then she is fine. My friends LO was 20 months so don't take the guide lines as literal.

If she can't put weight on her legs and isn't getting around in other ways then maybe see your HV.

DS1 didn't take his first steps until 20 months. He was not very physical at all for a long time, I had to chase him round the park or the softplay to get him to move! He was like this until he was about 5yo.

He's 8yo now and won't sit still, he is constantly running around and climbing/jumping/playing football.

Thanks so much for all the responses ladies. I needed to get it off my chest. Really, I'm sure she is just fine and she'll do it when she's ready.

Princesspanets - She crawled at 11 months so was a little behind others with this too but obviously not worryingly so. She cruises around furniture and has done for sometime. She does laps and laps of our living space with the walker (even turning it round herself to go back and forth!) She's had trouble standing away from furniture (i.e. centre of room) and rarely tries. I just don't think her body has physically been ready for that yet. However, recently she has stood for short periods (15 seconds). She still doesn't look solid whilst standing. Her knees are bent in more of a squatting position IYSWIM. Yes, she seems very bright, alert and happy.

I hadn't thought to visit the GP as I figured they'd tell me any time before 18 months to just sit it out and see how she is at 18 months. I just spoke to DH and he doesn't think there is any need to visit GP, that I am overthinking things.

WillowB - yes, it is hard to see other toddlers running around. Everyone always says 'when she's walking you'll wish she was still crawling'. I'm like 'no, really!' I can't wait to see her walk! Thanks for your input - I should take a trip to the GP shouldn't I.

Bakerof3puds - thank you for your comment. You're right. I will speak to the play groups and request from January term that she is put up with the others her age. At first I didn't mind, but now it is just silly! She is streets ahead of the other babies in other ways!

I would go to GP just for peace of mind tbh then you can relax knowing there's nothing stopping her and she walk when she's ready.

My dd2 has been late with her gross milestones. Didn't crawl until just after her first birthday so I knew walking was a while off. Have been relieved that she has finally started walking at 17+ mo. Still pretty wobbly and needs to crawl most of the time but walking more and more each day.
My dd was confident on her feet/cruising but had no balance on her own until the last two weeks. She has been walking holding my finger for the past couple of months though (to stop her crawling outside once it got colder/muddy).

It is very frustrating when all the other babies are running around so your post really touched a chord. I am sure walking won't be far off. I think a good pair of sturdy boots helped my dd also.

Ecco boots are good

It sounds as though she's heading in the right direction and will start walking when she's ready. I think you're right to ask nursery to move her up. You never know her little friends might inspire her to start trotting about. Good luck.

Are you or Dad bendy? Ask for a physio or paediatric consultant referral.

A tip I got on here for encouraging a baby who was walking with a walker/cruising but not independantly walking was to get them a toy lightweight pushchair. Gives them the confidence of holding onto something without any actual support. Worked brilliantly for my ds

i would think the main reason for not moving her to next room is in case a wobbly toddler fell on her if she was crawling?

My youngest was 19+ months before we walked. He never crawled but bum shuffled. He walked the day I made the decision to take him to the GP. He is 5 now and never stops moving but runs very slowly - not sure if it is connected.

Op your dd should be moved up upon your request. It simply is not fair

As for a toddler falling on her, she is most likely similar size, and there is nothing to stop one toddler falling on another sitting toddler

Definitely ask to get her moved up to the next room at nursery. My dd never crawled and didn't walk until 22 months. However she wasn't held back at nursery - they'd even bring a rug outside for her to sit on while all the other kids ran about.

Dd was diagnosed with low muscle tone, physiotherapy helped strengthen her up. Sounds like your dd is much more advanced than mine was at that age though - there's no way she'd have used a walker!

Just to add another who didn't walk till at least 19m or so. DD1 bum shuffled at great speed everyone was amazed at her mobility, she could get to where she wanted and her hands were free... So there was no incentive for her to get up! When younger she never rolled over and never crawled. Somehow I was not too worried, could see she was developing fine and HV not worried either. Then one day she got off her bum and went to walking in a fairly short time.So if your dd is already cruising you're doing great compared to us!

She sounds absolutely normal to me. My friends daughter was still cruising at 20 months (never took any indendent steps) but by her 2nd birthday party she was running around with the rest of them and you'd never guess that she had only a couple of months practice behind her :-)

Just to say that once she starts walking she'll be at the same level as her peers in no time, they do all do things in their own time (barring medical issues which your little girl doesn't seem to have) and once they reach their milestones, no-one can tell which toddler started walking at 10 months and which one started walking at 22 months.

As for nursery holding her back, she should not be held back because she's not walking, she's cruising and crawling and her mental development at 18 months is a world apart from that of a 9 month old - it's outrageous that she's not getting the stimulation she needs - complain and demand a move. Kids fall down on other kids all the time regardless of them walking/crawling at a certain time - that's nonsense.