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21 month twins still not walking

13 replies

stinkingbishop · 18/12/2013 07:58

And have just fibbed (OK, lied!) to the HV on the phone saying oh yes, they started a few weeks ago...And maybe that was wrong of me, because they do actually need looking at, but I just didn't want the hassle.

One has crawled for the best part of a year, and one bottom shuffles. There's nothing physically wrong with them (both had their hips scanned at birth). They will walk when I hold their hands, even running and going backwards. They'll stand holding onto furniture and edge along. They'll also walk with their bricks trolley.

Should I worry? Will it just happen in good time? I know twins and bottom shufflers tend to be later.

I'm wondering whether the fact they've left it so long isn't helping. They're cerebrally much more developed than they were at one eg understand a bit about cause and effect. They get worried when they're standing holding furniture about sitting/falling down, and the 'bump' so is that it?

Top tips welcome. Would be GREAT to have them tottering at Xmas so I don't get tuts from the wider family!!!

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Whobody · 18/12/2013 13:45

If you are worried please go to your GP. I know they usually aren't concerned until they hit 24 months and sometimes if they are advanced verbally they can be delayed at gross motor skills. Regarding the hips, my 2 year old managed to learn to walk at 17 months with a dislocated left hip. Twin pregnancy can be a risk factor for hip problems and it may be an idea to try and get them checked again. I'm sure they are fine, but for your peace of mind.

HTH

cedar12 · 18/12/2013 13:59

Put your mind at rest and get them checked out.

neversleepagain · 19/12/2013 12:48

It will be no harm going to your GP. Were they very premature?

My twins were 6 weeks prem and initially were quite delayed. They only smiled at 12 weeks, sat at 9 months etc. However, all of a sudden things just seemed to catch up. Mine crawled at 11 months and walked at 14 months which is not what I was expecting considering how behind they were initially.

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NigellasDealer · 19/12/2013 12:51

I would wait a bit and see what happens in the next three months.
If they are still not walking after 24 months then you could take them to see the doctor?
lying to the HV was not a good move though....
one of my twins didnt walk til about 19 months.

Eletheomel · 19/12/2013 20:05

Just wanted to say that my friends daughter didn't walk at 21 months (was only cruising then, needed the security of holding onto furniture) but when we went to her 2nd birthday party she was running around with everyone else and you could never have guessed she'd only been walking independently for a month or so.

Sounds like they're developing fine - if you're worried speak to someone though, no point worrying about this on your own, but if you think they're fine and you're just feeling a bit embarassed, don't, they all develop in their own way and they master different skills in different orders.

TheGreatHunt · 19/12/2013 21:15

having their hips scanned doesnt mean that nothing is wrong. could be hypermobility? that's quite late - what stopped you from telling the truth?

stinkingbishop · 20/12/2013 07:19

Thanks ladies. I will confess to the HV...She's just very annoying. Young, no kids herself, goes by the book. She wanted to march the bottom shuffler off to a physio because she wasn't crawling, said she'd never heard of shuffling. Just stuff like that really...Doesn't take any account of the fact they're twins, were a month early and so on. But tis probably me being defensive and prickly too.

Don't think there's anything wrong eg hypermobility. They LOVE walking. If DP and I hold their hands we have running races up and down the hall and they're giggling away. They just won't bloomin' let go!

I'll leave it over Xmas as we wouldn't get seen anyway, and then make the call in the NY. In the meantime, will position presents tantalisingly just out of reach for them and see if they get tempted to rise up!

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exhaustedandannoyed · 20/12/2013 09:14

HV sounds really annoying, fancy never having heard of bottom shuffling! Lots of late walkers in my family and lots of bottom shufflers, my cousin holds the record, he didn't walk until he was 2, nothing wrong with him. If they are happy walking holding your hands I'm sure they're almost there, hope they take those first steps soon!

HolgerDanske · 20/12/2013 09:21

Well she doesn't know a lot if she's never heard of bottom shuffling. Honestly! Has she done any learning about child development?!

It's not that unusual for children who are born at term to walk at two, so if yours were premature they might take a few months to catch up. I wouldn't worry about it. Just keep an eye on it :-)

HolgerDanske · 20/12/2013 09:27

Well she doesn't know a lot if she's never heard of bottom shuffling. Honestly! Has she done any learning about child development?!

It's not that unusual for children who are born at term to not be walking at 21 months, so if yours were premature they might take a few months to catch up. I wouldn't worry about it. Just keep an eye on it :-)

HolgerDanske · 20/12/2013 09:28

Argh thought I hadn't posted and subsequently changed the age in second attempt as I clearly hadn't paid enough attention the first time round :-)

Never mind!

TheGreatHunt · 20/12/2013 14:48

My dd was like that - wouldn't let go of our hands. Had to trick her in the end. When she was holding onto the sofa, I'd stand with a snack and she had to take a step to get to me. Do they have traditional style walkers? They might help?

stinkingbishop · 20/12/2013 16:42

Got them a trolley with bricks, they're both OK (if a bit tottery) with it...

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