18 month old nowhere near walking

[SqidgeBum]

DD cruises the furniture, climbs on the sofa, climbs up the stairs, and pulls herself up on lots of things. But she just isn't standing on her own and hasn't taken any steps unaided. She does have a walker which she likes.

She has always been behind physically. She didnt crawl til 13 months. However cognitively she is great, and she understand everything I say, so I am not overly worried nor am I about to bring her to a doctor.

Any ideas about what I can do to encourage her to walk?

Sounds like she's taking all the steps in the right direction, just taking her time to build up to letting go. DS1 was the same, took months to pull to stand, then cruising, then months of walking holding two hands, then one, before he finally let go at 19 months. DS2 looks like he might be similarly slow on the gross motor front - almost 1 and still not crawling/pulling up.

18 months is the "cut-off" for non-walking kids to be referred for further assessment/testing, so you would not be unreasonable to ask GP/HV for a referral (can probably be done over the phone at the moment). We did this with DS and by the time his appointment came he was walking. Don't think we did anything special to encourage him, just spent lots of time walking holding hands (my poor back!)

I am no expert but have read that there are links between delayed walking and use of a baby walker. See for example <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.shb.scot.nhs.uk/departments/physiotherapy/Myths_About_BabyWalkers.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjwweWqqZ_pAhXFURUIHVmiBFYQFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw2-seyRSHu0hSB4XC0eTYIt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.shb.scot.nhs.uk/departments/physiotherapy/Myths_About_BabyWalkers.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjwweWqqZ_pAhXFURUIHVmiBFYQFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw2-seyRSHu0hSB4XC0eTYIt

I would suggest taking it away and giving her more opportunities to cruise or walk holding your hands

Sorry link should be
www.shb.scot.nhs.uk/departments/physiotherapy/Myths_About_BabyWalkers.pdf

@weepingwillow it's not a sit in walker. It's a push along walker.

Sounds as though she is happy to bear weight which is good, I think she just hasn't seen the need to set off on her own yet. Does she have any big push along toys, if you can manage to buy/borrow something sturdy to push it might encourage her, but to be honest I think that in about two to three months when you are racing after her as she disappears round a corner, or walking v e r y slowly because she wants to stop and look at everything and doesn't want to use a buggy when you are in a hurry to get to the post office before it shuts, you will be thinking how much easier life was before she took off!!!

@SockQueen I feel a little silly referring her as I know she will probably do it eventually, as she has done with everything else. I dont feel right going to the NHS with it as things are at the minute.

We have been trying to get her to hold one hand while walking but she really does lack confidence. She just clings to us. It probably is just a matter of more time.

It sounds as if you are doing everything you can and that she is happy to weight beat and is mobile so she doesn't yet feel the need to walk. I would be amazed to hear that it is something that can in any way be taught. It is not unusual to not be walking at 18 months but as pp said seeing your GP with a view to examination and referral when possible sounds like a good idea.

You say she’s nowhere near walking but she sounds pretty close!

Also, and I posted this on another thread recently, my daughter took her first steps before she was confidently standing on her own.

Your daughter sounds like she's close. My bf didn't walk until he was 18 months, so it's more common than you think. Thankfully he's very good at it now (he's 337 months 🤣).