17 month old not walking

[Mylittlesandwich]

I'm not hugely concerned but I wondered if anyone had any tips.

DS is 17 months and not yet walking, he's always been in the later side with his gross motor skills so I do believe this is normal for him.

He took his first few tentative steps on Friday evening but has since refused to recreate this event. Our lovely HV suggested getting him some proper shoes so we took him to be fitted for his surprisingly large first pair of shoes. He loves them and was having a great time walking around all day holding our hands but if you try and let go at any point he'll either stand stock still or drop down and crawl.

Anyone who's been there have any suggestions? He'll be referred to OT if he gets to 18 months but I was wondering if there's anything I could do in the meantime.

If he took a few steps on Friday is just be patient. In my experience it's fairly normal for the first few steps to freak some babies out a bit and have a few days before they do it again.

Sounds like he's getting there at his own pace

I wouldn’t worry my DS was very similar, he’s now very good at sport age 9. He walked at 18 months.

If he didn’t take any steps at all then yes would be a worry. But the fact he is walking whilst your holding your hand is good!
Either you or your partner hold his hand and walk, the other one stand in front of him and encourage him to come to you, his fave toy etc eventually once he’s comfortable enough leave go of his hand.

Don’t worry, they all go at their own pace. I think my DC1 walked the day before she turned 18 months! She’s now very sporty as well. A friend’s daughter didn’t walk until she was 2 (she’s 12 now and seems to have got the hang of it 😉).

If he’s taken steps he is walking already. They need a bit of time to get going properly, it’s hard work at the beginning.
My daughter always wanted to explore and walked away from us but my son would only walk to us or other relatives for the first month. Maybe when he’s standing sit down a little distance away and hold out your arms.

My child walked at 19 months and now as a ten year old his gross motor skills are absolutely fine. I know that doesn’t help you but might help relax you a little. Just keep an eye on it over the next 2-3 months and keep encouraging him but stay calm for now x

Mine were both late walkers, but fine holding a hand, and I think for them it was just a confidence thing.

I stood them with their backs to the sofa then sat a few steps off and encouraged them to walk to me, and kept edging back.
It helped them, I think, to have something to lean against while making up their mind to try a step, and having my arms to aim for. They both stood with their elbows on the seat of the sofa while psyching themselves up to move.

Lots of praise and encouragement.

My little boy was exactly the same. He took his first unaided steps at 15 months, then wouldn’t do it again until nearly 18 months. We had a push along walker which he loved and eventually stopped using.
We practised lots of cruising along the sofa by putting toys or snacks that might tempt him at one end.
Don’t worry, I was my own worst enemy getting stressed about it but DS has just turned 2 and is an amazing walker now.

I had one late walker my DD who did not walk unaided until 14 months then second child DS walked unaided at 9 months. My DD talked more than DS so it all balances out. Both.walk and talk as adults. Just relax and enjoy your baby.

@caringcarer, not sure that 14 months counts as a late walker...!

OP, agree with PPs, if he took steps, he can walk, which is great - just be patient and he will eventually build his confidence enough to go it alone more regularly!

I look after 2 kids a few months apart and they both walked at 18m. One took a few steps then gave up for over a month before trying again

Thank everyone, it's not something I'm concerned about as such just something which is on my radar. He stands unaided. Cruises although he doesn't lean much on the furniture just kind of touches it for reassurance. He has a push along walker which he is really fast on now. I think it's a confidence thing too.

He was later to roll, sit and crawl. Still within normal range just on the later end. I just don't think it's his top priority right now but I'd still like to do what I can do give him a hand.

He was later to roll, sit and crawl. Still within normal range just on the later end. I just don't think it's his top priority right now but I'd still like to do what I can do give him a hand

What we did was to hold out Chocolate. Worked a treat

They all go at different places, so I don't think you need to worry.

My DD1 walked at 14 months, having crawled at around 11 months.

DD2 walked at 23 months, having been a bum-shuffler since she was 18 months. She could stand up unaided indefinitely but just went down on her bum if she wanted to get anywhere.

DD3 walked at 21 months, having also been a bum-shuffler for over a year.

You mention push-along walkers. They may work for some children but my DD2 wasn't one. She was stubborn and utterly determined to do it her way. Her way or the highway.

She just sat on the ground/floor behind said walker, grasped the handle and bum-shuffled along behind it. Quite a sight, especially when that walker was a toy pushchair or doll's pram. 🙄

My daughter didn't take her first steps until she was just over 18 months.
Don't force it, he's getting there in his own time! You never see a child crawling to school 😆 (disabilities aside etc, before anyone jumps on me).

I once read about a tip - that is for the child to hold onto a wooden spoon (or similar) and you walk round with them to gain their confidence (just like holding their hand). Then when you think they're fine with it - you let go of the spoon and they carry on walking (in theory).

I don't know if it works - but worth a try.

DC2 didn't walk till she was 21 months. Nursery were concerned, we weren't. Definitely didn't do anything to force it, she figured it out when she was ready.

I think the advice about shoes is really bad though. I was told from multiple sources not to have them in proper shoes till they have been properly walking for a month. I really wouldn't put any child not properly walking at all yet in proper shoes, or indeed any shoes if possible.

@DappledThings

DC2 didn't walk till she was 21 months. Nursery were concerned, we weren't. Definitely didn't do anything to force it, she figured it out when she was ready.

I think the advice about shoes is really bad though. I was told from multiple sources not to have them in proper shoes till they have been properly walking for a month. I really wouldn't put any child not properly walking at all yet in proper shoes, or indeed any shoes if possible.

That was why he didn't have any yet. He goes to nursery though and they spend quite a lot of time outside. At home he's barefoot most of the time, he has little grippy socks if it's particularly cold.

He had little leather soft soled things which didn't seem to make any difference to his confidence. They're properly fitted and he'll only wear them when he has the opportunity to practice outdoors which with covid is fairly regularly tbh.

Well evidently he read this thread. He's spent the afternoon walking between me and DH. He likes giving us his toys so he's been ferrying them back and forward. He's so pleased with himself, it's very cute.

Ahh well done!!
There’ll be no stopping 😃

He sounds like he’s just cautious. My baby is the same. She’s just started walking at 16 months but she’s very cautious and will still go back to holding onto the furniture sometimes.

Oh bless him. He knew you were on to him! .
No stopping him now. Get your running shoes on mum.

My friends daughter walked at 18 months. There was nothing wrong, she just took a bit longer, all kids are different

That's one advanced baby. Not only is he walking but he's reading MN as well