16m old won't walk

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DD is 16 months old and has been walking for a few months. She's fine walking around inside, but she won't walk anywhere outside unless it's to the car or in the garden at nursery. I see other toddlers her age running around at the park, but she just gets upset and wants to be carried. Not sure if it's a confidence thing or just feels overwhelmed when outside but I'd really like to encourage her more.... any tips?

Separation anxiety is still high at this age and as you've said, perhaps she just hasn't found her confidence yet. I wouldn't be inclined to push the issue, she will do it when she's ready. Appreciate it is probably really frustrating but I think the worst thing you could do is pay attention to it/try to coerce her into walking around outdoors. In the park just let her sit on your lap if she chooses and perhaps be really boring - she might then choose herself that getting off you and moving around is more interesting! She needs to do it in her own time though, and if she doesn't for now that's okay. We have a rule that when we're walking outside by a road it's either walking holding hands or in the buggy. Reins precipitate a monster melt down. This rule doesn't always go down well but our daughter really is too heavy for me to carry for long (she is 16 months too).

Make sure she's comfy in her shoes. Go for something with a very soft/bendy sole often called 'first walkers' or similar.

You can try giving her something to push/pull along to take her mind off the fact that she's walking. I find that all children seem to walk better pushing a baby buggy with a favourite toy in it.

Don't push the issue at the park, it probably is just being overwhelmed in that environment, instead take her for a walk round the block/to the local shop/in a quiet green area etc.

Try not to worry what other people's children are doing, that way madness lies! You've got many, many years ahead where she'll do something quicker/slower/different to others.

Could you try parking the car out on the street instead of the garage or driveway to get her to walk a bit further and get more confident with it?

Thanks all, I know it's really nothing to worry about at this age (I wasn't even walking until 18m) but I'd like to see her enjoying herself at the park. She'll happily go off at soft play, etc, so I guess I shouldn't really worry. I like the idea of sitting her on my lap at the park first so she gets used to it and perhaps take a prop. I'll check her shoes too.

Sadly, parking on the road isn't ideal here as we live on an A road, so it's quite busy, and it would reduce visibility, making it harder for our neighbours to get out safely.

I'll just wait it out!

My DD didn’t walk until 19months and took her first steps at the Doctors at the appointment made to see why she wasn’t walking 😂

Because she was late at the walking/sitting milestones compared to her siblings, a few tears revealed she had hyper mobility though and so it was more tricky for her muscles to hold her weight. If you are worried about it, make an appointment to see the doctors and check her CPK (I think it was that one) enzyme level which can help identify Hyper mobility. DD has gone onto thrive and has done exceptionally well academically but at that age fine motor skills needed help. Doctors recommended ballet and swimming to help muscle function and to avoid trampolining to prevent the risk of dislocations. She had at OT at school to help with pencil grip and her desk set up. If you were described as ‘double jointed’ or ‘bendy’ as a child or similar (I was, although not a late walker) it is possible it is a family trait.

Sorry just re-read your post and realised she is walking! Ignore me, not much sleep!