16 month old not quite walking

[Werewolfnotswearwolf]

Just looking for reassurance really!
My little boy is 16 months next week - never properly crawled just bum shuffled and has been cruising round the furniture for months. He will walk around all day long holding onto literally one of my fingers but the moment I even attempt to let go, he sits down. He wants to be on his feet, will chase around after the dog but just can’t or won’t do it on his own yet. He can bend down and pick things up and back to standing, and can stand playing for ages without holding on to anything.
Booked a call with the HV but is it still fairly normal to not be walking this late??

I'm no expert but I was a bum shuffler myself and it's typical for bum shufflers to be later to walk. I think I started walking around 16 months. It sounds like there's no physical problems as he's doing it with support so I'm sure he will get there in his own time. My son was a crawler and he started walking at 14 months so don't compare to those with early walkers!

My son was a bum shuffler could cross a room like a rocket. He didn’t walk until 18 months and then he just got up and walked hardly any stumbling. I guess his legs were very strong from the bum shuffling. Like you had been worried about him but Dr told me to bring him back if he hadn’t walked by 18 months

My DS was a bum shuffler then at 17 months suddenly stood up and did two laps of the living room from nothing! Don’t worry, I think bum shufflers are often late walkers. My DD was also a bum shuffler (not sure why neither of them crawled) but is keen to impress and copy so walked at 13 months.

He's walking really. That finger holding isn't doing much to support him. His gross motor sounds completely fine.

(I had non-walkers at 2 but they really weren't walking. No leg strength, other signs of gross motor delay. Nothing like you describe.)

Just to give you some reassurance I was in the same boat until a few weeks ago. My youngest was nearly 17 months and like your LO was holding onto furniture and cruising but wouldn’t walk. He wouldn’t even hold my hand to walk. Then suddenly out of nowhere he walked and hasn’t looked back. I thought him walking would be easier but I had forgotten how fast a toddler is!

My eldest didn't walk until 18 months, it's fine op

Ds wasn't a bum shuffler but was a late walker. He was cruising the furniture from 11mo all the way to 18mo then walked perfectly with confidence

My godson's little boy, bright as a button, has only just started walking in the last week or two... he is 21 months next week! He wouldn't walk with one finger, if you held both of his hands up he would take a few steps then just sit down and crawl!

Then suddenly he stood up and started walking, how strange is that. OP I'm sure your little one is fine

Mine crawled at 8 months, pulled herself up on the sofa straight away to try and get the cat, but didn't walk independently until 18 months. Sounds like yours is well on his way there, I wouldn't worry yet.

Very normal. My youngest ‘accidentally’ walked at around 17 months, cried in fear and refused to do it again. Finally walked at 18 months. Sometimes it’s just confidence.

My 15 month old is an avid bum shuffler, gets precisely to where she wants to be.. but on her bottom! From one end of the room to the other. It's quite good to watch as she pivots and guides herself. She hasn't crawled yet, but tries to pull herself up on the furniture. My son was the complete opposite, not a bum shuffler, he was a crawler and walked pretty early on. My daughter is very flexible, it's like she's doing the splits when she's sat down, her hips have been checked & all seems fine. I can understand why it's concerning tho, as Drs say if they aren't walking by 18 months it's a cause for concern. Often all is well tho & they just do it when they are ready I guess!

Very normal

I was a late walking bum shuffler - they can reach stuff better than crawlers so less need to walk.

I also would very firmly sit down if anyone let go of my hand at his age. I have been walking for some decades..

My DS had taken a step by 16 months but wasn't walking until 17 months. HV won't refer you to physio until 18 months - try not to stress.

@Rubymojo i think this is half the problem, he’s SO fast and has now mastered bum shuffling whilst holding something in both hands so walking seems pointless to him 😂

Thanks so much everyone - I wasn’t too worried but then started that nagging doubts when people kept telling me that their late walker was 15 months and my mum’s sending me links for specialist shoes and I had a little panic!

Absolutely no signs of anything wrong with him!

GP told me they only recommend being seen for not walking once they are over 18 months! Honestly don't worry, when they aren't walking it's hard to imagine they'll ever do it and then suddenly they surprise you! My first was 16 months.

My DD (16 months) is a bum shuffler too but unlike yours not showing any signs of pulling up on furniture, cruising or walking with support from us. I’ve spoken to the health visitor quite recently but they just said to call back if still not walking by 18 months. However we were in A&E the other night (for reasons unrelated to walking) and the doctor there said we should have asked the GP for a referral to physio already. Will see what the GP says next week.

DD was a bum shuffler and didn't walk till she was 21 months. No problems, just no impetus to get on her feet earlier!

One of mine had the strangest crawl, jumped on her knees a bit like Maggie from the Simpsons, and I think because she was so upright she felt like she was walking. She was nearly 17mo I think. I think she’s also a bit hypermobile and that may have played a part. The other thing is that she was very verbal, I think she just put her energy into that first, she more driven to chat than walk.

My ds was a bum shuffler and didn’t walk till 19 months. Don’t think he was even furniture walking then one day he just got up and walked like he had been doing it for months!

A friend of mine, when she was a child, didn’t walk until 18 months.

Apparently a little boy came to visit with his mother, and he was running around. She must’ve thought, “oooh, that looks like fun”, and got up and started running along with him.

It's not a concern until they've got 18 months so don't worry.

My DS was the same as yours. We encouraged him by holding our chocolate

Oh God that reminds me my mum kept going on at buying ds shoes before he was walking too but my HV was pulling me in the opposite direction that he didn't need them till he was walking outside
Rock and hard place
So I bought lots of shoes (baring in mind it was 7 months cruising and not walking but growing feet) from Vinted or eBay Clarks outlet - none used. Total waste

@Werewolfnotswearwolf we’re in the same situation, DD (16mos) can stand and play without holding anything, walk holding just one finger (and quite quick!) but if I remove my hand she sits immediately! Been this way for at least a month now, she’s just not interested. When did your DS end up walking? Any suggestions for supporting this?

Mine was 20 months before he took his first, unaided steps. He didn’t actually do anything until he was 10 months then he rolled over, babbled and crawled backwards all in the space of 3 days. He had awful eczema so wore gloves a lot and we think he was focusing on his fine motor skills as a result. He’s 3 now and no different to any other 3 year old.