19-month old not walking independently

[HappyMamma2023]

Hi I need some advice/perspective and hopefully reassurance. Our little boy is 19 months old and a happy little man. But he is still not walking independently. He can walk very fast using his walker and cruises around. He can walk with us holding both hands, but tends to do short distances like the length of the hall. He has taken 4 steps independently to me but he seems worried about walking by himself. We've been relaxed about it, encouraging him and praising him but now time is getting on and he still isn't walking. He can climb up and downstairs and off the bed, on the sofa etc. He has some pre walker shoes Clarks. Nursery want him to move up to the enxt room to prepare for Toddler 1 but he can't move up until walking. They are arranging a meeting with the HV. Can anyone give me some tips? We practise before and after nursery but I don't want to make him feel it's forced. I work FT but we have time before and after nursery and all weekend. He was also late to crawl. Thanks 👍

My daughter is 2.5 and doesn’t walk is just starting to pull up so I understand the despair and heartache … We ( in Australia) see a physio every month and have been referred for orthotics as her feet roll in. Your DS sounds very very close to walking within a month or two

it’s isolating and heartbreaking having a kid not meeting milestones but in the words of Bluey .. they are just running their own race

Try a small hula hoop - he holds one side, you hold the other and you go backwards. It has helped a lot of late walkers (I’m involved in a charity for children who often have significant delays). He has all the building blocks it sounds like he is lacking confidence to launch into space unsupported. He’ll get there. My daughter took her first steps 21m.

I'm a nursery nurse and mum to DS aged 23 and a half months who only started walking independently last week.

Basically, I concluded, after a quick check with physio and HV that my wee one is just a bit risk averse and won't do things until he's certain. Believe me when I say I tried everything to encourage, but ultimately, he just figured it out himself and has gone from a few steps last week to laps of my house in 4 days

Best advice is don't panic!

My daughter was reluctant to walk as her commando crawl was an extremely fast and efficient way to get around but as soon as she went up into the toddler room she realised that walking was the only way to get around and get what she wanted. She had learnt to run by the end of the first week.

OP@HappyMamma2023 if he is on the whole meeting milestones don’t worry… mine didn’t walk til nearly 2 , he never crawled and was a bottom shuffler( known to be late walkers often!) ,we had the once over by a physio but she just said he’ d do it in his own time . Your boy is already standing and cruising so is most of the way there…sometimes if they have a perfectly good way of getting about eg. a walker they are less inclined to go it alone, so maybe move the walker out of sight for a little while. P.s. I believe that sometimes pre walker shoes can be a hindrance sometimes, as they reduce sensation ,when you are needing certain reflexes to kick in, so try going without at home if possible.

It sounds like he is making good progress and doing all the right things. Hopefully he will get there in his own time. Our physio also recommended the hula hoop trick mentioned above but haven't had a chance to try it yet.

My DD is also yet to walk at 28 months so I understand the anxiety! She is also being held back in a lower nursery room until she can walk and is now the oldest in her room.

@PivotPivotmakingmargaritas do you know why your daughter has been late to walk? Has she had any additional medical tests? We are in a similar position but here in the UK and have just been referred for genetic testing.

Mine was quite late - I think maybe 17 months. Think it was definitely a confidence thing - certainly wasn’t an indicator of any physical difficulties as they’re quite good at a range of sports now. Sounds like your ds may be similar?

Thank you for all the kind replies, I wasn't expecting so many! It's good to know we're aren't the only ones in this position. It can feel quite isolating esp as the friends we've made have all moved up to another nursey room. I will def try the hula hoop trick and experiment with and without shoes on. Sending love to all your little ones xx