Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

13 month old not interested in standing or walking

4 replies

mondray · 05/01/2026 17:09

Hoping to get some help with my 13 month old.

He is meeting all of his milestones. Started crawling at 7 months and cruising along furniture at 9 months old. He squats, climbs and does all the normal stuff that’s expected at this age.

He just has not interest in standing independently or walking. I try to let go of his hands when he’s standing and he instantly gets back down on his knees (gently, he doesn’t fall, so he definitely has control). He mostly gets upset when I try to get him to stand, but have seen him balance up to about 5 seconds and then he gets upset.

Walking is another thing. He will occasionally walk while pushing his high chair around or a kitchen chair, but refuses to walk while holding our hands. Instantly drops again. He stands holding our hands, but doesn’t take any steps at all.

I am 100% sure that this is a confidence thing, but completely lost as to what to do and how to encourage him.
I’ve tried giving him a toy in each hand or put something out of reach when he’s cruising, but he will either get upset or drop down, move closer and get back up again.

My other two didn’t walk until they were 16-17 months, so I am familiar with delayed walkers. But they were both happily pushing walkers around on their own and holding our hands while walking around.

Any help is appreciated.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Nevermind17 · 05/01/2026 17:12

Does he still have a soft spot? My dd didn’t walk until she was 2. I remember my HV feeling her head and telling me that her soft spot hadn’t closed over and she wouldn’t walk until it did.

It sounded insane to me at the time, so I don’t know how scientifically accurate this theory is!

mondray · 05/01/2026 17:41

@Nevermind17 I’ve never heard of this. You learn something new every day I guess. But no in our case it’s closed.

OP posts:
user2848502016 · 05/01/2026 20:39

It sounds fine, he is able to stand and take some steps so he obviously can physically do it, he just needs to build up the confidence.
I would contact your HV if he still isn’t walking independently by 18m

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2chocolateoranges · 05/01/2026 20:45

My youngest showed no interest in standing or walking at the age ( eldest was walking from 10months, he was tiny).

then when dd was 14 months she started walking which surprised us all. She went from not moving much to running about within a few weeks.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page