16 month old not walking - what’s normal?

[brw55]

Hi everyone, I guess I’m looking for reassurance but also feel free to be brutally honest with me! My DS is 16.5 months old and not walking. He has taken maybe 5 or 6 independent steps a few times and cruises around everywhere, he’s just got no interest or motivation it seems to walk. We do all the exercises I’ve read about but nothing seems to help. He was quite a late crawler but is now super quick so not sure if that’s why he has no interest but he’s the only one of my friends babies not walking, and the only one at the childminder too. It’s starting to really bother me as I’m worried I’m doing something wrong but I feel like we’re trying everything! Any advice much appreciated.

I think the answer is there is no normal. My children walked at 9months, 10months and 11months. But my nieces were closer to 18 months. All within the ranges of normal. I can promise you as an early year's teacher by the time they start school we can't tell when they started walking. Try not to worry they will get there.

I was around 10 months old when I walked, assumed my children the same. Eldest didn’t even crawl till she was nearly 1 and walked around 18 months .Younger daughter didn’t walk till she was around 15 months.

I think give it a couple more weeks if everything else is ok with him. He’s cruising so won’t be long.

My son walked at 21 months so outside the range. He is doing great with his gross motor and has caught up although in some things still has gdd.

DD1 was about 18 months before she properly walked, and for ages after that would get “tired of walking” before we’d reached the end of the drive 😂

We took her to nursery in a pushchair until she was 4 as she was just sooooo slow and lazy. She’s 16 now and walks perfectly well!

He’ll get there! Mine started around the same age. I remember worrying she was falling behind, but in hindsight I don’t know why I was worried. They start when they’re ready. I’m sure you’re not doing anything wrong.

Yes it’s normal. Sounds like he will walk soon.

Sounds like close to walking. My first walked.aorund 15 months second around 13. My friends kid didnt walk until over 18 months,she contacted the health visitor and was told to ditch the walker she was using and she walked within a week unsure if you have one but worth a try if so and worried?

With DD (who was a late walker) we were told that it was normal to start walking anywhere between 6 months and 24 months (just turning 2). So you're well within that.

Sounds fine , mine commando crawled , then crawled at lightning speed until he walked at about 18 months
In his 30s now and has just run a half marathon
My nephew walked at about 10 months , that was scary

16 months is in the normal range. At 18 months they may start looking in to reasons but even then it can be normal for some babies. It sounds like he’s on the right track if he’s cruising and has done a few steps by himself so I wouldn’t worry at this stage.

Sounds fine if he's cruising and has taken some steps...still within normal range.

DS walked independently at 17 months. I bribed him with biscuits!
He has always been physically risk averse, and took a while to ride his bike. However, at 14 he is physically very fit and had the highest SAT score in his year of 270 kids, so late milestones doesn’t necessarily mean issues down the line.

DS walked at 19 months. They would have referred to paeds at 20 months. His gross motor milestones were on the late side, iirc he sat at 9 months, crawled at 1.

He’s 18 now, with a very physical job and lots of sporty hobbies!

My first walked independently at 22 months. She’s in year 6 now, has run park runs since she was 5.

My second is 13 months and can walk, though still prefers her super speedy crawling as her mode of travel.

They’re all so different, I know it is easier said than done but try not to worry. It sounds as though your son might just be little risk averse, like my first. She doesn’t do anything unless she’s confident she can do it, but when she does she does the thing well.

Mine was nearly 15months. I think the range is vast. I wouldn’t be worried.

Mine is a few months older than yours and out of nowhere just started walking two weeks ago! The cruising is the most imprtant indicator. She’ll get there, promise!

My twins walked at 22 and 23 months.. they were prem so was a little earlier adjusted but H.V didn't refer us to physio until 19 months as anything before that was normal. They had specialist foot wear due to hyper mobility but now 1 competes in a local athletics team and the other performed at Disneyland Paris with a dance club so they have caught up!

My daughter didn’t walk until 22 months. She’s now 8 with no development issues at all. Late walking runs in my husbands family, 24 months is not unusual for them!