My DS is two on 21st still not walking physio has ordered special boots

[malfranco]

My DS went to see the physio and she has said he his muscles are not strong enough for him to walk yet. Also feels that on foot is much weaker than the other has ordered some special boots for him anyone tried these? Said he will walk bit certainly not at the moment. Feel sorry for him does not talk either don't know weather it's related or not.

Hi malfranco, welcome to SN board

Yes, my DD1 didn't walk until she was 23 months, but she turned out to have a brain malformation, and she has problems in most areas of her development.

The boots are called piedro boots, and are excellent for stability. DD1 didn't get piedros until she was 4, so it is wonderful that your DS is getting them now.

Does your DS have any sounds at all? Or anything approaching words or babble?

He does babble slightly. OT said his concentration was very good for his age and does not feel he autistic however I am more conerned than most I feel he should be saying something and have a lot of friends that have babies 5 or 6 months younger that do things Logan just doesn't.

Any useful tips for speeding up his muscle developement and in turn walking

The physio may give you exercises, but other than that I think it'll be a case of using the Piedros and any exercises and waiting for them to have an effect. Someone more knowledgeable will be along in a bit with better info, I'm sure.

yes we got exercises from the physio, Along with, over time, gaiters, peidro boots, standing frame, rollator etc.
He didn't stand unaided until he was 4 and a half and started to take a few steps before his 5th birthday. Though as part of his down syndrome he also has severe hypermobility and severe hypotonia.
Now at 9 he still wears the boots, has a stair lift and wheelchair. Though the probs he has with his feet, knees and hips may mean someday he will be a permanent wheelchair user.

Sorry to hear that it's funny how emotional you get about kids with disabilities especially when you have one of your own. Never really thought about it in the past as Logan is our first. Appreciate how hard it is on the carers and how time consumping would not be without him for the world though.

Another one here who started with Piedro boots but have now gone onto splints.

Again, I agree with Devientenigma, get the exercise advice from the physio, they should be able to help target specific muscle groups.

Learning to live with disabilities is hard. I gave up any comparisons with friends' children very early on. It takes time but you do get used to it and each little thing hurts less.

There's plenty of people on here with helpful advice.

My son got his first Piedro boots at 14m (which in retrospect seems mad as he wasn't even crawling but the physio wanted his ankles in the right positions as they were so weak), he walked a bit after he turned 2. He now wears splints but walks quite well, but struggles with any distances and we use a wheelchair for days out etc.

Logan's speech may be connected..if his muscles aren't up to walking yet they may also affect his ability to make speech sounds, but chances are it WILL come in time:):) My son's mouth just hung open (drooled like a bulldog til he was 5) and he had no speech til he was 4, but gradually it came and no-one would believe it now.. he talks for Britain!! he still is a bit slurred and difficult to understand at times..it gets much worse as he gets tired, but he talks..and talks...

I think all you can do is encourage him.. ask the phsyio how best to support his standing, crawling and push for assistance like a walker.. physios often are slow to offer equipment because of cost but my personal take is that if 'typical' children are able to get around on 2 feet at 2 then a child who can't should be offered the equipment that will allow him to be on a level with other kids. They soon stop using a walker when they become able to manage without:)

I also signed with my son as soon as I realised that speech was going to be on hold. It DIDN'T stop him talking but gave him a way to communicate his needs (mostly drink and biscuit !)

Take each day as it comes..give him as many opportunities to uses his body as he is able and try to ignore the milestone books..:)

Hi Malfranco.

My daughter sounds very similiar. She has had physio from 4 months as her muscles were very very weak. She has just started walking at 21 months. The biggest 'encouragement' we found worked was me and my hubbie sitting on the floor and getting her to walk from one to another. At first the distance was one step and then we got further and further apart with big hugs and excitement when she reached us.

Also, my 21 month has no words either (just posted on this board about that) and just babbles. I can share with you the worry and sometimes frustration when other toddlers are doing so much more.

Hi Malfranco
I also have a DD with hypotonia (due to birth hypoxia and brain injury). This affects her trunk area mainly along with hypermobile joints too. She didn't walk until 20 months and has taken a long, long time to become steady(ish) on her feet (she's 3 now).

We had to work hard on getting her trunk area stronger before she could walk and stand unaided so we did lots of kneeling exercises given by physio. We also did the same as Gilliana with walking from one of us to the other and increasing the distance. She walked holding my hands for a long time before going it alone.

Like kidsncatsnwine's DS, my DD also has slightly slurred speech and was quite slow to babble - she talks for England now but I often have to remind her to speak clearly.

Glad you now have the piedros on order and hope it helps speed things up with his walking.

Hi Malfranco

Sorry I'm a late reply I don't get on here too often. My DD still does not walk and she is three next month. She also has multiple birth marks but luckily these appear to be the only symptons. We are due to have an MRI scan and other tests in a couple of weeks as we have no answers to why she is affected this way.

We have just started with Piedro boots and they seem to be helping. We also have regular sessions with a physio. However the one thing which seems to make the most difference is swimming, we try and take her twice a week and this has made a huge difference.

As meltedmarsbars says you have to refrain from comparing your DC to thers. We see a nuerologist at Alder Hey and her best advice has been to enjoy her!