13 Month Baby Doesn't Walk

My daughter didn't walk until 20 months!

They won't do it until they are ready to do it...we did play lots of games to get her comfortable being upright and to help with balance. But we didn't "do" anything to get her to walk.

Believe me, it was about to drive me NUTS!

Don't worry about it. He will walk in his own time. Neither of my sons walked until 13-15 months.

I think everyone hit on it... they develop at their own rate. There's really nothing you can do. Also, my ped gave me a hand out (and you can google this too) on how walkers can actually delay walking. YOu might skip that one for a while if you're worried. He's cruising though, so he should be fine.

Milestones are just a guideline and some hit them sooner than others. You just can't compare babies (although it's sometimes very hard). My son *ran* at 10 months but didn't talk until about 2 1/2 yrs. Oh, and he was held all the time before that so clearly holding or wearing a child will not delay them. They work on one thing and then another. My guess is your ped isn't worried so you shouldn't be as well. You might consider ditching the walker though.

Don't fret! My son didn't walk until he was 15-16 months old - he's now 8 and a straight A student. There is nothing wrong with your son - he'll walk when he is ready!!

DONT WORRY!!! I mean it! I was there about 4 months ago and wasted about 2 months worrying! My son's 1st birthday came and went, then his 13 month and I was FREAKING about how he wasnt walking. It really bothered me because my son was the older than my already walking friend's son. Sure, my kid could crawl and climb all over the place but he refused to walk. Once he learned to walk (around 14 months) he was a total pro. He rarely fell. He just did it when he KNEW he could. He is a very laid back child and I just think that he was content to crawl. Your son will be chasing you all over the house soo, trust me---Especially if he has been progressing normally at everything else.

Sounds like he's just fine. Mine walked at 17 months and 15 months. No need to push him!

Hi G.,
Please don't worry about this. Some children are just more cautious and don't like to fall down, so they wait until they are more ready. I never really understood the silly timeline for 1 year that they are supposed to walk. I guess on average a lot do walk at that age, but really, each child is different! In fact, Albert Einstein is said to have walked at 18 months-not sure about that, but my now 5-year-old daughter didn't walk until she was 15 months and she is bright, healthy, and completely well functioning! Don't let anyone tell you there is anything wrong with a baby not walking at only 13 months old!!!!Good luck and don't rush it! Just keep encouraging him positively!

My son didn't walk 'til well into the 14th month. He showed little interest in walking by himself until he just started doing it one day. Now we wonder if he is ever going to slow down - he walked on a Tuesday and RAN on that Wednesday, I swear!

It seemed like all our friends' children were walking so much sooner, but each baby is different. I know it's hard not to get antsy, but you have no reason to worry at this point. I've even heard of babies who hold out until 18 months! And I've known babies that walked at 8 months - infuriating, isn't it?

If he is walking with assistance and "surfing" while holding onto things, then you are in good shape. He is well on his way! Just enjoy that boy - you'll be straining to catch him in no time!

I remember when my son was just over a year old, I was talking to a woman in the mall with a child the same age. I was stressing because my son wasn't talking and she was stressing because hers wasn't walking. The fact is they all develop at different rates. That is why we have pedatricians to guide us and make sure we don't miss any major warning signs. 13 months is probably about average for walking, but certainly not a necessary goal. Is he crawling and cruising and pulling up to stand? So long as he is showing a desire to move I think you are fine. Walking will come.

Please don't fret! My son did not walk until he was 17 months old and he really never crawled before that just did some funny looking Army crawl. He'll do it when he's ready and then, watch out! ")
C.

He will want to when he is ready. If he can do it while on to things or you that is a great step. So, not like he is not mobile, just still working on things.

it sounds like he is doing great! but when my daughter was first learning to walk we got her the fisher price gobble & go hippo. its a hippo that they can push & it gobbles up blocks, she thought it was the greatest & it helped her walk

Nope. My son (now almost 3, running), did not pull up until 20 months, and did not walk until 2... this despite intensive OT and PT.

S.

For my son we bought a walking john deer tractor. It has a handle that is his height and he walked all over the place with it. Then, we went to spreading out of the floor and had him walk from one person to the next. He then took off!

But your mother is right, let him set his pace. It'll happen!!

My first son walked at 15 1/2 months, second son at 12 1/2 months. God makes each of us very differently. He'll walk in his own time. Be patient.

There is no way to persuade a child to do anything that child isn't ready to do. Remember that as your son (and daughter) grow, and you will save yourself a lot of gray hair!! :)

My niece didn't crawl until she was a year old. Then she was 14 months before she started pulling up to things. Finally, when she was nearly 16 months, she started walking. We haven't identified any other sort of problems ... she's talking and she's happy ... just didn't feel like walking, I guess!

With that said, we bought my nephew one of those toys he could hold on to as he walked behind it, pushing. I think it cost about $20. We bought it after he had started pulling up to things on his own, and he was walking in a matter of days afterward. However ... HE was only 9 months old. Kids just have different developmental clocks, and we have to respect them. My daughter didn't walk until she was 3 (but then, she has lots of developmental delays). But she walked ... imagine my surprise the day she walked into the room for the very first time, while I was working and not paying any attention!!

Your guy will walk. Enjoy this stage while you can. :)

I agree with your mom. Don't rush it. He'll walk when he is ready.

My first baby walked at 9 months. My youngest at 14 months. Don't worry they all develop on their own. Easier said than done I know, but give him time to develop on his own. I've always heard the baby walks later because so many people do things for them.

Hey G. -
I'm a single mom of a 5 year old boy and an 11 month old girl!

My son didn't walk until he was 18 months old. He was super giant and I think the weight kept him from getting up and going. But truly, lots of children walk later than 13 months. My daughter is 11 months old and is making NO desires towards walking (she is not even pulling up much). So, I anticipate that she still will not be walking at 13 months. Personally, I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

I have three kids...my first was walking at 13 months. Second waited until 18 months seriously!
My third is 9 months now and is already taking steps between furniture.....they are all different. Don't worry about it.
:)
S.

Hi, my daughter didn't walk until 15 months. I've always heard that kids that walk before age 1 tend to have reading problems so I was secretly hoping she took her time. Anyway, the books all say average is between 10 months and 18 months...so you're OK.

My oldest son didn't walk until he was 15 months. He is now 7 and had no problems whatsoever. Your son is completely normal - he may be a little cautious.

My daughter really didn't walk until she was 14-15 months. She was more of a "talker". I did get her those push toys. They have to push those while walking. That helped build her confidence and strengthen those leg muscles. One day she just stopped crawling...

My son started walking around 13-14 months. I knew at the time that no amount of coaxing and encouragement was going to make him try until he was ready. We ended up getting him a 3-in-1 walk-behind, ride-on dump truck that he fell in love with. I liked it because it could be easily pushed on the carpet, so if he fell down, he wouldn't get hurt. Within a week and without him even realizing it, he was actually walking and dragging the truck around rather than pushing it. The truck made him feel secure I suppose. He was walking on his own very soon after.