Help Walking

I never worried much and both of mine were 14 and half months before they walked. neither crawled much. I basicay did what other moms do, hold their hands and walked them around until they were tired. He'll get it. but maybe actually "show" him how to pull up and cruise and stuff. we made games out of it...mine are 15 months apart so I was dying for her to walk before my second was vorn...and she did, by two weeks. It was just over night and she was walking unsupported.

If it were me, I'd get rid of the walker and get him a push along toy (where he can hold on and push it while he walks). Also, as others have said, he's well within the normal range for starting to walk. My daughter was standing and cruising at 9 months but just refused to actually walk for months. It was a game to her. She knew we wanted her to, but she would drop down to the crawling position with a huge grin on her face and race to wherever it was we were trying to get her to walk to. When she got tired of trying to crawl to keep up with her siblings, she just started walking. It was within a day that she had it down. He may just be resisting. Anyway. The push along toys helped a lot with my other three children who were actually interested in learning how. We also had a jumper that we used with my twins. We found that it made them just want to bounce up and down when we were holding them up to try and walk. When we quit using that in favor of the other toys, they caught on quicker. Good luck!

Hi J.
And now some professsional advice, as a physical therapist...tell your friend to stop using the walker. In order to walk, the hips and "core" muscles have to develop proper strength. All children do this at different rates, some very early, some a little later. Crawling is a strength developing stage, then a child pulls up, then cruises around the furniture, then progresses to walking. Yes, some kids may skip a stage , but almost all do it this way. When a child spends time in a walker, he/she does not get the stability exercises his hips, back, abdominals need to pull up and maintain balance when propelling his weight forward (walking). Also, very important, early weight bearing helps develop the shape of the hip bone. I'm not sure if there are studies on excessive walker use , but we weren't designed to use walkers. This child is only 14 months, still well within normal limits for his age. My advice, let him crawl around and be free and active in your home. With lots of activity, he will walk when he is ready.
As a mom, don't be too eager for a baby to walk, they are way too fast!!

I second the advice of Julie. Try to get him out of the walker and pushing something instead. It may be hard to convince your friend, but remind her that this is important and it shouldn't take too long for him to be walking around on his own.
This boy really isn't too far behind - your son was way ahead!! I think you are doing the right things. Just keep encouraging him to pull himself up and cruise. With my boys, I liked to stand a couple steps away from them when they were holding onto the couch and see if they would walk to me. If they were nervous, I would grab their hands and guide them to me. The best way he will learn to walk is by doing it.
You also mentioned he has issues. If he has more issues than just walking that make him seem younger, you may suggest your friend have his pediatrician evaluate him for development. We waited until my son was 2 years to really evaluate where he was. Then it took 6 months for him to get into therapy. So he was 2 1/2 - 3 years before he was getting help for something we probably could have noticed much earlier. Plus his pediatrician may give you some adice on his walking also. Good luck!!

First off, get him out of the walker as it is just promoting his habits and won't help him learn another way. I would also find some toys that he can push around that will hold him steady while he walks. We have an 11 month old that we are trying to encourage to walk and have had success with things that she can push. I would also try not to carry him as much as you can. Take him by the hand and help him walk to where you want him to go, but don't carry him there. Good luck.
J.

Don't overly worry about this. He will learn to walk when he's ready. My daughter is 18 months and just starting to learn to stand unassisted. I'm not concerned because although she is behind, I see her making progress. She is learning and developing very clearly, just slowly. This little boy will too.

You don't have to do special exercises with him, either. Just hold his hands while he walks and gradually lessen the amount of help you give him. Try and have him hold just a single finger, rather than your whole hand. Lower his hands as you walk with him, so that he can't rely on them too much and he learns better balance in his legs. Drop one hand completely and help him walk holding just one (this often leads to the child walking in a circle, but you can help him steer in a straight line). Try holding his arms just above his elbows, then you control how much guidance you give him.

Every time you change activities or more to new room you can do this with him. Make it how you travel to a new place together, rather than just picking him up because it's quicker. If you do that, he'll learn when he's ready.

And maybe you should talk away the walker. I've never used one, so I don't know if they're helpful or harmful, but if you think it's bad for him, just remove it.

Good luck to you, the little boy, and his mama.

We were givin this advise before my son started walking and it seemed to work pretty well as far as getting him brave enough to be on his own.He is 13 months and started walkin at 10 months. Take a broom handle (on ours you can screw off the brush part) so you just have a long stick and have him pull him self up on it, while your holding onto the end (this way he isn't wanting to just grab you because you a foot or two away from him) Kinda pull the broom handle infront of him so that he will walk but still hold on to the handle for balance. I would give it a try and see if that help him stand a little straigher. Goood luck.

He needs to gain confidence. He's not behind yet. Some kids just don't want right away. Yes, part of it is because he's been in a walker. If you put a toy on the couch and he needs to stand to get it; it might be an incentive for him. Also, remember that he has to do this on his own. You can walk him around using your hands and slowly graduate to letting go of him with one hand and then to independent walking. If he's big for his age he may be too heavy to lift himself. Just give him time. Good luck!!!

I am a mom of a 19 month old that is in physical therapy to help her with walking. The things we are working on are:
-holding with one hand while walking
-using a towel instead of holding hands-helps them with balance.
-toys that they have to stand and play with like a kitchen
-putting 2 toys close to one another so they have to go back and forth. Then move them farther and farther apart as they gain confidence.
-walking toys like a cart or push toy is very helpful to.

Good luck-I hope it helps!

I'd get rid of the walker. They are dangerous anyway. After that it's no big deal if they crawl until later. My oldest son walked at 10 months but the rest didn't even show any interest until 15 months. My 3rd didn't really walk until he was 20 months, he could he just chose not to and he's super smart. If you still want to encourage walking just make sure there's lots of stimulating push toys around. That annoying popping toy is what got my daughter going cause it just doesn't pop as loud if you push it when you're crawling LOL. I do feel for you about carrying around 23 lbs but he should get too much heavier than that too soon. My daughter is 3 1/2 and still weighs that.

Hi,
if you feel he is not meeting his developmental milestones, you can always have your friend contact Denver options (denver county) or the similar orginaization for the county your friend lives in. They will do a free developmental eval., and provide services to the boy, if needed. Good luck.
C.

The first thing I would recommend is to get a game plan going with your friend. It would help him the most if you were both doing the same things to encourage him to walk.

Hi J.,
I think two of my kids were at least 15-16 months before they were really walking. They were fine with all other developmental markers. Each kid is different. My other kid was walking around 10 or 11 months. One other thing to do is get him around some other kids that are at the toddling stage and are giving walking more of a try. I know it is hard not to compare kids to other kids or even what is in the developmental books, but just trust he will in his own time. Doing the activities you are doing are just fine to encourage it. Set up some furniture where he can attempt to get from point A to B without holding on (maybe put a good toy on another piece of furniture). Of course, cheer him on with any attempts.

Take care,
S.

First, get rid of the walker. Those things are dangerous and have been known to turn kids feet inward. Also, my son didn't walk until he was 15 months old (and very heavy). Your child walked exceptionally early so it's hard to compare the two. My son also wouldn't walk until we got a lab puppy and he was tired of her being in his face. It sounds like you just need time. Good Luck!

I won't push the walking. He is still young and once he starts the other one will follow! Use a stoller when you go out or only go places that have a shopping cart! He will be running soon!
C. B

I have a question for you. When was the last time you heard of a baby not learning to walk just because he used a walker to learn how to move his legs? He sounds like a healthy baby to me. When was the last time you heard of that a healthy baby never learned to walk? There a many adults now that began their walking in walkers. He will walk on his own when he is ready. Trying to force him to do it when you want may actually have a negative affect and delay his desire to walk. I advise you to help him when he shows interest and not to force interest on him. I am a mother of four (my youngest is four months) and two of the three that walk learned at 15 and 16 months. Be grateful for his health and let him learn in his own time.

Hi J.,

My 19 month old daughter just barely started walking about two weeks ago. My advice, don't worry about it. I stressed and stressed and there was nothing wrong with her. She just didnt' want to fall. So now she walks, very slowly and carefully, and hardly ever falls and loves it! So, I'd tell the mom not to worry about it too much. Or have her call Early Intervention (through family enrichment in davis county). I had my daughter assessed and they were really great. They even come to your house. And typically, they can give you some ideas, or even hook you up with a physical therapist at a very reduced cost.

Okay, so for some ideas, what worked for my daughter is to not hold both hands, but just one. That forces them to hold up more of their own weight and not just HANG on you. The only thing you need to worry about is when they fall. Don't hold on to their arm if they fall down, just let him go. IF you hold on and he twists, you can fracture his arm. Just an FYI. So, try holding just one hand and see how he does. The other thing that worked really well was putting chairs, ottomans etc. just out of reach. My daughter would be cruising around and I'd put a toy on the ottoman that she just couldn't quite reach from the couch. So, she would take the leap and walk a little step to the ottoman to get the toy.

From what I've heard from pediatricians and physical therapists, walkers are not good for kids who don't walk on time. Just like you're saying, they will rely on the supports and not develop the muscles they need to walk. So, I would just not even use the walker at all.

Ultimately, the thing that worked best was just giving her lots of encouragement and praise when she finally did take the risk and let go of my hand, or even when she walked holding on to me. And really, kids will do things in their own time. Its great to work with them, but don't stress out about it. And if the mom is worried, get him assessed. It can't hurt and usually provides a lot of peace of mind for mom :-) It did for me!

Good luck!
J.

I agree with the other moms. The walker needs to go, but I wouldn't worry about trying to make anyone walk. They all get there & there are no bonus points for doing it early. My first 2 kids were early walkers (10-11 months on their own) but never liked to walk holding my hand - they refused to do it. My 12 month old loves to walk holding my hand but could not care less about walking on his own. He cruises around holding furniture and free stands, but has no interest in walking on his own yet. He'll do it when he's good & ready & no poking or prodding will speed that up. My friend's baby didn't show much interest in walking until she was about 16 months and then one day she got up & started running around - no awkward stumbling around stage. I would say just get rid of the walker & let nature take its course. It will if he's just left alone to crawl & play.

I haven't read what everyone else said, but my son walked at 15 months. I expected him to walk early because I did, but he's a really smart little kid (20 months now) and he's doing great. It may be inconvenient for the kid to still be crawling, but it's not abnormal. And it's not really a problem. I have heard that walkers actually are detrimental to getting a kid to walk on his own. So I would consider taking the walker away and making it a game (what we did with ours). Show how much fun it is to take a step or two between two people and he'll start to have fun with it. Make sure that his parents do it too, and he'll be walking before anyone is ready. :)

Hi,
I have a background as an Occupational therapist and I had studied Sensory Integration. I also have 3 kids. The short version is that all kids go through a physical development process, rolling, sitting, crawling, pull to stand, walking running. All phases are important but crawling is the most important, as It stimulates the inner ear semicircular canals, which helps prepare the brain for higher level visual, perceptual skills. Walking does not stimulate inner ear the same way. With this in mind. I would get rid of the "walker" all together and play crawling games with both your son and the boy you watch. Obstacle courses crawling under and over blocks and tables and things is great too. Generally kids start walking between 11 and 15 months. When you son begins to walk encourage him to crawl instead. S.

What wonderful advice you got, and I really liked how Christie explained the physical mechanics behind walking, and that he is well inside the normal age range.

I understand that it is difficult to carry older/heavier children and having two that young can keep you home bound on the days you watch the older one. I really like my Moby Wrap, because it distributes the weight more evenly than a sling or baby bjorn and keeps my hands free. I've carried my 4 year old when I have my 8 month old in the wrap.

take his walker away and keep working with him. Cruising might help more than anything.

First thing, make sure your friend stops putting him in the walker. That is the biggest problem! As you have seen, they don't really help kids to walk faster or better; they actually delay the walking process.

Age 14 months is perfectly normal not to be walking. Let him just figure it out. Let him be a little tiny child. He'll grow up soon enough. (Believe it or not, by the time they're about eight, you will have forgetten all these little details, like how old they were when they walked, when they potty-trained, what their first words were. So write them down for the future. You will laugh at the idea that you worried about these things.) These things happen naturally, barring unusual circumstances like illness and brain damage.

By the way, I have never even remotely heard of a child walking at four months. That's astonishing! But I've heard of many who learned to walk between 18 and 24 months.