Not Walking Yet!

Hi C.,

In my experience, babies walk when they are ready. There is no right or wrong time and no need to push her. In fact, when I stopped trying to get my son to walk, he was more than happy to do so on his own! He didn't walk until abuot 14 months either; I think it had something to do with everyone always carrying him (at home and at daycare). I tried not to pick him up everytime he wanted me too, this seemed to get him motivated!

Hi C.~
There were so many responses on this, i did not read through them. My apologies if someone already said something like this :) My daughter (2nd daughter) was 15 mo when she started walking! UGH!!! She just didn't have an interest. She would take a few steps and then realize crawling got her where she wanted to go.. and proceeded to crawl. That went on FOR MONTHS!!! Finally when she was 15 months old my dad came to visit. He started playing with her and holding her "standing up" and running around the house with her. Her little feet were just, going...going...going. She was "kind of doing it on her own". It was lots of fun. With that my daughter started running all on her own the very same day. Who knew... i just had to run her around :) Maybe it will help you!

C.-

My son, now 21 months, was the same way. He didn't even crawl until he was 10 months and started walking at 14. I was never really concerned about it, I knew soon as he started walking I would have to be chasing a lot more :) Anyhow what my son really enjoyed were any of the push a long toys, the ones that he would stand behind and then walk. I hope this helps and just be paitent, don't push too hard.

B.

Hi C.,
I wouldn't be too alarmed by your little one not walking yet. I would watch for things like the ear infections like the others have mentioned and as well the eyes. Believe it or not my older daughter had a lazy eye and I took her to see Dr. Mary Carroll here in Las Vegas. We did 25 weeks of eye therapy and learned a lot about the eye muscles which are controlled by other muscles. Before we got started, I had to complete a very extensive questionaire which covered a lot on her development including when did she crawl and walk and talk etc. This even helped recognize some disciplinary problems in school because her eyes would get tired and she would lose focus and concentration. Who would have thought! Well, I still wouldn't be too alarmed, but perhaps check out any abnormal signs.

Hi C. -

You posted your question last November, so no doubt your daughter is walking all over the place by now, maybe even running. But I thought I'd put out this response about crawling anyway -- the motion of crawling is very important to brain development. All kinds of things are going on in the baby's brain during that time, BECAUSE of the crawling, and people who pick up their babies, holding them upright to encourage early walking aren't doing their babies any favors.

There's a method of therapy post brain injuries called patterning, during which the patient's arms and legs are moved for them in the crawling motion. This actually creates new pathways in the brain. Even adults benefit from it.

So, to you and anyone else who happens to see this -- no worries about what you think might be "late" walking -- it's a lot older than 14 months.

I'm new to MamaSource, so I couldn't have written when your post went out. I just saw it today because it was featured in the "In the Spotlight" box. I wish you and your toddler all the best,

Colleen
(no, I'm not a Physical Therapist, but I've volunteered in a patterning team)

I have read articles that say not to be worried about your child not walking until 16 months. I would give her a little time. I wouldn't try to push her to do it because she might be discouraged if you push her to walk. It's just like crawling in a way. You probably never though she would crawl and then she did. It will happen. Just give her a little more time. (Especially if she is pretty close to walking). You could try a walker that she pushes, but my son didn't have any luck with that. They always slipped out from under him. He tried to use things like a laundry basket or a box because it was a better height for him. Good Luck!

As an encouragement...my daughter didn't walk until she was 16 months old. Her vocabulary was and still is (5th grader) out of this world! I've heard many say that late walkers have larger vocabularies at a younger age, but my goodness! mj

Just wanted to say - you're not alone! My 14mo old is also more interested in crawling. He just recently had tubes put in his ears which has helped with his balance. My Pedi said the pressure in his eardrums could have been throwing him off, he had 6 ear infections in less than 6 months!

I don't know if you child has had any health history but I wouldn't worry, there's a little girl in my son's daycare who just started creeping on the furniture & she's 15mos.

I have a couple friends who children didnt start walking walking till about 14/15 months..So I wouldnt worry.. every child is diff and they will do things when they are good and ready...you can buy them lil toys they can use to walk around the house with and push..

My daughter will be 14mo in a couple days and she isnt walking alone either. She will walk when you hold her hands or along furniture and stuff but would much rather cruise by crawling.
I worried and asked docs and all my friends(whose children are younger and walking already) I wouldnt worry about it at all..she will at her own pace. As in regard to some comments below..There is nothing wrong with my daughter..no ear, eyes, or whatever and she just doesnt want to do it yet. What can you do..they will at some point and we will be chasing them all over. Take a break now and chill..once they are walking and running we wont be able to breath..LOL.

Have you tried putting her toy's on a coffee table and having her stand to reach them or you could get on the floor yourself and have her hang on to you while you crawl around and then she has no choice but to practice walking.

Our first was content to not walk until she was almost 14 months. As long as she is crawling, it's fine. She pulls up on stuff right? They say the longer they crawl, the smarter they are, maybe she is going to be a genius :) One trick is to use a clothes pin in her hand and then to let go of it. They think they are still holding your finger and keep walking. She'll take off when she is ready and you'll wonder why you were in a hurry.

I just want to tell you to not worry!
I was in the same boat with my now 20 month old son. I was very nervous because he was late with crawling and didnt like crawling he always wanted to be picked up all the time and as soon as I went to my doctor to see if he might need physical therapy for his legs to make him stronger and more independent he started walking three days later. This was my youngest son. My oldest son who is now 4 also started walking at 15 months. They definitely like to do things in there own way and when they are ready. The more I pushed the harder they both refused so i just let them do their thing and it worked they are both happy healthy kids. I did however stand my youngest up when i was sitting on the floor and had somone sit across from me and slowly started helping him go from one person to the other with tons of enthusiam and clapping to encourage it. He loved all the attention he got from it. He didnt have to fight for attention from his brother this way!
Good luck Dont stress out! :)

My son didn't walk until 16 mo. He's 2 1/2 now and running all over the place, I can hardly keep up. Don't worry your daughter will get there.

My son didn't walk until 15 months and I worried about it just like the other moms on this site. Enjoy the last little bit of crawling while you can. Once they learn to walk they go everywhere. One way that did help us help him was to only allow him to be carried when going up stairs, or into stores. Otherwise we made him hold onto our finger to get places. It worked becasue he grew accustomed to having to stand.

I actually know a little girl who didn't walk until 18 mos! Nothing was physically wrong with her, she just didn't seem to want to. I know other kids who first walked at 14, 15, and 16 mos too. Of course you'd like your child to do what the other same age kids are doing, but just have patience. Before you know it she will be running away from you!

Get her some sturdy push toys and let her go. Make sure they are heavy on the bottom like the Peek a blocks Hippo or the triangular kind with activities on the front. You can also use your dining chairs to set up an obstacle course with stuffed animals on each chair to get her to step (don't put them too far apart) to see what's on the next one. (Use toys she loves.)

You have plenty of time to get her first steps on video, so be ready for that moment! Some kids go through stages so fast you don't know what hit you and never get pictures of the "firsts"!