Trouble Walking

I wouldn't say she's unable. My guy was a late walker, and very cautious. i talked to his pediatrician at his one year check up and she said the same thing, if he's not walking by 18 months we'll look into it then, and not to try and force him to walk. And he was walking before 18 months so there was no problem.

He also dragged one of his feet when he crawled, I looked it up online and found it was completely normal, many children do it, I think it was called "scooting." Babies typically begin crawling between 6 and 10 months so your daughter is right where she should be. There's many forms of crawling and they're all normal and fine.

I also read this ~ "The important part of this stage in development isn't the specific method of locomotion, according to DrGreene.com, a website created by San Fransisco pediatrician Alan Greene, but the fact that the infant is becoming mobile at all. Any movement that provides forward momentum is worthwhile at this stage, and parents should encourage babies to explore their surroundings by placing toys just out of reach and setting up obstacle courses made of pillows, cushions and boxes." So just keep encouraging her to move and when she's ready she'll walk, which is what our doctor told us.

If there were anything wrong with her hips the doctor would know that from his physical examination. I suggest that she is in the process of learning to walk which takes longer than 2 weeks from the time of the first steps.

Relax and enjoy your little one as she develops. What is happening is so very normal. You can't really compare your oldest with your youngest. Every child develops at their own pace. Many children walk much later than this.

Well, I'm not sure what you are asking for since you don't want anyone to tell you not to worry.
Your gut tells you something is wrong with her hips so go with that and take her to the doctor.
My first baby walked at 7 months. My second baby didn't start walking until 11 months. I mean, he was up and around, cruising on furniture, pushing toys, but as far as flying solo, he didn't have much interest in taking off to run.
Let me promise you, once he did, he's never stopped.
Little kids have their own ways of finding their balance and motating.
They do it in their own time.
Please keep in mind that some little kids are capable of doing things that they just don't find as important as we moms do.
I was talking with a woman at work today who brought her darling grandson in. He talked my ear off. She said it was the funniest thing because she worried he'd NEVER talk. And, he uses some pretty big words. He's only 3.
I'm not going to tell you not to worry because you aren't into that advice.
You're in Ireland, won't be here until August, I'm not sure what to tell you other than the issue may well be resolved by then.
You believe there is something wrong with her hips so you are going to have to find a way to get that checked out.

Best wishes.

Youll feel better if you see the Dr again or find another for a second opinion on her hips. Tell them you dont want to wait till shes 18 months and need to be reasured now that there isnt something wrong. She stopped dragging her foot and seems to be walking ok while pushing toys, and cruising furniture which all sounds normal. Dont be in too big a hurry for her to do things. Once she starts walking shes just going to fall more and worry you about that too. Let her go at her own pace and it will be better. I think any Dr should be willing to see you as often as you want to make you a more relaxed mommy. I want to see video of her walking now!!

Hi M.,

I just wanted you to know that my son started doing all the same things your daughter did at 7 months and we all thought he would walk at 8 months because he could get around by furniture and crawled at 4 months old.

He also dragged his foot when he walked with a push toy and it concerned my mother in law. He did not walk until the day before his first birthday and for the first 6 months or so he pointed his feet inward and sometimes still dragged that foot, but without us doing anything- he naturally straightened out around 1 1/2 years old and walks perfect now. He's now 4 1/2 and is a healthy walking, running, skipping, jumping boy! Don't worry your daughter is fine!

As long as she's walking fine while pushing things I'm sure she'll let go when she's ready. If she's still doing the foot dragging I'd have that checked out.

I wouldn't worry AT ALL! I have four kids and they all walked at different times and one was horribly pigeon toed. One walked at 9 months, one at 12 months and one at 13 months. All were extremely early on sitting, crawling, scaling, etc. Ultimately the one that was pigeon toed was fine at about 3 and his feet straightened out.

These little guys take their own time to figure things out. Even though your daughter was dragging her foot, she just hasn't connected that dot yet. I will say though, that if your gut is telling you something is wrong, maybe you could go see a couple other Peds for a second opinion.

Ultimately, for my money I would just give her time to make the choice for herself. She will know when she is ready.

Good luck!

My daughter does this at 10mos. It's just how she's figuring out how everything works. I've watched her closely, and when she's actually taking steps, she doesn't do it. Just when pushing up.

You would know if something was really wrong, since you see it every day.
But since she just started walking, I think I'd give her a month to master it. If she's still doing it once she's mastered walking, then you might have an issue.

But for now, that might just be the point where she is while she's learning.

I work with children in early intervention. Please do not even think about letting your child walk before 12-13 months of age. She needs to crawl properly for 4-6 months before she walks. This will get her brain ready for the high demands of later academics, visual motor skills, auditory and balance skills. Early walkers have more learning disabilites and motor coordination problems then later walkers. The fact that you feel somehitng is not right in her motor coordination systems is probably true. You need to take her to a pediatric occupational therapist or find someone who practices Masgutova Method in Ireland. There are many primitive reflexes that need to integrate before cortical control can be complete. A dragging leg, foot or hip is a big indicator of retained reflexes. If you need more help private message me.