Walking - Wellington,FL

Hi Allison,

If she's walking with a walker or holding on to your finger, she is walking. Remember all babies are different. my son did the same from 15 months and didnt walk on his own until he was about 22-23months. and the pediatrician said this is perfectly normal. not all kids start walking right away, not all kids start talking right away. Whoever is telling you its late is wrong because she hasnt even hit 20 months yet, and many babies dont start until their first birthdays!! if by this time, she can not balance herself on her own 2 feet at all even with help, will only crawl, or sit then you may have room for concern, but she's walking! let her do her thing at her own time! thats a big accomplishment and its a big scary place out there. she may not want to do it without you or the walker :)
A

My daughter didn't walk until 18 months. I know it's hard when all other babies you know are moving around. Mine was advanced on verbal and fine motor skills but could care less about those gross motor skills. It didn't matter what we did to entice her to crawl (not until 13 months) or walk, she had no interest until she decided she was ready... you also learn a lot about your kid's future personality. :)
Anyway, do your best not to worry, it will come!

I would definetely take her to your pediatrician and let her know your concern.
Amy s

Stop using the walker, and if you are also holding her all the time, cut it out now....Within a week, I bet she will be walking...Don't give in either and give it to her....I never used any type of walk assistance item and both of my kids walked by 12 mos. Even a pediatrician, well some, will tell you not to use them...good luck..She'll do it...

They say boys walk later. My son took his first step, by himself, at 16 months. If you see she can walk just holding your finger, she will get there. She is probably scared to fall ??

Mine walked at 18 mos and 17 mos respectively. Just to warn you...they didn't "walk" they run. Some theorize that late walkers have better balance and are better at sports because of it. All I know is my 3yo DS can ice skate, ski and ride a razor scooter with no issues. :) They'll get there!

If she's walking with support, then you probably have nothing to worry about. There is a wide range of normal. My second son didn't walk until 15 months. He also barely talked until 3. People we knew started hassling us to get him checked out, like there was some serious problem. But the pediatrician assured me that he was normal and just doing things at his own pace. If there are no other markers for problems, then it's nothing to be concerned about. My son is perfectly fine. My only suggestion would be to get rid of the walker or don't put her in it, it can cause delays when it's used past the standing stage. I let my kids walk holding onto the outside rather then put them in it.

My daughter went from climbing to crawling then walked at almost 20 monthes. Relax it will happen and then watch out running will follow. Good Luck

Hi A.. Please don't worry. My LO is at the same stage. My dr. -- who is great -- said not to be concerned about it until 18 months, and even then, everything will work out OK. Also, we do try to walk around with him indoors and out every day these days to build his confidence and strengthen his muscles. I have also heard that there are some developmental benefits to late walkers...so everything I believe works itself out for the best.
J.

Hi,

Try looking at this from another angle. Is she doing other things that are maybe early for her age? My son was 15, almost 16 months old, when he finally started walking. He was too busy doing other things to bother with walking. He did use the walker and stuff, like your daughter. He also taught himself to read at 2 years old, taught himself sign language from a chart in his classroom at the same age. I know you know that everyone is different, but unless there is a physical problem that is very evident, which you would have known of by know from the doctor, I wouldn't worry about it.
Hope this helps!!
Roz

My daughter didn't walk independently until she was 25 months. We had her ears checked for middle ear fluid that kept her off balance so she was afraid to let go, but there may also be an issue with posture and spine. I would recommend a good chiropractor(if you want to avoid surgeries) www.bbgmiami.com seems to be good ones also a good ENT to have her ears checked and practice with her thru out the day with maybe a sheet or lg towel wrapped around her waist and upper body and you walk behind allowing her to make steps forward w/o holding onto anything....Hope this helps and hope she will soon walk.........

My 2nd daughter started walking at 19months. I think she might have walked earlier but perhaps didn't "want" to or feel the "need"? lol. She scooted everywhere, never crawled. We had someone come into our home that was recommended by our pediatrician to observe her (it was a therapist from a local University) and she said all was fine. The next day, I think, she walked! :)

Hey A.,
My daughter didn't walk til like 15-16 months...It's completely normal..I even went and got her legs x-rayed cause I thought her hips were placed wrong. Silly huh? She seems like a baby that's gonna think about situations before doing them..that's great! My daughter didn't walk until later but she spoke really early, so it's a give a take thing. Have a good day :)

don't worry. all kids are different and as long as she is walking with your assistance, she'll get it in time. actually i was shocked to learn that some kids don't start walking until after 18 months. she's fine. it's actually a blessing in disguise because she'll probably have a lot less bumps and bruises than the kiddies who walk at 10 months, like mine did...trust me, lots less bumps and bruises! be patient mommy, she'll get it!

You didn't mention if she crawls and when she started crawling. Children need to crawl 4-6 months correctly in order for the brain and central nervous system to integrate all the senses and right/left hemispheres for schoolwork in the future. Having said that, if you think the timetable is off then go to a private therapy place and have her evaluated by a PT or OT. I would not use the free service from the state...they are terrible and let lots of things slip through. I would get several opinions as well. If there is a problem it will be with her vestibular system (sense of balance). There are some great programs to help stimulate that. This is somehting that stays with the child for life. They don't grow out of it. Ear infections are killer, breech babies, preemies, and C-section babies are at high risk of having vestibular issues. Keep her out of jumpers, exersaucers and contraptions that will slow her down even more. Hold her upside down alot and get that inner ear fluid moving. Swings are great as well as spinning activities.

Next month you are going to look back on this post and wonder why you were in such a hurry for her to actually walk....she will be everywhere!

If she is holding onto your finger, then she can do it, just not quite ready all by herself! It'll come...enjoy these last days of having a crawler...because it is coming to an end:(

Hi! Your daughter IS walking. she just needs the confidence to let go. she'll get there!

what kind of walker are you referring to? Is it the kind they sit in and can walk around in, or the kind they push (like a push toy?) If it is the kind they sit in, get rid of it.

my 16mo is not walking either and I am not worried about it. She does cruise holding onto furniture and will walk holding onto my hands but won't let go. I figure she'll do it when she's ready as all kids do things at different ages. We practice a lot everyday so we'll just wait for her to be comfotable and I'm sure she'll just get up and walk across the room when I'm totally not expecting it and don't have the camera ready! LOL My ped is also not concerned and says to not push her but let her do it when she's ready.

Keep working on it!! If she can do it while holding your finger she is ALMOST there!! Just a week or two tops and she will be all over the place. Every baby is different. My daughter walked at about 15.5 mos, and I didn't walk until 17 mos. My niece walked at 9 mos, they are just all so different. They say that the 'thinkers' take longer. =)

I am no expert, but it seems to me that if she has the muscle coordination and tone to walk while holding your finger, that there is nothing wrong with her motor skills. If something was truly wrong, versus her just taking her sweet time about it, I don't think she would be able to walk holding a finger. Sounds like she is fine, just driving you crazy. :) I am sorry I don't have any advice about getting her to walk on her own. I'm sure you are doing lots of coaxing and stuff already. Oh, and the average is about 14 months, so really I don't think she sounds very late at all.

If she can walk holding your finger I think things are okay, its just a confidence issue. For my daughter it was her shoes. I had her in soft foot shoes, and she'd just toddle, hold on to stuff.

Hubby went out and bought her a pair of pink Nike-wannabes and she loved them! She literally put them on and took off! Its been 2y and she hasn't slowed down yet.

M.

Let me start by saying that my oldest didn't walk until he was 15 1/2 months old. Children walk in different stages, but cannot walk until a certain part of their brain is developed - this much I know.

Have you talked to your pediatrician about it???? I would be shocked if they have not sent you to a neurologist yet just to make sure there were no issues. Personally, I would suggest clearing your mind by taking her to a pediatric neurologist. My son was slow to walk because he had issues in utero that caused him to develop slowly (IUGR).

If that part of her brain is not fully developed, there is nothing you can do to push her to walk. This is why I say you need to check things out with the neurologist. If all is good and it turns out she is just lazy, then I would ask this same question again.

Good luck!

if it's a regular walker i would definitely not put her in that anymore. it could actually keep her from walking sooner. i used it for my daughter and she was 12mos when she walked. i didn't use it for my son and he was 8mos when he was walking. also if you carry her a lot. my bf mother said that one of her sons didn't walk until he was 22 mos old. you can have her checked if you are concerned but it doesn't seem like she's too old to still be crawling. my niece was also 15mos old and would only walk by holding onto a finger but as soon as you'd let go, she'd fall. your daughter can prob walk but is too "secure" with what she has now.