18 Month Old Not Walking

I've always heard, although doctors do not agree, that children who are early talkers are slower to walk and vice-versa. I think that because her balance is still shaky she feels crawling is safer. Everything else is on time so it's probably OK to wait until her pediatrician sees her.

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I would take advantage of it!

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Sounds like she is moving along at her own pace and will get there soon. Try not to over encourage walking or make a big deal out of it. She will walk when she is ready.

If your daughter seems to be developing normally in every other way and has no obvious physical abnormalities that would prevent walking, it is likely she is just developing this skill more slowly than most. At her 18 month appt, your pediatrician may recommend physical therapy. I have a friend who had to take her son to PT when he was not yet walking at 18 months. They went to two appointments and she took what she learned and began using it at home. Within a month of working with him, he was walking. Occasionally some babies just need a little "help" to get moving. She and her husband walked with him each evening after dinner for 15-30 minutes (or as long as he cooperated), each holding on hand. She also bought him a toy that he could stand and push and set aside 15 minutes three times a day, where that was his sole entertainment, and she completely got rid of the "sitting" walker. She stopped carrying him almost completely, even though it often would have been easier.

Here is an interesting article from baby center that may be of use.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_motor-development-ten-red-fla...

well usually by 18 months a child is walking, but i do know a few parents who's child did not walk until 15 and even 16 months old.
ask your ped. when you go for his 18M check up, they will know what to tell you to do or look for,ect.
D.

She will walk when she's ready and feels secure enough. It should be done on her time table, not yours. As long as there isnt any physical problem that is stopping her, I would just let it go. She'll walk when she's ready.

Hi A.!

My son could walk aound the furniture at 13 months and then stopped trying to walk on his own for a LONG LONG time. The main reason was, whenever we had to go somewhere or do something, I picked him up! He knew he wouldn't miss anything, or get left - why should he walk when he can ride!! I'm embarrassed to tell you this went on for almost a year!! I was just impatient and busy, and I guess he could sense it. Good luck!

My daughter was the EXACT same way ... extremely verbal, delayed crawling (12 mo) and walking (18 mo) and was surpasing every other benchmark. She is almost 14 now and really is doing FABULOUS. She's athletic and has NOTHING wrong with her!!!

What WAS going on as a toddler was that she had fluid in her ears but didn't have the tell-tale continuous ear infections that would be expected ... she had minor hearing loss, but it was not permanent and it didn't affect her development in any other area even though she was being raised multi-lingual.

So ... Ask for a tympamogram of her ear pressure to make sure she doesn't have any underlying issues and continue to encourage her to take those independant steps. When my dd finally walked ... it was for PIZZA. Go figure.

Have a blessed day!!!

C.

Hi A.! Our daughter went through a very similar sort of thing. She was a late crawler, and a late walker. She didn't take a step by herself until she was 16 months old. Your daughter is a few months older, but she sounds identical to what we saw in Star. Star was/is also very verbal. She was talking up a storm at a very early age. She is now 26 months, and her grasp of language is really, really advanced. I think that kids kind of focus on one thing, and our girls focused on the verbal end of development. I always felt like my daughter was such a fast crawler, that she didn't want to slow down to walk. Now she runs EVERYWHERE! My cousin also did not take her first steps until she was 18 months. I know that pediatricians start to look at "not walking" a little more closely at 18 months...but to me it sounds like she will be there any minute. If your pediatrician wants you to have any tests done, I would request giving her 2 more months. I was worried as well, when I was in your shoes...but looking back I just realize that our kids are unique, and don't always fit into "the average time line". I hope this helps you to feel better :)
oh, ps...have you gotten her any type of push toy/walker. That seemed to really help Star.

Hi A.,
I have the same problem with my 18 month old daughter as well. Yes, it has worried me too, because my two older daughters now age 6 and age 2 1/2 were both early walkers at around 8-9 months. I consulted my doctor with my concern at one of her check-ups and he checked out her spine alinement, hips, legs and feet to make sure it was nothing physical, which it was not thank God. He stated that all kids are not the same and not to push the issue to much because they will walk when they feel comfortable, even though he told me that, it still bothered me as it does most parents. So he recommended her to physical therapy, she went to a couple of visits where they analyst her phyiscal skills and motor skills, They found what they called a weak trunk, meaning that her middle was just not strong enough to carry her weigh, so all we needed to do was work out them muscles to make them stronger. So after a couple of visits, they sent us home with home physical therapy using a ball and band to make her balance and set up more and we were to also have her stand up between our legs holding on as well daily. Between doing the PT, we kept walking with her holding her hands, having her walk holding on to her push toys, and encouraging her to come to us to get a toy. We have seen tons of improvement she stands up longer, walks holding on to furniture, and within this month has shown more interest to let go and has walked across the room all by herself. I know before we know it she will do more walking then her crawling everywhere, but until then we will be patient and encourage her more. So when you go to your next check-up with her just simply share your concern with the dr. and see if the dr. recommends PT, other than that I hope she will take off soon...then when they hit terrible 2's we will be wishing they were our little non-walking babies again, right...LOL! Before we know it they will be walking all over us...LOL! Goodluck!

Hi A.,
My son did not walk until he was 17 months. He did the same as your daughter, walking holding hands, etc. He crawled at 9 months and was very happy doing that. He just didn't have the confidence to walk. Even when he started to walk on his own it took awhile before he was good at it. As long as I knew he didn't have any problems with the strength in his legs or any hip problems I wasn't that concerned. If you are really concerned ask your doc at her 18 month visit to refer you to a physical therapist. I am sure she will running around in no time! Good Luck!!!

Jill

My little boy didn't crawl until 11 months and did not walk until almost 17 months. He was very verbal early too. I am sure everything is fine. Have your Dr. look over her feet and legs, but it may just be that she develops slowly in that area. Every baby is different.

Hi A.,

I have 2 year and 5 mo girl. She's the opposite from yours. Walked when she was 11 mo, but has a speech delay from being exposed to two languages. She talking more now since she's in speech therapy. Yours is way ahead in speech, and seems to be very analytical, but I would not worry too much about the walking as each child's development vary and focuses on the innate talents each little one has. It's hard not to compare babies, I have a hard time when I see two year olds talk in full sentences and with lots of vocabulary, but do bring it up at the next doctor's appointment. My sister had a baby boy that walked only by holding her hand and was afraid to let go. Now he's a very confident and highly smart and athletic 15 year old.

try taking something she likes n while she is holding on to the couch standing, put it in a place at eye level to her so she can got for it. you can also get her a toy that assists in walking like those lawn mower kinda toys with the popping balls in it. if she becomes comfy with holding those type of toys by herself to walk, the rest will come naturally...and don't freak out everytime she falls..also, if u see her doing anything close to walking, don't show her that you're noticing because it might cause her to stop...or even lose concentration...hope these tips help you..both my kids started walking when they were 8 and 9 months and these re the things i did...good luck!

I could have written that EXACT SAME paragraph 3 years ago. Our doctors were always very supportive and did not express concern because she was focusing her efforts on development in other ways.

Is she your first born? Make sure she's exposed to other kids walking. When my daughter finally started, she had been at a friend's house several full days in a row where her little buddy (a year older) was walking all over the place.

Just a potential head's up -- our daughter is an extreme perfectionist, and has been from day one. Our theory (oh so scientific) is that she didn't want to walk until she was confident she could do it without falling. :)

Don't worry about it!! My son was the same way and I was worried like you and everyone told me not to. He just started one day and didn't stop. It seems like the more you try work on it with them the longer it takes so just don't worry about it. Believe me once it starts there is no looking back and you think she moves fast now - look out! My son talked alot too. They say that when they are working on one part of their brain the other stuff waits so they can concentrate on one thing at a time.

It sounds like she just prefers not to, not that she Can't, so I wouldn't stress until you've seen the doctor and he tells you to. Some kids actually skip the whole crawling process. I mean completely. So, if she prefers not to walk, even though she is able, I wouln't stress too much. Eventually she will decide it is easier to get around and decide she wants to. Is she a heavy baby? Sometimes weight can be a factor.. more weight requires more muscle to balance them properly. Or perhaps she has sensitivity issues with her feet? My son HATED the feel of grass on his bare feet... would immediately sit down and refuse to stand up again as long as he was on it. Does your daughter wear socks/shoes? I would try (if you haven't already) switching that around, if she does, take them off; if she doesn't, put them on. Then (again, you are probably doing this, but) do like you do to encourage crawling... put toys she is interested in somewhere that she must stand up/walk to reach them.. Do you have some shelves 2 feet off the floor? Or end tables that you could set her fav toy on? Set things way back against the back of the sofa so she must stand and climb up to get them.
Oh, one other thought.. could she have an ear infection? Fluid in her ears might cause her balance to feel off and that might make standing/walking more scary...
Good luck. As a parent of early walkers (10 1/2 months and 11 months) I can say: enjoy her lack of mobility as long as you can, LOL... Once they start walking there is a whole 'nother set of issues to deal with... (confining them when you are shopping or eating out... ha ha.

Sounds just like my daughter. Don't worry to much yet. My daughter started to walk at 18mos just as I started to worry. But when she did finally she was very careful. She wanted to hold my hand everywhere. But she is 6 now and still careful with most anything she does. Good for me. Her little sister is complete opposite and wasn't talking until 2. Of course I worried.
J.

Hi, A.. Well, my son did not walk or stand independently until he was 18 months, even though he would do what your daughter is doing, walk or stand with support. How verbal is she? You might try playing games with her, enticing her to walk a few steps without support to come to you and get a favorite treat or toy. This can give her the confidence to do it on her own without any enticing.

Is she around other children her age who are walking? Sometimes toddlers do the "Monkey see, monkey do" thing when they are starting to socialize, and if she sees other toddlers walking without support, she may decide that big girls walk, so she's going to walk too.

Make sure that when she does stand up and then plop down on her bottom, you don't laugh or discourage her in any way. When she stands up, even if she's holding onto something, praise her for standing up, and even when she walks holding your hands, praise her for doing this. Try holding just one of her hands and walking with her -- she will get more practice at balancing, sort of like taking one training wheel off a kid's bike so he or she can get a better sense of what riding without training wheels is like.

You can also sit on the floor and get her into a standing position, then take away your hands but leave them close to her body, so that she can see your hands are close, but she's doing the work herself. This will give her more confidence, too.

I think she just needs some more practice in stages.

My son was a late sitter and crawler, too. He wasn't motivated to get up on all fours, to sit, etc. I started out by putting him into the position so that he could feel this new sensation, and then he got interested in trying to duplicate it. He had a hard time balancing on all fours -- he kept falling flat on his face because his elbows were straight, and then I showed him how to do it with elbows slightly bent. Before that, I showed him how to sit by getting him upright and propping himself up with his hands between his knees. Then I helped him to see what other sitting positions were like, and how to get from lying to sitting to crawling and back again.

My son also was more into fine motor than large motor. He became much more verbal & intellectual than physical or sports-oriented. How they handle the physical things as babies can be an indicator of what they're going to be like as older children, but we parents can still help them to enjoy physical things with a little encouragement and coaxing.

Peace,
Syl

A.,

I went through the same thing with my daughter not wanting to walk. I used to try to encourage her to walk to me and she would jump down on the floor and crawl. One day we were in the kitchen and I had something that she wanted and I told her that the only way she could have it is if she walked over to get it. She crawled to me and I did not give her the toy. She got aggravited because everytime she would crawl to me and I would refuse to give her the toy. She got tired of going around in circles so she stood up and walked to me and she has been walking every since that day. Your daughter might not be walking now, but she will be. Maybe she is afraid of falling down, therefore she just refuses to walk. Encourage her to walk around the furniture, when she is comfortable encourage her to come to you without holding on to anything and see if that works. I wouldn't worry about it if she is developing normally and you aren't having any problems with her in any other area.

Our son was the same way and the thing is he knew and we knew he could do it if he wanted too. He crawled around 8 months. We went out and bought the walking wings. I sat on the floor in a small area and my husband had the wings. We had him walk back and forth a few times with my husband holding them. Then my husband stayed behind him like he was holding the wings and our son did it. I think he needed to "feel" like he was being held onton. The we got his favorite snack, took off the wings and made him try to walk to it. That took about 15 minutes total and he has been non-stop since. I know that at the appointment,according to stuff I have read, they so "concern" if they aren't walking by 18 months. Do you put her in shoes or use walking toys (not a walker)? We had a push toy for him and we would put on his shoes and take him outside. He would actually take steps in the grass (I guess it's easier than the floors for them). I am sure she will be fine, some kids just walk later. Not only that but if she is anything like my son, she knows that crawling she get to what she wants a lot quicker.

Good luck

Each child is different. If she is showing all of the other motor and verbal skills, I feel that there may not be very much to worry over. Let her do it at her own pace and time. She has demonstrated that her legs are strong and that she does have the ability to ambulate. When the walking clock goes off within her, she will walk. It may be the same as the dr. gives you a day for the baby to be born, but the child comes out when it is ready.
I think she'll be fine, but is absolutely a great idea to go to your dr. for advice when you make your appointment.

Just relax, let her take it slow. No one built rome in a day.

Jen