8 MONTHS AND WALKING...i CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

Updated on April 11, 2011
C.C. asks from Conroe, TX
50 answers

My girldfriend which is the grandmother and main caregiver for her "just turned" 8 month granddaughter, came to work and said the baby had started walking. I've known the baby since birth, she is very obese and of course only 8 months old and short, I was so taken back by this that I told her I didn't belive it. In a couple of days she brought the baby to work, also with someone to take the baby home. She put that little girl on the carpeted floor and she took off walking down this long corridor. There was no stumbling or hesitation on the babys part. She did fall forward and caught herself with her hands, and pushed herself right back up into a standing position. I I still couldn't belive what my eyes were seeing. Would you say this is unusural or a freak of nature. MY gosh, only 8 months old....I'd say it is a miracle!!! LOL

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R.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yes it does happen. Not trying to brag but both my daughter and son
started walking at 8 months, how? I have not idea. lol

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C.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

i have 3 kids-one of them walked at 7 months-and climbed a fence at 9 months. Yep, he is still the most athletic of the bunch. Kids do things at different times.

L.C.

answers from Kansas City on

lol. yep. I was walking by 7 months apparently, and i know that my daughter was walking steadily at 8 months too. So was my niece! some kids are just movers and shakers! lol.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Get the Vatican on the blower! haha
I walked at 9 mos. It happens. :)

1 mom found this helpful
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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

It's certainly on the early end of normal, but my cousin's baby was like that - she started walking at 8 and 1/2 months, just like that. My DD was 3 months older but didn't walk until 14 months. It was kinda funny to see this little infant baby zipping around on 2 feet unassisted.

A little harsh to call it a "freak of nature" though, don't ya think?

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L.A.

answers from Dallas on

My kiddo walked 3 days BEFORE her 8 month mark. Blew me away, but then again we had porcelain tile floors so maybe she just got tired of the floor on her knees!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.P.

answers from Denver on

I walked at 8 months old...it happens :-)

1 mom found this helpful

L.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My son was walking when he turned 9 months...

I have dated pictures/video to prove it... :) On Halloween, he was 9.5 months, and he walked all over the place in his chicken costume, equipped with stuffed chicken feet slippers!

It happens!

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

It is on the early edge but normal. Don't sign her up for Harvard yet :)

1 mom found this helpful

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

my son was 9 months. I would guess 8 wouldn't be a stretch.

1 mom found this helpful

L.M.

answers from Portland on

My son walked at 8 months as well! I agree that it has to do with body proportion and size. He has always been a very big boy, not big as in fat, big as in right now at two he's the size of a four year old. I think it was because he hated tummy time, then when he could crawl, it seemed like he got bored of it very fast, so he went to the next best thing - walking. :)

It was exciting at first, but man did he scare me! He was just so adventurous and curious about everything. At 9 months he fell at my mom's house and he hit his face on her coffee table. He had to get 3 stitches in his upper lip at 9 months :(

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K.S.

answers from Columbus on

By the majority of posts, she's not a "freak of nature" or too unusual. My daughter was also walking at around 8 1/2 months.

K.E.

answers from Birmingham on

It happens, not a miracle and certainly not a freak of nature. My baby sister who is now six walked at 8months, I walked around 10months. If she's shorter and stocky it could just be giving her a better, more stable base.

Calling an eight month old baby "very obese"?????

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

My first child was walking at 8 months... not just walking, running, climbing, etc. And she was such a peanut, it looked SO un natural seeing this teeny little thing running around!! My second child didn't have a choice.. her big sister would drag her around. She was walking well by 10 months. My son didn't walk well until 11 months, but he had a full mouthful of teeth by 4 MONTHS. Talk about looking un natural!! It was sooo goofy ;)

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M.L.

answers from Tucson on

Oh wow! I think I would shoot myself, lol!

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C.S.

answers from Atlanta on

my daughter started walking as soon as she turned 10 months!!!! i was shocked because she was my first child and i did not expect it to happen sooo soon!!!!

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M.R.

answers from Seattle on

May I ask if the baby is African-American?

If so, this is totally normal. It is a commonly known fact that African-American babies walk at much earlier ages than most other races. The theory was for a long time that it was b/c they were left alone for longer periods of time than other babies so had to learn to explore on their own. But I think that theory is dubunked now.

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C.B.

answers from Detroit on

I've heard of tons of kids walking at 8/9 months (12-14 months is more average). I can actually see my 7 month old doing it very soon. And, she is pretty chunky (95% weight). I've really never heard a child that young being called obese. Usually rolls and chubs are cute and not a concern because they easily grow out of it. My other 2 children were the same and once they started walking and getting taller, they are thin as can be now. I guess if she is chunky, then that is good she is walking, and I am sure she will thin out soon.

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L.J.

answers from Boca Raton on

Now that I have one daughter, I understand how much harder life gets FAST when they can get to stuff...easier. Not that I would want my new baby to be slow developing, but man, I am happy mine didn't walk that fast! fun tho!

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

My son was born in January and walked his 1st Halloween. It was closer to 9 months and people were astounded. A word of warning - I did not encourage it. The time spent crawling is important for spacial awareness and understanding, depth perception, etc. It's an important part of a childs brain development. Specifically having to do with Math skills. The rush to walk cuts short an important period of development. But what can I tell ya, my son is a beast and he would not be contained!

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

It's definitely early but within "normal." It's not unheard of, anyway. Most babies start walking around 12 months old but it can take up to 18 months.

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K.B.

answers from Detroit on

My oldest daughter walked at 7 months old!

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Each baby does things at a different time. Some walk at 8 months some
15 months. I hope you did not say "freak of nature" to your friend. If you
said that to me about my grandchild I would be ticked off.

J.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had a friend whos 8 month old walked. It was a hoot to see, and uncommon, but not freakish.

T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

My last baby who is 8 months old as well started walking at 7 months 1 week. I think it all depends on how much you work with them and if they have another child to watch. They look so cute when they are that little and are walking.

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K.M.

answers from Houston on

My son walked during his 7th month, at almost 8 months. No one believed me. It was really cute watching such a little guy pull himself up and take off toddling around the room. He always wanted to have a little toy in each hand while he was walking at that age.

Thanks for bringing back those wonderful memories.

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J.G.

answers from Minneapolis on

My dad never crawled, just walked at 8-9 months...and he was bow legged. The doctor said it was because his bones were too soft to support his body at that young age, it happens though!

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J.A.

answers from Denver on

Wow you seem like a very offensive person, calling an 8 month old baby a freak of nature and very obese. Give me a break. I hope your girlfriend finds out your true colors and runs quickly in the other direction.

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M.R.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter was walking by the time she was about 9 months.

L.M.

answers from Dover on

My son was very chubby and for the first several months of his life gained a pound a week (weighed 19 pounds at just 3 months). I had people tell me "he'll be bow-legged if you put any weight on his legs". What they didn't realize was that when he put weight on his legs we felt nothing but muscle. We always put weight on his legs but held on to him so he could lift/relax his legs anytime he wanted. He built strong leg muscles early and also began walking at 8 months and by 14 months we roller skating!

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A.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

My son started crawling at 4 months and walked at 8 months. He is now 25 months. I wish he would of waited til closer to a year to walk just because he was into everything! It is possible though.

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J.C.

answers from Rockford on

My oldest walked at 8 months. He skipped crawling and went straight to walking. It was not long after he was running. Today, he's the top runner on his cross country and track teams - lol! My youngest watched his brother intently when he was a baby. They are 13 months apart. I could practically see it in his eyes that he wanted to figure out how to move about like that. He was determined to walk just like big brother, and he was 9 months when he got the hang of it.

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

It does happen. My oldest walked at 9 months. I wish she hadn't. Made it harder to keep up! LOL
But, I read somewhere that it's actually not good for babies to walk to early. They really need crawling.
"...they miss out on more opportunities to develop that strength and wind up with weaker upper body muscles...the weight-bearing experience of crawling helps develop arches and stretch out ligaments in the wrist and hand that are needed for fine motor skills..."
We took our daughter to Gymboree classes where she could continue mastering the art of crawling, etc.

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B.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Nothing miraculous about walking at 8 months, just harder to watch and keep safe!

My oldest son pulled himself to standing in the crib at 6 months, he started walking around the furniture and 1 hand on the wall for balance right after that. By the time he let go and walked alone, he ran all day.
My younger son (born aprox. 5 weeks early) didn't walk until 18 months.

Do you think chubby and or short babies can't learn to walk on time, let alone somewhat early? Babies are individual people, they do things as they are developmentally ready.

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P.O.

answers from Harrisburg on

It's not impossible. Some kids do walk that early.

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M.C.

answers from Detroit on

My daughter started walking at 7-1/2 months. She was so strong willed and determined to walk that nothing would stop her from her efforts to master walking. I agree, it is amazing, isn't it? She was walking without any stumbles at 8 months. Now, both of my sons didn't start walking until 13 and 14 months and even now that they are 5 years old and 19 months, they still fall way more than my daughter ever did!

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter walked at 8 months old!

I couldn't believe it either :) They look SO strange walking around when they are THAT little...but it does happen!

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L.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

my first thought was you were playing an April fools joke on us :):)
I would say congrats but man, 8 months and walking...get ready for alot of craziness. :)

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C.M.

answers from New York on

WOW!! That's great. I wouldn't say its unusual at all. Some children advance in certain areas more than others. All kids are different. My son didn't take his first steps until he was 11 months. Grandma better watch out!! Now that the baby ias walking, she's gonna be into EVERYTHING!! Lol

C.S.

answers from Redding on

my daughter walked at 8 1/2 months. Some just do...

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S.S.

answers from Seattle on

We have 3 kids, they walked at 8, 11, and 15 months. So much for being from the same gene pool :-)

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K.K.

answers from Austin on

Not really a miracle. My second started walking at 7 months! My 3rd baby who is 11 months started walking the day before she turned 8 months. She was rolling over both ways by 2 weeks and up on all 4's by 3 months and crawling at 4 months. She is running now. They are just very coordinated.

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F.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

My sister walked at 8 months. It happens.

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T.F.

answers from San Francisco on

My niece walked at 8 or 9 months. The rest of our family is all over the board as far as walking but averages out at 12 months. It's young but babies didn't get the memo of when they should meet their milestones. In this little girls case it may work to her advantage if she is overweight (can babies be obese?). Anyway, she may slender down with all the running around she will do now.

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W.H.

answers from Phoenix on

My nephew walked at 7 months, so yes, it is possible. It's definitely more challenging than watching a child who's just beginning to walk at 12 months as she'll go on to climbing & running. :-/ Your friend better have shoes ready to run in on her feet all the time!

L.A.

answers from Austin on

My MIL always told me my husband had walked at 6 months. With my background of course I thought she was very much mistaken.

The moment our daughter was lain on my stomach at birth, I announced her name and she lifted her head and turned it towards me, stretched her legs. (My husband and had used her name all through my pregnancy, but not in front of others).

I knew from that moment she was on her own schedule. She loved stretching her legs against everything an infant.

And yes, she walked fully unassisted at 6 months.
She scooted but never really crawled. And for people that say children need to crawl to develop properly.. Our daughter has always been extremely bright and very active. She is going to be a senior in the fall as a dble major and will graduate with honors.

You can not hold them back. They go and blow at their own pace.

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

well it is young but not unheard of. My daughter was pulling herself up and cruising furniture by 8 months and full on walking the week she turned 9 months so pretty close to what this baby is doing. My daughter could just stand up and take off no problem. I remember lots of people having a surprised look on their face when they saw her walking but I guess kids just walk when they're ready.

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S.M.

answers from Washington DC on

That is pretty incredible, but 8 months is certainly possible. More surprising if she is a large baby.

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

My daughter was walking at 8.5 months.
my son was walking at 10 months
my second son was walking at 11 months.

My GFs daughter didn't walk until she was 13 months old - same GF - son was walking at 9 months.

It's NOT impossible. It happens.

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N.V.

answers from Las Vegas on

My daughter was walking at 8 months and my other dd at 9 months (though my son was 16 months, go figure). I think it has to do with a lot of things, but mostly body proportion. My nephew also walked by 9 months, who was very heavy and stocky, but he was well proportioned. In fact, I think his very large base gave him a more secure foundation, so he could balance better and didn't topple too easily. Maybe still a miracle, but it's known to happen more often than we might think!

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