Almost 17 Months Old and Still Not Walking...

My daughter didn't walk until she was 16 months. She was a bit of a perfectionist. She didn't crawl until she was 11 months, but when she did it was like she was a perfect little crawler. When she finally took those first steps she walked, not much falling she did it perfectly.
I will say, my sister-in-law told me to just let her go and she will walk. I let her go, she took a step and fell flat on her face. A few weeks later she walked perfectly from mom to dad. I do think she was a little afraid, but she's now 3 3/4 :O) and is perfectly fine.
Best of luck!

I didn't walk until I was 18 months old, but then my Mom got a whirlwind. I potty trained, talked in sentences and walked all at the same time. My Mom said I crawled so fast I didn't need to walk. All kids are different, relax and enjoy her.

My cousin didn't walk until he was almost 2, I think 22 months. He could cruise just like your daughter but no walking on his own. The pediatrician told my aunt that he if wasn't walking by 2 he would refer my cousin for evaluation by a physical therapist. He started walking just fine in his own time! Oh and by the way...he went to college on a baseball scholarship. So I guess that late walking never hurt him! Good luck!

For the most part all my kids walked within 1 yr. my last she was 14 months she just was stubborn & didn't want to till she was ready & that happened over night.I would certainly be alarmed since eshe isn't walking unassisted at 17 months but that is just me i'm a parent who takes matters in her own hands & does something about it i'm not the wait & see parent the earlier the intervetnion the better.Best of luck to your daughter it could happen before her next check up.Are there any other delays that she has or is she being treated for anything that is behavior or develpoment?

I would celebrate! You get to keep your baby longer. Don't rush her. She will grow at her own pace. Just enjoy the few moments you have before she walks in and asks to borrow the car = ) I had a little girl in my daycare who did not walk until she was nearly 2. Nothing wrong with her at all, she was just content to crawl until one day she got up and walked away.

I think she'll be fine. Make sure she has some walking push/pull toys.
Have you got her in shoes? Bare feet make it easier to walk.
My son was cruising along fine but he was a climber first. I couldn't turn my back a minute on him or he'd almost climb up the walls.
He walked at 14 months. I should say he walked for a few weeks and then his only speeds were stop and run.

She sounds like she is a "late bloomer" but is definitely in the cruising stage if not walking. If at the next checkup she is still not walking unassisted I would go ahead with the early childhood evaluation. On one hand you could be getting confirmation that she is just waiting for her perfect moment to break out the new skill on the other hand, she could get an earlier intervention if something is wrong. My nieces have had evaluations. The youngest (born 8 weeks early) does not qualify for any assistance but her older sister is getting speech therapy. So if there is not a problem they will not just decide to create one for your child.

She'll be walking on her own any day now.

She sounds totally fine. Here is what we always do with a reluctant independent walker.

Get a toy and hold it, get daughter to also hold onto it, walk around for a while, when she is not looking, let go and she will walk a few steps till she realizes you are not hanging on, or she will continue to walk with the toy.

You could also have her push a push toy or a large empty cardboard box..

Do not make a big deal out of any of this walking stuff to her. Do not get overly excited or frustrated.. She will feed off of your anxious feelings. Just let her go at her own pace. she is doing great.

My daughter is almost 15 months old and doing the same thing as your child. Shows no desire to walk on her own. If I walk side by side with her, it lasts a few seconds before she plops down. I'm not worried since she's been hitting all other milestones just fine. I think it's her personality and has nothing to do with her size and shape - based on what I hear from other moms. It can be frustrating when they're at this age, but I believe she'll let you know when she's ready to walk!

I think it's great that you have been patient and haven't been freaking out since she turned 12mo...etc. And, obviously, there are tons of examples of things working out for other children (via the other posters.) They are probably right -- it will probably work out just fine.

However, I want to chime in that there is NO shame in having your child evaluated. If there is an issue, the earlier you intervene with appropriate therapies, the better the long-prognosis. And, if your Pediatrician refers you to your State's version of Early Intervention, there will be no cost to you for the evaluations.

My family has benefited from Early Intervention in such a monumental way, that it can't be measured. Our lives may have been severely different without it. (A different issue than your child's.)

My very best wishes!

Your situation is very similar to ours was when my son was little (he's now 20 and walks just fine!). He didn't walk until 18 months. I teach Gymboree and was really concerned that so many other toddlers in his age group were walking and he wasn't. But, here is what our pediatrician told me. First, average age of walking is 14 months, and in his case, they weren't going to worry about it until about 20 months. Also, he said patterns are similar in families - so, if you or Dad were late walkers, your daughter might be following that pattern. I think I was also a late walker. From what I see at Gymboree, some kids just aren't willing to take the risk of falling so they delay their independent walking. Also, in order to master a skill, babies need to practice it both physically and mentally and some babies practice more mentally than physically.

J. F.

My daughter (now 20) talked way before she walked. She would say to me, "walk, mama, walk" so she could hold my finger and walk round and round, but would not do it on her own. She was the last crawler in her playgroup by a long shot. Once she finally decded she was ready, at 18 months, it was as if she had been walking as long as the others. Her younger brother, a very high energy baby, walked at 17 months.

Hi! My daughter is 18mos now and not walking either... but she doesn't do a lot that your daughter does. She will stand for a second and then bend her knees. She doesn't do this without help, and she doesn't pull up on furniture or anything yet. She learned to crawl at 15mos. She had scooched everywhere (she got really good-- really fast) but just wasn't interested in crawling. Now she crawls real fast everywhere. My son also crawled late (11mos) and walked late (17mos). I haven't been worried at all, as she has a huge vocab and signs up a storm. She's just a little weak in the gross motor area.

The Dr did want her evaluated now, after her 18mo checkup. Placer county has a program for kids under 3, and the therapists come to your house. The only thing I see as funny is it will take so long to get the therapy started that she may walk by then! I wouldn't worry-- she'll walk at her own time. And when she does, she'll probably start running and everyone will think she is advanced!
Good luck and don't worry!
Anne

Some kids just take longer to start walking. If your pediatrician isn't worried, I don't think you should worry either. Having the tests done at 18 months is a good idea, but she may well be walking by then. It sounds like she has all the motor skills in place, but just is lacking enough confidence to let go. That will come in time, and I think you just need to be patient.
A side note... I had an accident when I was six that kept me totally off my feet for twelve weeks. I still remember how scary it was to start walking again. Basically I was at the stage your daughter is now, and it frightened me terribly to let go and walk. So, I think I understand how your little girl is feeling.

I see you have several answers already, but I just wanted to add mine in here too. Both of my girls walked 'late'. The first was almost 16 months and the second was just days shy of 18 months. They are both teens now and walk just fine. The younger one is currently on two soccer teams and runs track! Obviously no worries about whether her legs work. :)
The upside is you aren't having to chase her around!

Enjoy your adventure!

Our oldest son walked at the end of his 17 month & now, at 10 yrs old, is coordinated, agile & athletic. Your daughter is fine.

My daughter only walked at 20 months on her own, she had discovered that she could move quickly walking on her knees. I would not worry about your daughter, every kid, every human being has its own pace. Reassuring her and doing the games will get her there.
Good luck

Amanda

http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/16420366965832548353

I had the same question. See my question and the responses...I think she is fine and will do it on her own terms.

No worries, if she seems physically able to you (and Mom knows her child like no one else!) then she'll walk when she's ready. Most likely, it is personality related, in the genes, and she is my guess on the cautious side? My daughter walked at 14.5 months, but my brother walked at 17 months. My Mom always tells the story of how he and JFK junior both walked at 17 months (JFK junior was born at the same time, so since he was in the public eye, she could follow closely and it made her less worried about my brother) BOTH turned out perfectly normal, strong and intelligent (poor JFK..rest his soul). Anyway....not uncommon to have a "late walker." :)

Hi S.!
My second son didnt walk until he was 19 months, and I had the same concerns, but the Dr said the same thing. But at the 18month appointment he told me to wait a couple more months before the evaluation and sure enough, he walked a month later.

Dont worry and just remember each kid does their thing at their own pace :)