He Isn't Walking Yet

Ok girl, my little girl did the same thing. As long as we were holding her hand she would walk just fine, but as soon as you let go so MIGHT take one step and then immediately fall down then crawl off. But then one night I was cooking dinner and my husband was sitting at the table and we were both just watching her stand there, all of the sudden she started this wobbly walk over to the couch, about 10 steps. Now she is all over the place. I bet he can do it now he just doesn't want to yet. Just give it some time :)

I wouldn't worry (Just yet) My son Bradley was the same way. He could get to where he wanted to go faster by crawling! I think he was around 18 months when he started. Just give him some more time!

I wouldn't sweat it. My oldest didn't walk till he was 18 months. I found that getting him a push toy on wheels for him to walk with really helped. After getting him that toy, it was just a mtter of weeks before he was doing it all on his own. Every child is different and he will be there before you know it :)

My little girl didn't walk until she was 16 months. She would cruise but never got up the courage to try walking by herself. I actually bought some M&M's and put on on the couch and made her walk to get it. It worked!! She wanted that M&M and in the process leaned that she could walk all by herself. A little bribing goes a long way. lol

Hi, J..

My daughter didn't walk until she was 15 mos. old; she is now 5 years old. If there is one thing I have learned through this whole process of childhood milestones, is that each child is unique and should not be compared to other children of similar age. When your son is ready, he will start walking. If by chance, he is not walking by say 18 mos. or so, you might want to have him checked out by your pediatrician. He may have a developmental delay.

Happy toddling.

P.

My second daughter did not crawl until 12 months and didn't walk until 15 months. This was at the tail end of the normal range but still within the normal range. I would mention it to your pediatrician. If it goes to another month I would contact first steps they can come and evaluate him to see if he had gross motor function delay.
J.

My youngest son was 24 months when he started to walk. My doctor told me that if it took longer than 24 mos, then he would check him out. My first son was 9 mos old when he first started to walk and my middle was 12 mos. They are all different.
Good luck.
C

Hi J.,
I experienced the same anxiety with my daughter who is now almost 20 months old. She didn't walk until she was 16 1/2 months! I was so worried because all of my nephews and nieces walked well before their first birthdays and I didn't want my baby girl left behind. BUT...she finally started walking and hasn't stopped since! Plus I heard somewhere that children who are "late walkers" tend to have better social skills than children who walk early. Not to say my nephews and nieces are anything but perfect...but so is Ashlyn! So just hang in there, I'm sure he's just fine!

His doctor won't even start to get concerned until he is at least 18 months old. Even at 18 months it still could be that he's just not ready yet. My dd didn't start crawling or walking until she was 16 months. She would scoot around on her butt. At 16 months, she skipped the crawling and began walking. I bet within a few weeks he will be walking if he's that close now! Try not to worry!

J.

Hi there, I'm a mom of 5 (you's, mine and ours) and I babysit in my home. I have raised, and seen many babies. They all do things on their own time. Don't worry it will happen when he's ready. My middle son didn't walk until he was 18 mo (now 19 and in the Air Force) and my youngest when he was 15 mo. He is doing what he is supposed to by pulling himself up. My 15mo (now 12) would sit on a low box and start from there at first. He couldn't get going from the floor or by letting go of something from a standing position. I think because he had to turn around. But eventually he got the hang of it. Just be patient your son will take off soon enough!

Okay. My oldest daughter (NOW 10years old) did not start walking until she was about 16 months old. I tried everything. The best advice I can give you is... walk with him as much as you can holding his hands. I was so frantic cus I thought there was something wrong with my daughter because she was not walking when all of the other children we knew walked at age 1. I took her into her doctor and said... Do you think she has a disorder? what is wrong? she assured me that some children take a little longer. Think of them as perfectionists... they want to make sure they do it exactly right. She also informed me that my daughter was extremely tall for her age and was way off the charts of normal height for her age. She said look at her long legs... it is not easy for her to get these long legs to stay coordinated and balanced. Walking is very tricky and some children just need time and lots of encouragement. Sure enough within two months she finally began to not walk but run! she did not walk she ran and ran! So I think your son just needs time and encouragement most of all love. I know he will do it sooner than what you think. If he is cruising the couch he is practicing trying to get it right... also he is building up those muscles. I know that you will see this milestone very soon. Just make sure you have all cameras ready cus he might just take off and run! ~J. V.
Oh my 2 year old daughter did not walk until 15 months old.

J.,

I'm going to echo what most people are saying - my now 3 year old didn't start walking until he was 18 months old - he didn't have to he was being carried everywhere by the little girls at his day care. My oldest was walking at 11 months and my now 17 month old took off walking at 8 months. So they all do it in their own time at their own pace. Yes the guidelines say they "should" be walking by the time they are 12 months or so but every child is different.

Someone else suggested the game where mommy and daddy start sitting fairly close to each other and have him practice walking from one to the other - hubby and I had a lot of success with that - the trick is to start sitting like 2 steps apart and slowly widen the gap as baby masters getting across.

In my opinion it's a little early to be thinking about having him tested - if he still isn't walking talk to your Dr. about what he thinks when you go for his 15 month well baby check-up and go by his/her advice.

J.,
just for starters I was in your boat......My son yes was a primee and is a twin but the other twin has always been up to date and beyond on everything but he stays behind her on everything but is very smart.
To get to the point He didn't walk till he was over 18 months but i didn't get help b/c I almost did at 13 months and they said he might not be wear he needed help at the time but now knowing he did need help. At the time I called First Steps and they came out and talked to me and asked me things. Well we didn't go on b/c I knew at the time he was not 25% delayed for his age, but we had to give him a 6 week gap b/c they was born 6 weeks sooner than post to. That is the only reason he was not be delayed.
If i was you I would call and see or go to the Dr. and see what he or she says and they will refer you b/c my doctor did when my son was a year old that is how i got the first step to come to the home.
Oh if anything We are miltary just like you are and tricare i think covers it. I don't know if you are on base or not near a base right now b/c we are not near a base but my hubby is army just that we are at a MRE plant right now and we are not on a base so we use any doctors covered by prime remote and my hubby is not resevers. If anything please feel free to ask me anything at ____@____.com I been a army wife for the last 7 years and i do have 5 kids and i have moved all around and with no family around to help out. I know what you go through on a daily bases......

My daughter wasn't really walking either until 17 months! I thought she would NEVER take off, but she is now 2 & just fine! Don't worry, sometimes they just know they can get around crawling so that is what they prefer!

It's okay. Mine is 18 months and still isn't walking. We've figured he's probably falling so many times and hit his head that he's scared to do it on his own. The development age is up to 24 months I think, so as long as he's trying and he's pulling up and cruising, I wouldn't worry too much.

Hello, I am a mother of two little girls one is almost two and the other has just turned one. My oldest did not start walking until she was almost 18 months old. I asked doctors and they were not too concerned. He did tell me that if she was not walking by the time she was two then we would look at options. So dont rush it. They have to walk the rest of their lives. I am a young mother only 25 but let me tell you if you try to raise your child by what the world see as a "normal child" you will be diappointed no child is exactly alike.

Hi J.. My son didnt start walking by himself till he was 15 months old. What my husband and I did was we would sit down and have him walk between us. I remember the day he started walking I was sooo happy! My son was a preemie. I dont know if that had anything to do with him walking later or not though. Good luck and if you need to talk you can email me at ____@____.com

S.

How much does your son weigh and how tall is he?? Our son has always ranked in the 100th percentile in height and weight and didn't start walking with no assistance until 15 1/2 months. I have been told that it takes longer for larger toddlers (especially boys) to begin walking. He actually went from not walking or crawling to RUNNING in about 2 weeks once he got started. Hope that helps :)

My little guy is in the same boat right now! He is 14 months and has taken a couple of steps but he seems to realize that Mom and Dad get excited and flops down to crawl to us! I am not sweating it yet he just seems to prefer crawling right now. I would be worried if he hadn't taken a couple of steps right now but since your son has then he seems to have the capacity to walk just not wanting to. My son loves the new push toy we got him. He is pushing and pulling on it right now. He has even took his couple of toddering steps to it and continues to walk with it. If you still have a feeling in your gut that something isn't right you can always go to his doctor and get some help. Mother's intuition is the best tool and don't let anyone else tell you other wise! Good luck with your little guy and keeps us posted!

Hi J.,
I wouldn't worry too much about him not walking yet, there is alot of great advice down the line so I am not going to repeat any of it just remember, he's male and they are STUBBORN....(haha) Good luck and tell your husband THANKS!!!

I, too, was concerned about my daughter when she wasn't walking by her one year check up. Her pediatrician advised me not to worry. She was walking by about 15 months. If he's anything like my little "angel", he'll be a handful :) Best of luck!

I wouldn't worry. Some children are more laid back and less active as a temperment. My fiance's mother alway's joked about how he didn't walk intill he was 2. If I was you I wouldn't worry about what other kid's are doing either. Every child is different.

As a side note. I new a woman who took many missionary trips to South America, and many of the children do not walk untill they are 2-2.5, because they are carried on the back of their mother most of the time. And they develope fine.

Well the walking isnt really alarming but not being able to stand/get up alone causes me to worry. i would deff. talk to his doctor

I'd have to agree with everyone else and say you shouldn't worry about it. He'll walk when the timing is right for him. I've been with my husband for 3 years, and all 3 years he's been active duty (between North Carolina and Iraq). We have a 13 month old and I know how hard it can be on your own. If you ever need anything, email me at ____@____.com.