Not Walking Yet...

Don't stress too much. Every baby/kid is different. I would at least consider a program outside of the house 1 or 2 days a week. I have my 13.5 month old enrolled in a program 2 days a week. She just started about 1 month ago. She wasn't really walking at the time. She was taking steps, but not really walking solo. Well after her first day at school, she was walking all over the place. Who knows it could have been a coincidence, but I think it was because she saw all of the other kids running/playing and walking! I was the same you are now. Worried that my daughter wasn't walking "on time".
I am blessed to have a great place close to my house. It's brand new, clean and the k1 program is still small so my daughter really gets good attention from the teachers.

Hi Kristi!
I think it is totally normal. My first Child, daughter did not walk until 16 months, and my second child, my son didn't walk until he was 15 months old. There was nothing wrong with either of them, they just didnt have the desire to do it yet! So I wouldn't worry a whole lot, It will catch up!
As far as the pointing and the talking...I still think that's all okay as well! I don't remember my daughter or son saying too much at that age. I can tell you however, my son who is my youngest is talking and singing alot faster than his sister because he has been watching her and imitating her. So I would suggest either putting him in an activity, or part time care, or a regularly scheduled daily playgroup so he can be around as many kids to imitate as possible. You'll see a world of difference!

Hope this helps!
Genia

Don't worry at all! My son started walking at 13 months, which was later than every one else's kids, but now he is running, jumping, shooting baskets with the big basketball, jumping off the side of the pool and touching the bottom, swimming, etc, etc, etc. Once they start, they are literally OFF and RUNNING. Don't worry, they catch up fast and many times, pass the other kids!

Kristy,

My daughter didn't crawl until 10 months or walk until 14 months. I worried but so many people told me that they will walk, talk, etc, in their own time. Try not to stress about it....you'll just make yourself crazy!

T.

Hi Kristy... Don't worry about your son not walking yet.. my daughters walked at 16 months, 18 months, and 12 months... all kids develop differently when it comes to walking. THe 12 month old also took a few steps at 10 months and then never did it again until 12 months... I was concerned about the regression and the doc checked her out and said it was ok. My 18 month old walker I was REALLY worried about. Dade county has a free service for kids that are not developing in the right stages and I took her there. SHe was evaluated by all kinds of doctors including psychologist, pediatrician, orthopedics and passed all tests... a month later she was running!!!
Now in reference to the pointing that is a major milestone usually reached a lot earlier... consult your donctor anout that. THe talking ... he is still abit young.

My son walked at 14 months. I was paranoid too, but the Doc kept saying as long as he stands, dont worry no concern until he's 18 months. As per the speech, do not worry either, u need to wait, kids do that, all are different. I wouldnt be concern till the 18 month mark. Look, now my son is 19 months now and RUNS!! I thought he was never gonna walk, but thank God he did. Urs will too! I'm sure. Just be patient.

my son and god daughter are almost 2 months apart. My son was walking and talking by 1 years old. My god daughter did not start walking till she was 16 months old. As far as talking she was not a talker till maybe 2.5 y/o.

All children are different. If it really concerns you call your daughters Pedi and see what they tell you.

BOTH of my boys walked at 15 months-
the second one, closer to 16 months
I actually LIKE that they were late walkers :-)

the older one is now almost 4 & 1/2 and he is FINE!
he can run, jump, skip, hop, climb- he's quite athletic :-)

Kristy,

Just as all the other mothers here have said. All children develope differently. All three of my sons were early walkers. My first son was walking at 6 months, second son at 8 months and 3 son at 10 months. Then several of my friends kids weren't walking until way after they were 14 or 15 months old. As for talking my oldest was talking at 9 months in full out conversations as where my second son wasn't talking until 3 years old and my 3rd son is still not quite there yet. So don't worry. Your little one will develope at his own pace, and it will delight you every step of the way. Cherish those precious little moments that you still have with him now, because they go so fast and you can't get them back.

Enjoy and don't worry it will happen when it is suppose to.

S.
34 year old SAHM of 3 beautiful boys
13 y/o Austin, 5 y/o Colt and 2 y/o Logan

Hi,

Don't worry too much. I have four kids and they all walked at different ages. My oldest daughter started walking at 10 months and my 5 year old started walking at 15 months, I beleive is was pure laziness while my boys walked at 13 months. We freak out because we think something might be wrong with them, but the truth is that they all are different and learn at their own pace.

Hi Kristy,
I am a SAHM who owns her own home based business. My older son is now 3 1/2 years old and he walked at 13 months. I was just like you- concerned. I would look at other kids and wondered if something was wrong. I took him regularly to his pediatrician and she was not worried so I tried not worry. But we are humans and we can't help it especially when everybody around you is always telling you what their kids did and at what age. And it would make me feel inadequate. i also read a lot of books and would get anxious and start to force my son to do things. One day I decided to let go and just let him be. I figured if my pediatrician was not concerned then I would just give it some time. I also have another son who walked at almost 15 months. I expected him to walk at 13 months and he did not. He would crawl and pull up to stand but that was it. We had him dedicated in church on a saturday and on sunday he took his first steps and he started to walk a few days later. He is walking but he is very unsteady on his feet. And there are times when he would much rather crawl than walk. To be exact he started walking 6 days before he turned 15 months. You are going to go crazy if you continued to listen to other parents. Kids will develop at their own pace and if we force them they will hold back. What is your pediatrician saying? What are his/her concerns? My son is not talking yet besides mama, dada, and duckaducka. As for day care, ever since i enrolled my older son in pre school he is always sick. Every weekend my husband and I are having to break some of the habits (bad habits) he's learned. If you have time take him to the playground to be around other kids. some malls have playground in them. If you have the money to spare and want to enroll him in day care par time then you can certainly give it a try. But be prepare for when he gets sick. Just talk to your pediatrician and do some research online and pray. I wish you well and hope to hear from you when your son starts to walk. God Bless.

Enjoy your time with him. We worry too much about comparing our children to others. Yet, as adults we progress at our own rate. He is standing, crawling, talking, exploring. The world is new to him. Everything will happen in its own time. If he is not walking by the time he is 3, then worry.

Hi Kristy,
I agree with the other responses about not yet walking - sounds like he will be fine, as long as he is standing and bending. Up to 15 months is considered the "normal range" but as you heard, many kids begin to walk after that age and are just fine.

As for the pointing and talking, watch him for a few other things. Does he reach for or gesture for things he wants? Or in some other way draw your attention to the thing he is looking at? Will he look where YOU are pointing? (As in, "Look Banyan, its an airplane!" and he turns to see.) Does he look you in the eye and laugh and enjoy things with you? If so, he is communicating. If he is not doing these other things, you might want to consult your pediatrician. A closer look by a speech therapist can tell you if he's just doing normal kid stuff, or if he could use some help learning to communicate.

I've started using some basic sign language with my 11 month old daughter, and she has picked it up right away. (You can get books and CDs on it) As for spoken words, she is the same as your son - says mama, uh oh, ball, and other words once or twice and then not again. But she has really picked up the signs and uses them immediately once she's learned them. Research suggests that learning gestures/signs can help a child communicate before they can developmentally speak. Try that and see if it helps!

Good luck,
L.
(SAHM of Ava Rose, 11 months)

Kristy,
That is all totally normal! Relax and enjoy!

I must confess, at around the same age... I started holding things just out of my daughter's grasp that I knew she wanted and within a day she was walking to get it! (I kept moving when she took a step.)
I'm a teacher and had just returned to work when she was 12.5 months old (Dec.1) I wanted to see and record her first steps, so I pushed it a bit during Christmas vacation. It worked for me... but she was already showing signs of readiness, too.
As far as the language development concerns... same thing. Normal. I remember DD saying something for awhile and then not... she tried out other words instead. She's 2 now (as of Sunday) and literally surprising me everyday with vocabulary and skills... it's like a learning explosion has taken place. It will happen for your little guy soon, too.

T.