Not Walking Yet -- When Did YOUR Baby Walk?

Updated on July 22, 2011
A.C. asks from Wichita, KS
42 answers

My son started walking at about 11 months. My daughter is 13.5 months old and still isn't walking. I know that she is a smart little girl, and I do not suspect developmental delays, but I am curious to know at what point I should be concerned. She checked out perfectly fine at her 1 yr appt, and we'll have another appt in Sept (15 month well-check). Obviously, if she isn't walking at this point, then I'll discuss it with her doctor.

Our daughter has been cruising around furniture for over 2 months now...I know her little legs are strong enough! She took 2 steps on her own about 1.5 months ago, but hasn't taken any unassisted since. She'll walk for 15 or 20 steps with me holding only 1 of her hands. When we encourage her to walk from one person to another (Walk to Daddy!), she'll sit down the moment I let go of her hand, crawl really fast to Daddy, and stand up again.

Once again, I'm not freaking out in any way, shape, or form. I know that every baby is different. I know that a whole new level of safety concerns arise when they DO start walking. :) So, out of sheer curiousity, can you tell me, when did your baby start all out walking?

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So What Happened?

Whew! Okay. I wasn't overly worried, BUT it makes me feel SO much better to read your responses. Thanks a bunch! =)

Great responses. Thanks, everyone!

Featured Answers

M..

answers from St. Louis on

Dont sweat it Mama, my daughter was almost 15 months and shes a GENIUS I tell ya! lol. My son walked on his 1st bday. I think boys are more physical sooner. Thats the way my kids are anyways. My daughter is 6 now and never been very coordinated. :) But, she IS the sharpest tool in the shed!

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

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J.T.

answers from St. Louis on

My first started walking pretty well the week of her first b-day. I then had twins who are one. The boy started walking about his first b-day. His twin sis just started walking this week. They were 14 months on Monday. By walking I mean going from one room to another without falling. She took her first steps a couple months ago but just didn't seem to care to do any more. She was a late crawler, too. She went from going about 7 steps at the most to becoming a walker in literally about 2 weeks. It was like she woke up one day and said, I think I'm going to walk today. Heard some don't walk until they are 17 months. Have fun!

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L.M.

answers from Seattle on

15 months both of my girls:). I was a premature and weighted 2.5 lbs .. My mom said I walked at 2yrs.. I am 34 now and doing great.

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L.U.

answers from Seattle on

First son walked at about 14 months.
Second son walked at about 8 months. (God help me)
Third child is 6 months and she's not even crawling yet (although she's close!)
My girlfriend's son didn't start walking until 18 months! And he is the youngest of 3! he just didn't want to I guess. now, he is everywhere.
L.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

DD was 15 months or so when she took first steps and then it was another month or so before she really got rolling.

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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Do not compare, it's one of the worst things you can do. However, if it's getting on 16mo then I would begin to worry. With that said, my son started to walk around 12mo with the added encouragement of his aunt being bound and determined for her to be the one to help him take his first steps. He was about ready, we were not rushing it and she spent about 2hrs getting him to actually walk and stop crusing that night. I think had we allowed him to take his time it would have been another few weeks to a month.

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C.P.

answers from Provo on

All of my kids started walking at 13 months. I have heard from other friends that the doctor told them that there is no need for concern until age 2.

Updated

All of my kids started walking at 13 months. I have heard from other friends that the doctor told them that there is no need for concern until age 2.

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A.W.

answers from Seattle on

my daughter started walking at 14.5 months.

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L.K.

answers from Sheboygan on

Our boy: 12 months
Our girl: 13 months

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R.M.

answers from Dallas on

first child 12 mos
second child 14 mos (a week shy of 15)

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J.R.

answers from San Diego on

My son was 14 months. My daughter is 15 months old, and she still isn't walking.

My mom said I didn't walk until I was 18 months. She said she knew I could; I was just a really cautious baby. She told me that I just up and ran one day when she took me to the park and I was so excited and interested in playing that I didn't worry about falling. Our nephew on my husband's side didn't walk until he was 16 months. So my kids have the late walking genes on both sides.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

She's just not working on large motor right now, it sounds like. She's "keeping her hand in" by still cruising, so she hasn't totally dropped large motor, but she's not focused on it. I'll betcha though she IS intent on something else. Verbalizing or Pincer (fine motor)? Cause & Effect or Object Permanence -peekaboo is a great example- or Grouping (cognitive)? Sensory Integration (tastes, smells, textures/feels, sights, sounds)? Emotional? Growth Spurt? (growth spurts throw everything out of wack, because they're so focused on getting enough calories and figuring out how their bodies work "bigger" than they were before, and sleeping)

No baby "does" everything in the same order... although there's often "base" reasoning that makes sense. For example; Fast Growers tend to be late rollers, sitters, walkers... but early in cognitive, emotional, &/or fine motor... because they can't keep on top of the muscle changes with their growing bodies for large motor, but CAN keep up on developmental milestones that aren't affected by their fast growth. Bilingual children have MUCH SLOWER verbalization (but not late, the milestone actually changes when there are 2 or more languages because parts of the brain do not atrophy like they do in mono language speaker).

The human brain is just incapable of moving through development in a straight line. There is just TOO MUCH to do. So the brain picks and chooses certain areas to work on. Then once a certain proficiency is reached, they "drop" those areas (regressing is common as well) and move on to something else. Then they come back to the dropped area, drop it again, go somewhere else. Children's development goes by leaps and bounds, because they get INTENT on certain areas, and then backtrack or move laterally to develop other areas. It's why "normal" has MONTHS long ranges, and sometimes over a year or two in the 'normal' range.

For my own son, I actually forget. One of my earlier posts probably has the actual age. I know he was well over a year old. Technically he learned at something around a year and a few months old, but wasn't impressed, and kept speed crawling for about 6mo after he learned. (He was all about speediness). Then, of course, he started walking/ running/ hopping/ skipping/ sommersaulting/ etc. all in the same WEEK, so he was 'caught up' to other kids who had been learning those skills gradually over 6 months that he'd been speed crawling.

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K.S.

answers from Bangor on

Hey there A., Our Baby Girl started walking at about 9.5 months. Once they start going they don't stop.

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V.N.

answers from Chicago on

My son could speak really well by one year old but did not walk at all until he was 15 months.

Enjoy not chasing her around!

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D.M.

answers from Rapid City on

My daughter was 12 months when took her first steps but backed down and decided that crawling was easier so she didn't really walk fully for another two months after. Kids do it at their own pace. When she's two or three and not walking then it's something to worry about. But it's not uncommon anymore for kids not to walk until they are almost 18 months.

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L.S.

answers from Denver on

My daughter took her first steps at 7 months 1 week. I think she knew that it was just the two of us and she was going to need to learn to do some things for herself. I thought that would have been great, but it was that much sooner that I had to start chasing her around :-(

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C.F.

answers from Boston on

Freaking out is just One of the things mommies do best :-) LOL

Mikey didnt start walking till he was between 14 and 15 months old, I say it was because he was too chubby !! I LOVE chubby babies!!!
relax mama

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B..

answers from Dallas on

About a year, and then a week later he was running. Hasn't stopped since. Your child is totally within the normal range, and most don't walk right at a year!

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J.T.

answers from Madison on

My son was about a year old when he started walking. I guess he was more like his daddy's side. 'Cause me, my sister, and my sister's little son all walked at 16-18 months!!!

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R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

My guy didn't walk until 16 months. He would cruise everywhere while holding on but wouldn't fly solo. When I spoke to his pediatrician at his 12 and 15 month check-ups she said we wouldn't do anything until and unless he wasn't walking by 18 months, so all went well, whew! ; )

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D.H.

answers from Kansas City on

My youngest took 4 steps on her first birthday and then didn't walk again until she was 15 months old. She was just a laid back girl and didn't have a desire to walk yet. When she did decide it was time, she took off. I wouldn't worry. When I was little I didn't crawl, I scooted, and when I was almost two and wasn't walking either my parents took me to the doctor, who had them take me to a chiropractor. Turns out my hip was out of joint and had to be put back in place. Then I was fine and started walking. It was just painful. With that said, give your daughter a few more months. Then take her in to see if maybe she just hurts somewhere. Good luck and God Bless.

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S.L.

answers from San Francisco on

For better or worse - my son never does anything (even 11 years later) without being pretty confident he has mastery.

He tried to walk at 10 months. Fell down. Didn't even ATTEMPT it again until 16 months. Ditto potty chair. Asked for one as soon as he could walk. Peed on the floor. Didn't potty train until nearly 4! (And please believe me - we TRIED, But he WOULDN'T)

Don't worry about it - she will walk when she is bored with crawling!

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

well my 1st at about a year, my second,,,,9 months! but ive seen plenty of babies who waited a good while and turned out fine.

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H.G.

answers from Dallas on

My son walked (actually ran) at 9 months. My daughter didn't walk until 14 months!

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J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Both of my girls were late walkers. The first walked at 15 months and the other just shy of 18 months. My niece walked at 10 months. I considered myself lucky!

I know you are not worried, but just for the record they both are now athletic, intellegent, happy, teens that walk just fine. :)

Enjoy your adventure!

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E.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son walked at 8.5 months. We were not ready for that and had to run and babyproof the house. He has the record for the earliest walker in our family so far. On the other hand, he was a late talker. Kids tend to concentrate their energy in certain areas of development, making them slower in others. Girls are usually earlier talkers and boys earlier walkers. The fact that she is cruising and walking holding on to one finger is very reassuring; she's just not ready yet to let go, but sounds like she will be doing it soon!

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C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

i bet if you think about it, she's developing in other ways. my son walked at 9 months, but didn't start saying much till after that, and didn't do some other things till after that, too (hard to remember- he's almost 5 lol). i just remember thinking, he was concentrating so hard on walking (and he LOVED it, for several months it was just pure joy for him to be able to walk, you could see it on his face) that he just didn't have much energy left to learn a lot of other things right then. is she talking well, or doing something else instead? i noticed with my neice and my son who are the same age, while one is learning one thing, often the other might be learning something else. at this point they have evened out though, and you'd never know one was an early walker and one was an early talker, etc. it all works out in the end :)

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A.N.

answers from New York on

14 mo.
It sounds like she's ready physically- she'll start walking when she gets her confidence =o)

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E.J.

answers from Lincoln on

My son had developmental delays and didn't walk until he was 3. Phew that was a long time of having to carry him around. :-) At any rate, now he is 6 and running all over the place. No one would even know when he started to walk if I didn't tell them. :-)

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L.G.

answers from Eugene on

Heavier children walk later. Confidence in their own ability has to come before walking. She's healthy and intelligent she will do it all in her own time.

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K.T.

answers from Washington DC on

Our son was 14 months.

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A.F.

answers from Chicago on

My DD walked unassisted at 13 mos; DS at 9 mos and we have an almost 2 mo old so who knows what the future holds there! My niece spent a long time cruising....maybe till 18 - 21 mos - but she is develoentally delayed. Best wishes!

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C.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

first child 16 mo
second child 15 mo
third child 16 mo

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B.B.

answers from Missoula on

My son started walking at eleven months, walked for one week then went back to crawling until he was 14 months, so I consider 14 months when he started.

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G.T.

answers from Redding on

both mine walked at 11 mos.

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C.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter was 14 months old when she started walking. She was the exact same way; we knew she could do it, she just wasn't ready to try it on her own yet. She's eight and can still be cautious about trying certain things (like climbing); but she loves to run. My son (my second baby) was 10 months old when he started walking; he was ready to move and hasn't stopped moving since. :-)

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M.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

I guess I am late in replying -- but mine walked at 12 months, 9 months, 18 months, 12 months and 11 months respectively --- and the one that walked at 18 months ended up being a national cross country star!!

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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Mine were at 13 mos and 10 mos!!!

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E.D.

answers from Seattle on

Your kiddo is still WELL within "normal" range. One of my kids (the one who came out of my tummy) was running by 9 months. My other one started walking at 15 months. The one who was an earlier walker was a later talker, and my later walker was an earlier talker. We all get to where we're going, and we all take our own path to get there ;-)

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M.E.

answers from Jacksonville on

My daughter walked right before her first birthday. My son did not walk until 13 months or a little later. I had a friend whose baby did not walk until 18 month.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Not one of my grand kids waled before being a year old. One didn't walk until she was about 14 months old. It is just different for each one.

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