thread: Late to walk...need encouragement!

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  1. #1
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Redcliffe,QLD
    104

    Yep I was a bub who was nearly 2 b4 I started walking.

    I did have physio though as I used to walk on my toes and walked quite pidgeon like.
    My toes are now hammered because of it

    anyways...you have nothing to worry about , IMO, my first DD was around 16 months when she first walked. Its better that they are a bit more mature when they start to walk coz hopefully that may mean they'll take the steps gradually and wont RUN away.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Oct 2007
    Sunshine Coast
    746

    It's not considered "late" yet!

    You might have a bub like my DS. He was cruising for ages (like, from 9 months!) but the first day he took an independent step without holding onto anything was the same day he started walking.

    He was crawling one day and walking the next with no transitional period like I have seen with so many other babies...no 3 or 4 steps between a table and chair, maybe ten toddling steps before falling down, or toddling until they get impatient because they can crawl faster, so they drop down and crawl the rest of the way to their destination. None of that for him.

    Seriously, one day he walked and that was that (at a week off 15 months). For about 3 days afterward he would sometimes start to crawl and then pause...you could almost see the thought process written all over his face..."hang on, I can walk now" and up he would get and walk. And he was great on his feet from the get go, hardly ever fell over.

    Some kids just do it differently!

  3. #3
    BellyBelly Member

    Jun 2005
    Sydney
    2,121

    I understand your concerns.....my DD#3 has only just started walking - and she is 18 months..........i had people constantly asking if everything was ok, if i was worried etc. If she had gotton to 18 months without walking i would have gone to see someone about it...but she beat us to it.
    She now not only walks, but runs. After she took her first step that was it, no turning back, and no more crawling (she only started crawling at 13mths).
    I know its realllllly hard not to do, but try not to compare your child to others.....yes, you will find the majority of chidren this age walking, but theres a percentage that arent too, and your child is in that lot.
    My youngest also has two sisters (3 and 5 yrs).....if she ever wanted anything, she just needed to grunt or point, and they would give it to her - why did she have to learn to walk when she was getting everything given to her !!!@###@@!!!.
    DD#3 also only has 5 teeth, doesnt talk nearly as well as my other two did at 18 months...but its each to their own, she's her own little person, and i know in time these things will fall into place...just like walking.
    Good luck.....i found the most frustrating thing was having to pick her up - they are HEAVY at 16ish months arent they ???!!!!

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Add Evie76 on Facebook

    Jan 2007
    SA
    1,086

    Like I said in a previous thread just a couple of days ago. My DS didn't walk until he was 21 months old. He was pulling himself up - but the problem was he was getting heavier and heavier and it's difficult to carry around a 21 month old.

    He just got up and walked. It was like an epiphany for him. Hasn't stopped since.

    Quite apart from this, his speech was brilliant. He was spending a lot of time sitting on the floor reading books with me. He speeks extremely well. I think he was expending his walking energy on excelling at something else for a while.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Aug 2007
    Country NSW
    452

    Apparently bubs who get around shuffling on their bums as opposed to normal crawling are a bit later walking as it is harder to get up from the floor. I was a bub who never crawled but shuffled around on my bum and according to my mum I didn't walk till 19 months. And I don't have any trouble walking at all .

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Add aussienic on Facebook

    Feb 2005
    Boyne Island
    6,327

    My Ds2 was not walking till 18 months. He literally stood up in the morning took 9 steps then by that afternoon he never crawled again..

  7. #7
    BellyBelly Member

    Feb 2007
    3,734

    my ds is the late walker sherie refers to in our belly buddies group LOL!!! he has just started and i would say is now at 50/50 walking and crawling... i was kinda worried but not at the same time. i knew it was normal and expected him to be late (DH and i both were and he was a v late crawler) - he cruised around for ages etc etc etc. i go tmore worried when i hung around lots of other babies (esp younger ones who ran everywehere) and especially with all the comments and questions... and i agree with MBear picking him up all the time is the worst bit (do NOT attempt a petting zoo LOL).
    That said he is incredible in other areas - talks, imagination etc etc etc - so i guess the lesson is that they all do diff things at diff rates - walking is just a milestone that is so easily comparable and obvious IYKWIM....
    I know it doesnt help now but it will happen eventually...
    that said i dont even think yours is late yet LOL!!!!

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Mar 2008
    59

    Smile

    Wow! Thank you all SOOOO much for your replies. It is so encouraging to hear of other perfectly normal babies who have taken their time to get walking. Maybe my mum's group isn't so representative of the general population - they will all walking by 12 months and many before then...

    It's true about bum-shufflers taking longer to walk too...I'm convinced it's hereditary too as my DH was a bum shuffler and late walker (I was 15 months or so). Believe me I tried EVERYTHING to encourage crawling (my local gymbaroo was particularly harsh with their judgements on shufflers!) and in the end decided if she wants to shuffle there is very little I can do to change it...no point in stressing...

    Goodness this trying not to compare with others is a real challenge for me...as is trying not to take on all the unhelpful advice from those who seem to think they know better....

    Again thanks so much! I hope others have found this encouraging too...