My daughter is 15 months old and is still not walking. She walks when i hold her hand and she walks while holding onto something but cant seem to balance on her own. She stands on her own sometimes until she realizes that someone is watching her or sometimes she doesnt realize she has been standing on her own and then slowing lowers herself back down to the ground.
Anyone have any advice on why she wouldnt be walking or how to influence her to walk?
My daughter began walking one week before her 1st birthday,my son walked at 17 months. Each child develops differently,don't worry,Mom. She'll be walking around and getting into stuff before you know it!!!
Let her hold on to a helium filled balloon or two. You can get the mylar balloons at the dollar store. She'll feel like she's holding on to something. My daughter took off walking after holding on to the balloons at her grandfather's b-day party. Good luck if she's not walking already~!
T.
that sounds pretty normal. It just takes some kids more time to balance their big head. (not that i'm saying your kid has a big head, just that with little ones their head is the heaviest part of their bodies) I knew a kid who didnt fully get the hang of it until 18 months and she walks fine now. Just keep encouraging her, maybe try sitting with daddy on one side and you on the other and get her to walk from one to the other. That's what my dad and I did with my daughter. She loved walking to Grandpa. in fact, when he went back home, she didnt really walk on her own for another couple of months after that, in protest or something. :-)
My son didn't start to walk until about 15 months. You should "make" her walk by herself. Hold something that she wants and have her walk to you, but don't give in. If she doesn't walk, don't give it. Try it later. If she is knows she can hold onto something to walk, she may not "want" to do it alone.
Mine didn't start on her own until almost 17 months. As they get older they get more cautious. She knows that if she falls it might hurt. The best thing to do is to encourage her and give her lots of praise but don't push her so much that she gets frustrated and upset. If you have some major concerns bring them up to your peditrician but it's usually not until 18 months that doctors start to get concerned. Mine got up and walked across the kitchen on her own one day. My hubby and I were just sitting their talking and up and off she went. We knew she could do it she just needed to gain the confidence on her own.
no need to worry - mine didnt walk at 15 mos by herself either. she will do it when she is ready. she may just not be comfortable with it yet. all will work out.
Some babies just bloom later than others. While manyt babies are walking at 15 months, there are some babies that aren't and they are still perfectly fine. She may just have a more laid back temperament about it. Do you carry her around the house a lot? Some babies if carried around are just more content that way and therefore have no real 'need' to get around. If she goes everywhere she wants without having to put forth the effort, she doesn't need to learn how to walk. (Disclaimer- If this is the case, it has NOTHING to do with you. I don't want this to be read in the way that it is blaming you, because I'm not. I have majored in early childhood and this it just a temperament some children have. It has no reflection on parenting skills. Every momma carries her baby around. It's just natural)
Have you already taken her to her 15 month Well Child Check yet? I would definitely bring it up to the pediatrician. Your ped will be able to tell if you need to take on some sort of intervention or if he is developing normally. Until then, I wouldn't worry much about it. Just keep doing what your doing. She is going to feel if you are constantly worried or stressed about it, and that won't do him any good. Good luck!!
There is no set time on when she should be walking... some kids start way early, while others are just slower. Sounds like she is working towards it, but just needs more practice.
Have you tried putting shoes on her? I have heard it does help some kiddos.
I really wouldn't worry to much and just keep helping her and encouraging her to take that step. Once she finally does she will be off and running.
Totally normal! She's definitely working toward it. I don't even think pediatricians worry about t until 2 years old. Even then, if the child is standing and walking assisted, I don't think they worry.
just my opinion - there maybe nothing there but typical development for walking is 12-15 months with the high range being up to 17 months. However that being said you may want to consider getting a pediatric physical therapy evaluation (it may take several months to get in for the evaluation). it's not just that she is not walking but she is not standing for long periods of time (this is a 10-11 month old skill).
Other things to look at... how does she do
- pulling to stand? (does she use both feet same time or one foot and then the other foot)
- stooping to pick up an object and then return to standing?
- when holding on to you to stand or walk are her feet flat on the floor or is she on her toes?
Early intervention is best. good luck!
She is still within normal limits. If you think that balance is the issue, if she has had many ear infections, you might have her checked for fluid in the inner ear. If she has other develpmental concerns, I would check them out sooner, rather than later, but if this is it, as long as you rule out what could be causing a possible balance issue, she is probably fine. Be grateful for the rest...she will soon be going full tilt and you will be wondering why you ever wanted her to walk!
M.
Mine was about 15 months, too. She started wobbly walking shortly after standing as you described. She is tall, and I've heard that can be a factor. Also, she seemed focused on language skills, and I've also heard that they kind of focus on one thing at a time. We knew two babies walking at 9 months, so I know that it can seem like forever.
Hang in there!
PS I've been told that many Olympians tended to be late walkers. :-) Not sure if folks were just trying to make me feel better!
So I've read most of the posts, and everyone is telling you she'll be fine, which I agree. As far as suggestions to help influence her, I don't agree with the suggestion of not giving her something she wants until she walks.....that seems a little too harsh. My mother swears that it took her giving me a gum wrapper for each hand and that's how I walked! I agree with her concept though. If your daughter is thinking more about what's in her hands rather than the thought of falling, it might help. I've also heard anything that feels like a finger in her hand (i.e. an unsharpened pencil, or crayons) could help. Good luck! Let us know how it goes!
My baby and her cousin, who are 3 or 4 weeks apart, are constantly compared because they are so close in age. Her cousin started to crawl and pull herself up around 9/10 months. Mine would half crawl three paces and then give up. She also didn't pull herself up too much till she was 11 months. So my baby started walking on her first birthday, which surprised me because there was no real crawling involved. Her cousin didn't start walking till she was 15 months, even though she had been crawling (and I mean crawling fast) and pulling herself up since around 9 months. If your really concerned ask her pedi about it, but I think kids pick up different motorskills at different times. (Oh and mine is 16 months now.....still doesn't talk, just one thing she hasn't picked up). Hang in there!
im pretty sure that is normal. She will surprise you and walk all by herself one day and then never look back. You will miss these days...hehe
my daughter started about 15 months, after doing the same thing for months and months.
When my first walked really early and his playmate didn't. As mothers there was some awkwardness at first but then we realized that they just had mastery of different skills, Her daughter had great fine motor skills. She could manipulate small toys and ate raisins from the box one by one, while mine acted like a caveman and practically ate the box. Now that they are almost 5 you can't even tell who did what first.
What I mean by sharing this story is that you are doing everything right and if you could change your perspective to be one of...she will reach milestones in her own time it might be easier on you.
BTW-I always tell people the earlier one walks the more they fall. Kids tend to be more steady when they walk later.
Hope this Helps!
Suzy & her men
My youngest walked at 9 months. Her older sister took two steps (assisted) when she was 14 months & didn't walk again until about 18 months or so. Each kid just chooses her own time and own way, even that young!
For what it's worth, that same slow-walking baby just graduated high school (walking across the stage to receive her diploma wearing 3 inch heels & looking every bit the lovely young lady she is), played varsity soccer & started a fitness club at her school. She walks with ease -- though she still doesn't like learning new things & took forever to get her drivers' license!
These things balance out in time. Your little one sounds like she's progressing on her own plan, in her own time. As I now tell my oldest (at 30, a young mother herself), don't rush the walking thing -- they become much harder to keep up with!
It will be OK. She'll be fine.
No worries. My son didn't walk until he was 17 months old too. We were really concerned. It is hard not to compare your child with other children, but they are all so different. He runs now! In some ways it was nice he walked later, less falls, and they get into so much more stuff. Kids have to want to walk, so give her time and she will walk when she is ready.
I wouldn't worry too much! My daughter is 15 months old as well and running (literally) all over the place. But is she talking? Nope!
what does the dr. say? my kids were both 13 months old... every child is different.. but my daughter when she learned to walk.. use to wobble a real lot.. we had her checked out.. cause i thought something was wrong with her hips.. it turned out she is double and triple jointed.. and they told me she would learn to walk better with time.. but to get her into dance or gymnastics.. because she can bend great... we did... and all is well.. good luck.. but go check with a dr..
