Encouraging a 16 Month Old to Walk

My moms best friend is getting my daughter a pair of sandals that have a squeaker in them (and it's removeable). It just motivates them to walk to hear the squeak. Not sure what brand they are, let me know if you want me to find out more. I'm sure you can google the description.

Randa

Hi D.,
I know how you feel. My daughter was 15 months before she started to even get around. we got her a push walker...it's suppose to be a mailbox carrier cart and the child pushes it from behind and you can adjust the wheels to the tension you want. I saw it at Babiesrus, but I'm sure that Walmart, target has them too. They cost around $20 and it's a toy they use for a LONG time. My daughter is 3 now and still loves it. I don't remember the name or brand, but I'll look around and if I remember, I'll email you back.

Get one of those big balls from walmart and have her hold it and I will take her mind off of walking and she will just start doing it. It works I have no idea why or how but it works

My sons learned to walk by using push toys that they can walk behind. My youngest would push around a tractor and we really think that helped him "get" the whole walking process. We have a Playskool toy is a walker but also converts to a car. It is strong enough to support them to walk behind it pushing it without falling. I hope I am making sense! :)

My son was a late walker (18 months) and I had him in therapy (He has Down syndrome so he was already in therapy) but, 18months is the latest age to begin walking by so there's no worry for you yet.

What I will tell you I did (because a kid with DS walking at 18months is unheard of, usually they are 2 years or older) which was very intensive.

Here's what I did:

1) get on your knees and put a hoola hoop around your waist with your baby inside. She can pull up onto the hoola hoop. Be sure the hoola hoop part she is holding is not above her head as this affects her balance. You want her hands to be as close to her waist as possible as this is where the hands are during normal walking patterns. Then just see if she'll walk around with your like that!

2) get a treadmill and a piano bench or something. Put the bench over the treadmill and hold your baby UNDER her armpits or as close to her waist as you can and her still be able to balance. Have her walk on the treadmill two minutes on, two minutes off for eight minutes until she can do eight minutes at once. This is a long process (by the end of the first week my son did this, he took his first step at 15 months, but then got scared and didn't walk for 3 more months). This will help build leg strength too.

3) Okay, this is a new product I wish I had had with my son. It's called walking wings (www.walkingwings.com) and you can buy it at Babies R Us for less than $30. it's a harness system with two handles off the back for you to hold. The harness holds the child under the armpits leaving their arms free for normal balance and then gives you two straps to hold so you don't have to break your back bending over. I bought it for my daughter, but she started walking before I got a chance to use it. I babysit a 10month old who just LOVES to be in it!

4) if you haven't already, put her toys on the couch or funiture so she has to pull up and cruise to each object. Eventually, she should start letting go and taking steps.

5) If you start to get worried, call Early Childhood Intervention and they will come out and do an assessment and provide therapy if needed.

Let me know if you have any questions.

R.

Hi D.,
My son didn't walk until he was 17 months. We got tubes put in his ears and he was walking within hours. I kid you not. This is probably not the issue. But I thought I would share.

Have you tried getting her a walker to help her learn to balance and use those muscles? It helped my little boy tremendously and he acted all independent, rolling off to get stuff.