One Year Old and Walking

My 3 yr old crawled late and never pulled herself up. One day she was just walking (15 months). They never do it when the textbooks say they will. I did buy her a jumperoo which she LOVED and probably got her used to feeling her feet hit the ground.

Good luck!

N.,

My son was a late walker too... 15 months. Kids do things in their own time. One day he will walk and then the fun is over. I know how you feel though because my oldest was walking by 9 months, it was frustrating. If everything else is okay, don't worry about it. If he is "behind" on a lot of matters speak with his doctor.

Also, the more of an issue is made about it, the less likely he we be to do it.

J.

As you know every child develops at different stages - My oldest daughter (now 7) didnt walk until she was 14 mos and my youngest (now 5) walked 2 days before her 1st birthday. Unless the doctor is worried about it - I am sure he is doing just fine and will just get up and run when he is darn good and ready :)

Dear N.,
Some kids want to do things in a hurry and some take there time..I wouldnt be concerned at this stage.. He may be a slow starter to all things doesnt make it bad.. when he is ready he will walk and then you will say ohh lordy I wish he was still a tiny baby.. Take it from me. I have had 5 children now the last of the bunch s now 13 and a girl.... So I would just relax.. and when he is ready watchout!!!

P.

Just want you to not fret at all!!! some babies are just plain old Lazy, My daughter started walking at 15 mos and she has an older brother so I thought that she'd start before 12 mos. My son started walking at 12 mos and fell a lot before he mastered it but when she started, she was a lot more stable on her feet, know she can almost run faster than he does and they are 18 mos apart. I also have a friend who's son started at 18 mos and he is perfectly fine. As long as your peds. is not concerned you shouldn't be either.
P.S. when he starts, you'll wish for the days when he was still crawling!!! Good Luck!!!

Hi N.,

My name is D. and I've read most of the responses and though I tend to agree with most of them I think you could also try the saucer or any activity that may be fun and new for your one year old but will build up the strength in his legs. The saucer helped my daughter to walk by 6mos and run by 8 and yes they do make your heart skip sometimes as a result but it can be so much easier to not have to carry them anymore. Also my neighbor had a similar problem to yours and I let her use my daughter's saucer and her 1yr old starting standing up and holding on to things. The trick is not to push them but to engage them in activities that they find fun and stimulating while it also encourages the skill you want them to achieve. All the while being excited about whatever they do. And I would say keeping them engaged in the fun of it is what encourages them. So get down on the floor with your son and just have fun praise whatever he does just get excited before you know it he will do it out of the mere excitement.

Hope it helps! Good Luck and Have a blast.
D.

Don't worry N.. My son was 15 months when he took his first solo steps. He also was a late crawler (almost 10 months). If your son is a big child, that slows them down some in the walking department. Also, since he just started crawling a few months ago, he is still exploring his new mobility and just may not have gotten bored with that yet. If he hasn't started climbing yet, he will. My son would climb everywhere before he walked. Enjoy the crawling stage. I too was very concerned when he wasn't walking yet and everyone told me to enjoy it. Well my son has been walking for 5 months now and is into EVERYTHING. It is a little more challenging to toddler-proof a home, lol. He will walk when he is ready. Probably after he gets bored crawling.

Hi
My daughter didn't have much interest in walking either. We just stood her up a few times a day to get her used to it. She eventually did it on her own. We didn't push her much, I'm a firm believer in "she'll do it when she's ready". By about 14 months or so, she was up all the time.

My son didn't walk until he was at least 18 months old (and was a late crawler as well) - If your pediatrician is okay with it, don't worry. I remember the feeling of seeing what other kids were doing - Stop comparing, he's not - Who cares what the other kids are doing - he's having fun - appreciate the fact that he's independent :) Not only that, ask the other moms what their kids are getting into because they've mastered the art of walking (YIKES!)

Maybe your son is like mine - he won't do anything until he knows he can do it perfectly. It's a good trait - hopefully they'll never be followers and always be leaders :)

Good luck :)

Don't worry! every baby is different and 12 months is the "average" age for walking, which means some do it sooner and some do it later! Trust me, after he figures it out, you will be wishing he never did!

Its totally normal trust me. My daughter started walking at 8 months, then I had my son and he barely crawling by then. He did not start to put weight on his legs or any of that until probably 13 or 14 months and by the time he was 18 months he finally started to walk. I thought it was never going to happen, he crawled everywhereand he was so fast at it and he could carry toys in both hands while he was doing it that he really did not feel like he had to walk, just give hime time and it will happen, I know its hard when other babies his age are ahead of him in the motor abilities, but he will walk when he is ready, and if you are truly concerned still, talk to you pediatrician about it and he can reassure you that there is nothing wrong with Michael.
Good luck,
L.

N.- one question for you. Have you ever known one able human being who has never learned to walk? Rest assure- don't compare your child to anyone elses. I have two daughters, the oldest is 7 and the youngest will be two next week. My first- I felt the same way you did- she did not walk until 14 months. Flourished at 14 months- finally started growing hair, got her and first tooth appeared. All supposedly late stages. Healthy and too smart for her own good today. Walking has nothing to do with intelligence.

My second child is very different in many ways. I thought that since she was learning faster than the first- surely she would begin to learn to walk before 14 months. First birthday came- nothing- no true desire- did bouncer, the little walker- didn't pick her up or hold all day, helped her to walk by holding hands etc. She would pull up and all that, so I knew nothing was wrong with her legs. Then month 13- nothing. Okay surely she would be like the first and the magic number is 14. That passed. This child would crawl into the walker and used this as the method of getting around and would crawl out of it. Then 15 months passed. N., my daughter did not walk until 18 months! She is smart as a whip. She pronounces words very clearly for her age- communicates extremely well. Can count to 10 by herself and recite most of the letters in the alphabet. Again has nothing to do with intelligence and I don't believe its something you can force unto a child.

So on the lighter side of things- enjoy your baby!! It will be the most exciting moments for you when you see her first steps.

My advice would be to keep him out of the excersaucer, jumper, and walker all together. I think most professionals would agree that those actually DISCOURAGE children from really trying to walk and do not benefit them at all, other than to give them some entertainment while keeping them in a safe place (plus giving mommy some must-needed rest time!).
And I agree you should take your own advice on the reassuring... many babies don't walk until 13, 14, 15 months. He'll get up and about when he's ready. On his schedule, not yours. If you're still worried in a couple months, bring it up to the pediatrician. And don't compare him to other kids. I'm sure what he currently lacks in physical mobility compared to other kids his age he more than makes up in social skills and/or mental abilities. Good luck!

My little girl did not even start crawling until she was almost one year. She "walked" around on her bottom and she was fast. The pediatrician told me it was no big deal. She would walk when she was ready...the next thing I knew she was running...time goes quickly...

Don't worry!!!! Mine never crawled. She went from scooching her butt across the floor to walking. She walked at 13 months. Mine also spoke very late. She just didn't feel like and then at about 2 1/2 she spoke very well and suddenly. Now she is very skilled with communication. They all develope when they are ready, and it usually comes in spurts.

D.

Hello

Don't worry he will walk when he is ready i have a friend she was just like you because her son also had the same issue he started when he was 15 months and now he is 18 months and is everywhere. My son started when he was 13 months and also my daugther . Every child is different. Believe when they start they will never sit down my daugther once she started she was all over place and she then started climbing everything. You have to keep in mind not to see other kids the same age and wonder why your child is not doing that. And if any ask or tells you or your child is not walking yet or doing this my child was doing that early in life. Just tell them every child is different and change the subject because people will always do that. So enjoy this time that he is not moving much because once he starts you will never get to sit and relax.

N.,

You probably have nothing to worry about. My youngest is now 19 months old and she did not even start the crawling movements until she was 12 months and two weeks. She just started taking steps with assistance at 18 months and now she will take a few on her own. Our dr. thought we should seek a specialist when she was 12 mo. because they were comparing her to her 3 yr. old sister who crawled at 6 mo. and walked at 9 mo. My husband and I honestly felt there was nothing wrong with her and we waited. She did it in her own time and did not like to be pushed. Now she loves to hold onto our hands and walk everywhere. SO just sit back and watch and help him when he wants it. It is amazing to see them when they accomplish such a milestone and to see how proud they are of themselves. Enjoy!!

R. - mom of two with another one on the way!

Hi N.
I had to respond to your email.
First off there isn't a timeline when babies should walk by or do other stuff for that matter. My friend's son didn't walk until 15 months old, but talked way too early. Which means some kids are late in one skill and early in another. Tummy time helps a lot, put him down and put his favorite toy away from him out of his reach, he may crawl at first but eventually he'll start walking. If he hasn't walked by 18 months of age then bring it up with his pediatrician, but I assure you, he has a lot of time. My twins walked by 12 months but now at 25 months one talks way more than the other one does. This is because no baby is the same. Enjoy this period because when he starts walking that means he'll get into stuff, climb and make your heart stop about 20 times a day. Good luck, V.

Hi!!
Don't worry a bit, my son who is 17 months JUST started walking and hes everywhere!!!

Our Doctor said the average age is 10-18 months old. They all take there own time and they will do it when they are ready!!!

My son crawled at 9 months too and then started to pull up and cruise so no worries hun!!!

Try the walker. Let him get used to standing in order to move around.

N.,
I would not be too concerned about Michael not walking yet. My son and I also go to Gymboree and we had a boy in our class that didn't walk until after he was 16 months old. It wasn't that he couldn't do it, he just had no interest in trying. I definitely would not buy a walker, as these supposedly delay the walking process because they encourage movement while the baby's hips are bent. My son starting walking very early, and I think some of that had to do with a "push walker" we had- it basically looked like a walker that an older person would push along (although much more colorful and with toys on it!). Any type of sturdy push toys you can find should encourage him to move a bit more, and will also strenghten his leg muscles. Good luck!

N.,

Don't Worry!!! My son didn't start walking till 14 months. The doctors were not concerned at all.

They would say "he will start walking when he's ready". He didn't even crawl!!! He went from nothing to walking.

Take care and good luck.

M. (mother of four)