Hi All, I was wondering if you had any good ways to try and get a 15 month old to want to start walking. My son can pull himself up to objects and walk around objects with no issue, but when we try and work with him on standing on his own and taking steps, he doesn't want to do it. He is really wobbly and just wants to sit down. We try and put fun objects in his pathway for him to want to talk to, but that doesn't seem to interest him either. I am out of ideas...HELP!
It sounds like he's just not developmentally ready. When my daughter started pulling up to things (but couldn't walk yet) we got her the Fisher Price Elmo's Sing and Teach Table. She played with it like crazy, and standing there probably help build up her muscles. We also had a push toy for her to push around. She loved it.
Have you tried the sit and step? Its a little walker that they can sit in and learn how to move their little legs around. I got this for my son at 9 months and he was walking by 11. We used the Kolcraft Tiny Steps 2 in 1 walker(Target). Its pretty safe. I am going to use it for my second baby as well.
Along with the walker, I put him in the bouncy(that bouncy thing that hangs from the doorway)...this is what helped him learn balance and strengthened his legs. Now at 15 momths,he runs and climbs. Oh, how I long for the days when he was immobile.
All I can say is I was right there with you. We tried everything to encourage my son to walk but he just didn't want to. My doctor told us that he didn't have the muscle tone to walk, which I never figured out why because he crawled incredibly fast. Yeah but he didn't walk till he was 21 months old so. Just give it time he will do it in his own time.
A.,
You're doing everything right. He's simply not ready. Don't worry, he'll take off when he wants to and you won't be able to slow him down. Enjoy it b/c you're about to get really busy!! :)
BTW, our kids were always nuts for the remote. We sat it in the recliner, pulled them back and let them go. After a few tries (or days), they were taking off to get it. Also, I knew they were ready b/c they were cruising around furniture but would let go and walk a step or two to grab the next piece of furniture. Is he doing that?
GL!
I am a family consultant with an Early Childhood home visiting program. My first suggestion would be to get a push walker if you don't already have one. The kind that the child stands behind and holds on to push. My next suggestion is that if your son is not walking by 16 months, I would ask his physician. If there is a Parents as Teachers or other early childhood program in your area you might check into that. They are usually a wealth of knowledge.
My daughter didn't walk until 15 mos either... what we ended up doing was getting her a toy wagon(it had safety wheels so she couldn't get it going too fast). One day, she just took off. Now I long for the days that I would put her down and she would stay where I put her!
My son started walking at 13 months. I was concerned that was late. My first thought was to tell you not to worry, he'll walk when he is ready, but EASY for me to say that so casually now that I have been through it. So my best advice is see him for the cautious little boy he is. Sounds like he is being very careful about those first steps. Imagine how scarey it might be to feel "wobbly" and not understand why. Try to accept his his cautious nature and encourage him to walk in his own time without too much pressure. One day you'll turn around and see him walking and it will be so cool to know he did it when HE was ready!
It sounds like you are doing all the right things. He will walk on his own schedule--try not to worry!
Don't worry! He'll walk when he's ready. Just make sure he's got plenty of time on the floor to try. At 15 months our daughter would only walk while holding one of our fingers. She didn't take a step on her own until she was 17 1/2 months old! Our son wasn't in any hurry either. Even though he could climb the walls as early as 11 months, he didn't walk until 15 months.
A.,
I don't know but I wish I did. Our son is nearly 13 months and the does the same thing. It's so frustrating because a couple of times he has even let go and fumbled a couple of steps, but that's it. Also, he will walk with us holding one of his hands so I know he can. I guess it's a balance thing. The pedi said do not worry about because we know he can he just doesn't want to. If you find any tips that help them along please let me know. Good luck.
M.
Our little girl started walking at 11 months, but I am pretty sure a big part of that was this Playskool toy we have. It has a handle that they hold and push the car around to help them get used to walking without being alone. She is 14 months old now and still loves pushing or pulling it around. They can also ride on it. Here is the newer model of the one we have. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=233199...
My daughter is 16 months and won't walk either. If you figure anything out let me know!
He will walk when he is ready. I would not worry. My son is 16 months old and just started walking on his own. I read that boys, especially those that are calm and laid back, walk later. Relax and just enjoy him!
If he isn't walking yet, he just isn't ready. He is able to pull up and cruise, so developmentally he is on target. Just relax and wait! It will happen soon enough. :-)
Also, make sure to avoid hard soled shoes, or even shoes at all (unless the dr requires them due to a medical condition) until he really gets the hang of walking. You can buy shoes like See Kai Run, PediPeds, Robeez, or the knockoffs at Target if you *really* want him to have something on his feet. Toddlers learn to walk better when they can actually feel the ground, hard soled shoes just hinder the learning process.
I work in a child care center with kids ages 6 weeks to 24 months, and lots of times kids don't walk till 16 months or so (which is actually better for the development of their ligaments and tendons) and they are literally NOT walking one day, and then the next they just stand up in the middle of the room and go!
Have you tried putting some stride rite shoes on him to help stablize his ankles. They are harder to find now because someone has said that after 100 years kids now dont need ankle support, but there are still some shoe sales that carry them. They really do work, and I would love to actually see the research on why it is no longer not recommended. I am thinking of the old fashioned baby shoes that you see sitting on the mantel bronzed years later.
Good luck
P.
