Help with a Late Walker

It sounds like she's just focusing on talking and intellectual learning right now - she seems to be way ahead of most kids her age in those areas. Try not to worry about the walking too much, she'll probably catch on in the next month or so.

My nephew didn't walk until he was 18 months old, but then we learned to ride a proper two-wheel bike without training wheels before his third birthday - so being a late walker doesn't necessarily have any impact on later motor skills.

The only thing you can do is wait. When she's ready, she'll walk. I know how tough this is (my daughter and son were both on the late side walking, and they were both really heavy, so I was lugging around a 30 lb kid!). Still, it's her body, and she's in charge of how and when she's going to use it. My daughter is still not much of a risk taker - she likes to be sure she knows how to do something before she does it. She didn't walk at all until 16 months and then she walked clear across the kitchen. And, once your daughter starts to walk, she'll be doing it all the time in only a matter of weeks, so she'll stop being "behind" very quickly.

I've been told that most kids can really only do either the verbal piece or the physical piece at one time. Seems your daughter has chosen talking.

Good luck! She'll be fine and walking soon.

Hi G.,
I don't really have any solutions, but just wanted to tell you to hang in there. My mom has run a daycare for thirty years and I have seen this with a lot of kids. She's probably just a little cautious. I think trying to keep up with the other kids this summer will do wonders for her. When she does decide to walk she will probably be a pro right off the bat! It's just like some kids are late talkers, but when they do talk they speak in sentences. They are all different. Just take a deep breath, it will come in time :)

She may be afraid if all of the other kids around her are running past her, or they may be a little rough. So she still needs you there to hold her hand and comfort her and be her "right arm" - Ask the good Lord for patience and He will give it to you. I know you'd like her to run like the other kids but, trust me, one's own child will always do or NOT do things other kids do. I know, my son is 18 and it took me YEARS to learn that I can't compare him with others. Don't worry, everything will fall into place. Good luck.

Did she fall after she had started walking? Kids will go back and forth when they first learn to walk. My son is 18 months and just started walking at 15 months. He still goes back to crawling every now and then. He also receives Birth to Three (failure to thrive in the beginning with mobility issues). His therapist always reminds me that kids will go back to what they feel safest with. And once they've fallen and have gotten hurt they might not try it as often. It doesn't sound like regression, it sounds like she's still trying to get her balance. So keep letting her practice with the walker toys. Don't force her to walk. If you do and she falls then she really isn't going to trust that walking is fun and it will take longer to get her going again. Take her outside on the grass too because nothing is better for their balance than learning to walk on an uneven surface. Having her around kids her age and even a little older is a great motivator too. My son will do things at playgroup just because he sees another child doing it. Something he wouldn't have tried before. These are all things my son's therapist has recommended. He'll have been receiving services for a year the end of this month and he actually no longer needs them because he has completely caught up.

I would totally try to keep cool about it and don't pressure her before she's ready, especially if she shows no other sign of delay. Sometimes kids who are cognitively advanced show delays in other areas, and vice versa, because they just can't learn everything all at once!

Is she standing pretty well on her own? Is she able to stand up by herself? Does she like to stand up and not want to be forced to sit down? If so, then she's probably on the way to walking within a month or so. If not, then some ways to encourage her are to put her toys up on a coffee table or a sofa so that she has to play with them while standing. Then you can stand a foot or so away from her and encourage her to bring you a toy by walking. (This advice was given to me by my mother who is a developmental specialist; my son is 15 months and not walking yet, so we are working on these things with him too, and they seem to be helping!)

Besides the obvious comment that you should definitely bring your concerns to your pediatrician - just curious if she has traditionally had a large head - high end of the chart? My daughters both had HUGE heads - off the charts or 99th percentile type measurements - and it took them longer to meet all their milestones because it is hard to balance those big heads! They didn't sit up until 9 months, and didn't walk unassisted until 16 months. But definitely ask the pediatrician.

Hi G. - My daughter didn't walk until 16 1/2 months and was also in EI. Have you spoken w/ your doctor or w/ your EI therapist? I think they have the best advice. You could also try to go to a specialist. If they're not concerned, I would just try real hard to be patient. It's tough, I know. The great news is that your daughter seems to be quite advanced in the verbal part of her life. Once she gets walking, she'll be ahead of the class. :) My daughter was also very verbally focused and now has the best of both worlds with talking and walking. Good luck!! - J.

Hi G.,

I agree with one of the moms who said that your daughter is way ahead on her verbal skills. This may be why she's a late walker, as she's more interested in the mental learning right now, than the physical. My daughter was 17 1/2 months before she started walking unassisted. She's 18 1/2 months now, and still needs some help. She's very smart, and is very mechanically inclined. She works at figuring how things work until she gets it (I'm a Computer Tech, so I can see why) so she spends a huge amount of time sitting, figuring something out, and leaves talking and walking behind. She's very quiet, and only says a few words, so that, to me, is more worrisome than how long it took her to walk. Nevertheless; I am having Birth-to-three come see her just to make certain all is alright. :o)

G. dear, the very worst thing you can do to yourself and your child is to compare them to other children at any stage of progress.
All children progress on their own schedules. It has nothing to do with intelligence.
There is a doctor in the next town who has three sons. The first two sons were 18 and 19 months old before they walked. The youngest one is just starting to take a few steps and he is 22 months old. Doc does not exhibit and anxiety over this. None of those boys crawled, they all scooted on their butts.
You little girl sounds like she is doing just fine.
Tincture of time and this, too, shall pass and she will be running all over the place.
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell

Please do not let this 'drive you crazy' your daughter will be ready when she is able and not before, if she is getting PT and they are working with her she will get there in good time. My son was a preemie and had EI from 5 1/2 months on and still did not walk until 19 months..he did not talk more than 8 words until close to 3.

You need to try not to compare her to anyone else as she is herlself, not the superwalker down the street. It is not something to fret about if she is getting help. Work on her other skills that the runnning around child is too busy for (colors, coloring, fine motor) imagine having her walk at 9 months! there are upsides and downsides to it all, but she needs you there for her to be supportive and it is also harder to life up a 17 month old body then a 9-12 month old body..

She will get there, developemental charts are not exact and kids with issues are on their own chart anyway ;-)

Take a deep breath and have patients. Every child is different. As long as your ped. isn't worried with her progress then just keep doing what your doing with helping her. Especially if she is doing well in all the other areas. I know it's annoying when they are at that stage when they are almost walking but you still need to bend over all the time to help them.

I always tell myself when my kids are not as fast as the other ones, "I know they won't be in college and still not walking!" (or in diapers etc.) Good luck and I hope she starts on her own soon!

Hi G.,
This worked for our late walker. Put something in each hand like cookies or pot holders, whatever. We think it works because it balances them. The main thing is to relax. They are all different and develop at their own pace. She seems to be doing great all on other fronts.
You'll be chasing her soon.

Good Luck!

Try to consider your daughter's hesitance to walk a blessing in disguise! It's hard to imagine now, but this time of relative calm will pass too quickly. She will catch up with and surpass her contemporaries in ways that will amaze you. Enjoy!
S. (mom of 3)

you have to let her learn balance. insist she only hold one of your hands while walking indoors. walk side by side with her. she will wibble/wobble at first and learn to catch herself before she falls over. good sneakers and a tile or bare floor is the easiest to learn on. (their shoes kind of stick to or drag on the carpet). good luck! she'll be running before you know it :)

My son was a very timid walker. He's always been scared of trying new things. At 6 months old he started walking holding my hand. To my surprise he never let go of my hand until he was 18 months. He just turned 2 and he no longer has any signs of gross motor delay. Your little munchkin will be walking in no time. All kids do things when there ready.

I think if you just keep encouraging her and working with her, I assume she still had Physcial Therapy from Early intervention, that it the best to do at the moment. I don't know specifically about the hyper mobility problem but if she has done it in the past, just keep going.

Listen to what the drs and pts tell you but if you have concerns or questions don't hesitate to ask them. Get a second opinion if you don't agree with what they are saying but most of all you know what is best for your child, the other "professionals" don't know your child as well as you and you need to make sure to advocate for what she needs.

Have a happy Mother's Day!!
A.
www.southernnhfamilyfun.com

First, I would make sure that it is only regression and not anything medical. Don't compare your child with others. Don't keep her away from the public forums and certainly don't be afraid of your backyard, that should be the safety zone for her. Sometimes watching other children do something will give her the drive (if that is the issue) to immitate and do it herself.

Keep the faith and good luck.