Early Steps for non-walkers.

Heather - posted on 08/10/2010

My now 3 year old didn't walk until 16 months and my 16 month old is still not walking. It really isn't a concern unless they are delayed in other areas as well. My 3 year old is extremely bright and has caught up just fine with her gross motor skills. As for the program, we don't have it here, but it might be fun. Check it out, and if you think it's helping great, if not, don't worry about it.

Cheshmak - posted on 08/10/2010

HI Traci, I wouldn't worry about it too much .. every baby is so individual. My little guy started walking at 13 months, some of his friends were walking at 11 and one of them was still crawling at 16 months and then one day got up and that was that :) The Early Steps people will be able to assess and make sure there aren't any problems and provide advice on exercises you might do to encourage her but really ... she will do it at her own pace and I bet you in no time you'll be chasing her all around the house. Good luck and keep us posted.

Julie - posted on 08/08/2010

Mine turned 16 mos old this week and on that day I saw her take 1 step. 4 days later and I haven't seen her try again, but she is standing for 15 seconds on her own, but won't take a step.

Kristin - posted on 08/07/2010

My son is also a late walker. He's 15 months and still not walking! He's getting really really close. I took him to a PT and she said he has enough strength, tone, etc. She doesn't see anything anatomically wrong with him. She also said the real walking age is 7-18 months. She said since the back-to-sleep campaign, babies have started walking later. However, I don't mind. I'd rather have a late walker than have my child die from SIDS. He had severe reflux (and still suffers from it a bit) so we were not able to lay him flat for 4 months. He also slept in a bouncy/infant seat for 8 months. She said it's common for reflux babies to be slower movers because they don't get the amount of tummy time that other babies do. Any time we put him flat on the floor, he would spit up and choke on it.

He is pushing toys really well. A good tip is to use an upside down laundry basket/rubbermaid tote to get them to push toys. For some reason our son pushed that easily and then started pushing toys with wheels soon after. I think the laundry basket felt more steady because it is wider. Being a parent can be so hard sometimes! We worry so much!!!

Ali Marie - posted on 08/07/2010

My daughter is almost 16 months and also not walking. Our pediatrician refered us to Imua, as its called out here when she was 10 months because she was not crawling and barely able to sit up on her own! The PT has helped tremendously!!!

You shouldn't have to worry about the cost, I know every state has a FREE program for children 1-3 with developmental delays. So if "First Steps" charges you ask about a free program instead.

Jenni - posted on 08/06/2010

Hi Traci,

Your daughter sounds just like mine! Stubborn, independent and cautious except in the bath! She's almost 16 months and while she was cruising furniture and standing up in the bath since about 14 months, she chose to walk and run on her knees for several months before doing anything else. Then, all of a sudden, she wanted to walk holding on, and then over a month or so (at around 15 months) she decided to try on her own. She's only been walking properly for a couple of weeks now. The walking on the knees is actually very hard to do, and is really good for their butt muscles (and hence their posture and strength later on), so I was not too worried. I think it's awesome that the paediatrician is proactive, but I also wouldn't be too worried unless she is still refusing to walk at 18 months....

All the best :-)

Jen

Ashley - posted on 08/06/2010

I am having the same situation with my daughter and my Ped. was trying to refer us to somewhere as well. My daughter even walks on her knees so much that the skin on her knees has become tough! She is also very cautious and has started walking a little but does it rarely. She also used to sink to her knees when I would try to get her to stand. I am personally going to give her until 18 months before we do anything. I think she is just a little unsure about the whole walking thing, and just feels more secure on her knees. It is quite a sight to see her "run" on her knees and it made me smile to find out that she isnt the only silly girl to do this. If you do choose the therapy I would be interested to know if it helps.

Jodi - posted on 08/06/2010

I agree don't worry. My son is almost 16 months and he is just starting to walk. Granted, he looks like a wobbly drunk when he does it. I was worried too bc he was late crawling too. He was 4 weeks early but normal size always
It will happen when they are ready. Trust me, I was worried for a while too. Every baby is different and they all learn at different paces. Hang in there!

Lynn - posted on 08/06/2010

You might find she is just so busy learning about everything around her that walking isn't a priority in her eyes.
My son is now walking,didn't even attempt it until 13 months,now we can't stop him, but health visitor and physio were suggesting all sorts, there was nothing wrong, he just didn't want to do it until he was ready.
I would say if she seems alert in every way,doesn't struggle or seem in discomfort when she stands,just encourage her, but let her do it in her own time,she will be zooming around the house in no time and then you'll laugh at fact you had been concerned at all and wondering how you can keep her in one place again.

Louise - posted on 08/05/2010

I wouldn't be too worried. My 15 month old never crawled and is now just standing and barely starting to cruise. And I'm not a bit worried. My cousins son was 2 and 2 months before he first walked and he's nearly 3 now and he's totally caught up!

Helen - posted on 08/05/2010

Our doctor was worried at our 15 month check up too. My daughter had no interest in walking. She was a speedy crawler. She would only walk holding on to furniture or toys. If I tried to walk with her, she would sit down. She just started walking last week (almost 16 months) and now she is walking everywhere. I can't believe what a difference 3 weeks made. I would giver her some more time.

Traci - posted on 08/01/2010

Thanks everybody. Jessica..I didn't look closely at your name and then I read NG and thought "Wow..someone else is looking at my posts from North Grade!" I looked closer and it was you. Duh! :) My brain shuts down during the summer.



Tonight she actually let me help her walk a little bit in our little kitchen. She's still 'running' on her knees when she grabs thing she isn't supposed to but at least she's letting us help her a little.

Jessica - posted on 08/01/2010

Traci, don't even worry about it! My 4 year old didn't take any steps until she was 16 months. She had all the walking toys you can imagine and still would not do it. She also seemed to prefer crawling because she was able to get to things faster. Michayla did go to PT when she was about 5 months because she wouldn't lift up with her arms at all. we went for 2 months and I also did a lot of the activities that her therapist was doing with her. If it's too costly, you could always consult with a PT and have him/her give you excercises to work on at home. I was working at NG at the time and with the insurance, I still had to pay $20 twice a week, plus, I only got 20 sessions. You will see that a lot of the excercises the PT will do with her are simple games that you guys could work into your routine. Hope this helps a bit.

Danielle - posted on 07/31/2010

I agree that she'll have things figured out by 18 months too. Also, when I had a mental picture of your daughter running away on her knees I giggled.

Marnie - posted on 07/29/2010

sounds like you are in a good position. You can call and check it out. If it doesn't make sense financially, you don't need to do it. I like that her doctor isn't actually worried, just being proactive. It sounds like she will be figuring things out by 18 months.

Traci - posted on 07/29/2010

I mentioned that. She said she'd rather be ahead of the game then behind it. My daughter is a very cautious child (meaning she's kinda a scaredy cat unless she's in the bath tub where she has no problem standing but always hangs on to the edge) and, like her father and me, is a stubborn little thing. In response to Michelle she was 4 days early so it isn't a preemie thing.



It wouldn't be so bad if she would just let us help her! The moment we grab her hands or try to get her to push her cart/toy she folds to her knees. I have to say that I was amused tonight. She grabbed something out of the fridge and rather than running on her feet she ran on her knees to escape getting into trouble. I haven't made any phone calls yet. I will. If they charge a lot (We're poor in that my husband was laid off and still isn't working but we're 'rich' in that I have insurance and make an average income) we may have to wait. Too many bills and a husband that seems to get hospitalized every 5 months for asthma.

Danielle - posted on 07/29/2010

I thought most pediatricians waited for that kind of thing until 18 months. I haven't used Early Steps...I don't know that I'd be in a rush to do so either just because you say she is cruising. If she wasn't cruising then I'd look into it. My son just turned 15 months old and he literally in the past week began standing on his own without using something to pull him up. I think 95% of late walkers are just stubborn, afraid, or find crawling easier to get around.

Michelle - posted on 07/29/2010

My 15 month old hasn't really walked either. He cruises all around his play pen and holds onto anything and everything when he can. If your daughter was early at all, then I'd give her until at least 18 months before you'll see her actually walking by herself. My son was 11 weeks early and his pediatrician said he'll most likely begin walking then. Best of luck!