early walker - late talker?

MamaK - posted on 05/03/2013

I think there may be some truth to this theory. My daughter was RUNNING at 9 months. Now, at 22 months, she continues to be extremely physical (advanced, even) - she has a very strong grasp of words, understands language, can follow multi-step directions, and has said a total of about 30 words, including small sentences, but only has a steady vocabulary of about 15 words. I am not concerned about her - she understands what you are saying, follows directions, and communicates her emotions and feelings. She is an only child, and does not attend daycare, so she does not interact verbally with other young children on a daily basis. I am just being consistent with teaching her new words, explaining things as we go (narrating my actions, what is happening, etc) and I am sure the words will start flowing soon. Alternately, I have a friend whose child has a very fluent vocabulary, but does not have as much physical power - he has limited dexterity with his hands, poor balance, etc. and still takes his steps very carefully as he is still very wobbly at 21 months.

Kim - posted on 08/08/2010

I can't say I noticed, the early walking late talking thing. All my kids walked pretty early from like just over 9 months - 10.

Gayle - posted on 08/07/2010

I believe there is something in this theory although it will always depend on the input given by parents/carers. But for my two girls it certainly seems to have been the case. My eldest daughter did not start walking until 16.5 months, but had a very good vocabulary and spoke very clearly way before that. My youngest daughter was walking at 10 months and has always been a lot more physically able than my eldest was at the same ages, but my youngest only used the odd word "mama", "dadda", until 20 months, although clearly understood everything we said to her as she could carry out multiple requests and instructions. However, when she decided to start talking at around 20 months, she was producing new words every day and within a few weeks was speaking in short sentences and there was now no stopping her! By age 2 she was speaking clear enough for anyone to understand and she has always managed to structure sentences with few or no mistakes and constantly amazes us with her vocabulary and application of words to situations. I guess she was just storing it all up for the first 20 months until she felt ready to communicate at length!!

Nikki - posted on 08/07/2010

My son took his first steps at 10 months and was full blown walking by 11. Now at almost 14 months he says; mama, dada, dog, katta(cat) baba, baatta(bath) and moo and baaaa when he plays with his cow and sheep toys. other then that he babbles , he understands almost all of what I say and will follow a command, but compared to my neice who has yet to walk at 15 months she is a chatterbox she says please and thank you and a whole list of different words...... so perhaps that theory is correct

Donna - posted on 08/07/2010

my twins started walking at 12 months and started talking around 2 yrs so i guess its sorta true. they didnt start talking in sentences untill they were just past 3, now i cant get them to shut up lol

Christel - posted on 08/07/2010

Now I have 6 children my first walked very early at 9 months and started talking at about 12 months like shut the door! theres the house! then my next baby walked very late 13 months old and did not talk until he was around 2 years old I mean the three or more words! Then my thrid child came along and walked at 9 months and talked before she 10 months and never stopped! Then my fourth came along and walked at 9 months too and was talking before 11 months very bright and potty trained at 12 months too understood everything I said to her smart and still very bright good in school! Then my 5th child was born and walked right on his birthday but did talk until he was 2 years old but potty trained at 15 months! Then my 6 th child was born and did not walk until she was 16 months old and talked before she was able to walk! she is very smart! But I have to say its up to the child you cant force them to walk or talk it comes when they want to do it!

Mollie - posted on 08/07/2010

My last child my son was a very late talker but did walk at about 12mths although he did not talk until 3 years old almost. Took him to doctor with concern and he said he would talk when ready especially since he had 2 older sisters who got him everything so there was no need for him to speak when someone was helping him without him communicating.

Lisa - posted on 08/06/2010

My son was walking everywhere at 9 months, and now at 18 months he is just starting to try to say more than mama, dada, nana and papa. So this has been true for my son.

Sheri - posted on 08/06/2010

This was definitely the case at my house, though I'm certain that each individual makes his or her own way in the world. My son was very physical, meeting the milestones early there. He was standing and cruising full time at 7 months and walked extremely well when he let loose at 10 and a half months. Even though I knew he was very smart, he didn't talk well until he was turning 3. My daughter started talking as a very young infant, and she walked at almost 18 months. They were out to prove me wrong in my theory that the gender stereotypes are all bunk. LOL

Sharon - posted on 08/06/2010

I'm not sure if I really believe this little "reasoning" because my nephew was an early walker and an early talker but my daughter was taking her first steps at 10 months and now is starting to talk in 3-4 sentence words but that has to do with something else all together.

Janine - posted on 08/06/2010

Never worry about what one person says, all children are different and do things in their own time. I have six children, one who was a very early walker, one who was a very early talker, one who did both - the twins took a little time to do both and then i have my 6 mth old so we will be waiting to see what he does. Unless your child has a medical condition that might prevent them from reaching a milestone, just take it all in your stride and not focus on when "it supposed to happen" as there is not right or wrong time - just guides. P.s when they do start talking and walking - you will wish they hadnt done either lol!

Lydia - posted on 08/06/2010

thanks moms! I kinda thought that it will be true for some children but is not something proven like in a scientific sense. My daughter is only 4 months, but what I see already is that she had a time totally fascinated by her hands starting to hold things and she did that for few days only and now she is fascinated by her voice making sounds all day long... so funny she is shouting so excited and the more she hears herself she gets more excited. I recorded it and played it to her and she even started laughing and shouting more... she is something!

Angela - posted on 08/05/2010

my daughter talked super early, and walked at about 11 months. My son started walking around the same time, and is still just saying a few words. He will be 2 soon. LOL. I think it is just depending on the child and how much they want to do something. They will do it when ready, regardless of how much you try to help. lol

Heather - posted on 08/05/2010

I have heard it but I classify it as an old wives tale.

My son was walking at 10 months and could say 10 words at 12 months. So He's was ahead of the ball on both. But even though I worked full time I devoted pretty much all of my free time to working with him and talking to him, I despise baby talk.

Now flip that, a friend of mine whos daughter is only 2 weeks ounger then my son (He is soon to be 16 months) doesnt walk fully independantly and saysmaybe 2 words

Kirsten - posted on 08/05/2010

I have heard the same that they can only learn and focus on one skill at a time. If they are close to walking then they stop talking and vice versa. My eldest talked at around 9 months and walked at 12months. Second walked at 12months and talked at about 18mths. Baby 3 will be 12 months in couple of weeks and not doing either, although probably closer to walking than talking. Cruising a lot and babbling a lot!

each at their own pace!

Helen - posted on 08/05/2010

Apparently, its due to the way the brain develops, and that in most children one side will develop quicker than the other. One side relates to walking and one to talking, so if a baby is an early walker, they tend to be a later talker and vice versa.

My 21 month old was walking by 13 months but is still not really talking, I put it down to him being lazy, but boy can he make himself understood if he does or doesn't want something!!!

Teresa - posted on 08/05/2010

My girls took their first steps at 10.5 months. I know they were saying real words at around a year at least.

My son took his first step at 9 months. About the same as his sisters for the words.

Charlene - posted on 08/05/2010

There might be something to this.

My daughter just turned one about a week and a half ago and she has about thirty+ words that she can say, but that includes several names and one swear word (thanks for that grammy). Her first word aside from Mama and Dada was Baby and that was at about 7ish months and she was walking at 10 months.



Then on the other end I know a little girl who didn't start walking until 14 months and she didn't start talking until 16 months.

I think like everything, some kids will fall into this, but of course, like everything else, there will be exceptions.



In the end, babies will reach certain milestone when they are good and ready. :)

Dawn - posted on 08/05/2010

This does make sense to me; my son started walking @ 10 months and has only started to increase his vocabulary now, @ 17.5 months. I have been around a few other children his age at storytime and it appears that those who are verbalizing better are not as steady on their feet. Obviously this isn't always the case, but I think it is even support by experts....they say that children will often focus on one thing at a time, so speaking may take a back burner while they learn to climb, and vice versa.

Kelly - posted on 08/05/2010

Never heard of a correlation between the two. My kids were all average in walking. Started at 10-12 mos and were ususally pretty good at it 1-2 months after they started.

All of mine seemed ahead of the game for speaking esp. my oldest who was speaking clearly in full sentences by 2. However I read to them a lot and wasn't big on "baby talk". So I spoke to them like I would anyone else just made it simpler.

Danielle - posted on 08/05/2010

Yeah, I think I agree with this. At least in my son's case. He's 15 months old and has only taken I'd say...15 steps independently without holding onto anyone or anything but he's talking TONS. Mama, Dada, Hi Gus (the dog), uh oh, ball, and he'll basically try to imitate and repeat anything you say to him.

Ann-Marie - posted on 08/05/2010

I have never heard that, but it is possible. Each baby is different some crawl some skip it all together. My son walked at 10 months and says maybe a bit below average # of words but babbles constantly so I figure a matter of time before new words come out, this was the same pattern for him with the last couple words.Some babies are talkers and some are not, I personally know one child that did not talk until they were 2, and they were normal and fine and did well in school- once they did talk they skipped the babbling and spoke full sentences. So in the end some might say alot of words and take later to say full sentences while others say a couple maybe a slower pace but might talk in sentences early,, We read to our son every night and have for a while also we have things in our home "labeled & symbolized" and say what everything is when he wants it or points to it, we are doing what we should be doing but letting him know what things are by their proper names and he will say what he wants to when he is ready.