Not walking, but ready!

Clodagh - posted on 05/03/2012

Hi Angel, our second little boy was very like that. Myself and my husband sat accross from each other and got him to step between us.He learned to walk with confidence as he was walking into our arms. make the space between you greater every time you do it. Also our little girl has just started to walk, we went on holidays and the appartment we stayed in was tight in space so there was always furniture or a wall close to her. She took 6 or 7 steps there and was walking within a week or two. She is still unsteady but loves the independence.

Mandy - posted on 05/03/2012

Hi Angel. I'm sure your little one will be walking in the next month or so. I have two kids. My eldest is just over 3 years and he was sitting at 5 months and crawling at 7 months. He only walked at 12 months! He crawled for five months and I'm so glad he took awhile to walk cos once he did, there were a lot of bumps and bruises (he is still fearless) but another thing is his motor skills and hand eye co ordination! He was kicking a ball at 13 months and has been playing golf, cricket and hockey since he was 2! (With exceptional hitting skills!) Crawling is extremely beneficial! I don't think you pushing her and I know its frustrating as u can obviously see she is ready and that's why I'm saying she will walk shortly. She is around the right age. Enjoy this stage cos once the walking happens - there is no stopping and all your energy will be used running after your little tot! :) good luck!

Jane - posted on 05/02/2012

Hi, my daughter was the same the day I took her to clarks and had proper shoes fitted she walked. All she needed was that extra support and she was away. Maybe you have already done this but this is how it happened for me. J

Katrina - posted on 05/02/2012

I am a physical therapist and I just wanted you to know that your daughter is in a normal range to begin walking. Is your daughter pulling up to stading and cruising/walking around furniture? These are things she should be doing. As far as suggestions to encourage her to walk: try walking with her holding two hands and then one, also alternate walking with her while holding her hand and by giving her some support at her trunk/torso or at her waist. You will have to get on your knees for this or you can buy Walking Wings which is a padded harness type device that can be used to give a child support while you hold on to the straps to assist. Push toys are also great to encourage walking. When I was learning to walk my mom said I could walk anywhere as long as I had one finger touching something. Every child is different and learns at their own pace. I feel encouraging them to do something can boost their confidence though. As that is my job to encourage kids to do things.

Annaleigh - posted on 05/02/2012

Sorry foir not reading everything. I didn't say you were pushing, everyone I know does, I just advise against it.

Angel - posted on 05/02/2012

again, not pushing my daughter. this is getting quite annoying.

Annaleigh - posted on 05/02/2012

My second was like that, he didn't want to mess up, even at 5 months with sitting up. Let her take her time. Nothing wrong with waiting to walk. Pushing will definitely lower her self confidence. My boys were 15 and 16 months before they walked. Kids grow up to fast, don't push it.

Erin - posted on 05/02/2012

Hi, i hope you are doing ok.
i was wondering the samething with my little girl she is 15 months and she can walk (she will take 10 steps then crawl the rest and has been standing on her own since 11months0 but does not want to she will walk anywhere if i hold one of her hands. I do think that is it just the was she is. But still, i know how you feel. She will walk and you are a good mom. :)

Dove - posted on 05/02/2012

Thanks Sherri, I KNEW I missed something.

Rebecca - posted on 05/02/2012

Both my kids didn't walk till about 2-3 weeks after their first birthday they walk when the need to...

Sherri - posted on 05/02/2012

Angel there was a post of yours that was deleted that was addressed to Joanna where you thumped her, saying she must be a teen mom and her daughter must be in daycare all day long etc etc. Sound familiar?? It most likely got reported and admin most likely deleted it.

Angel - posted on 05/02/2012

thanks Emma!
and nothing got deleted, ladies. I have no idea how to or else I would have delete this whole thing! haha

Emma - posted on 05/02/2012

Ooh, just read the other posts... After I posted my advice. Bummer things got so heated. We Moms have got to stick together.

Emma - posted on 05/02/2012

Yes! My daughter (who is now 11 years old) did this too. At the time I was frustrated because she was clearly "ready" to walk. She balanced and walked all over while holding my hand, but if I let go, she would squat down or sit. Now that I have watched my sweet baby grow up more... It is clear to me this hesitancy of hers is a personality trait. She walked when she was ready (on her terms not mine). She was off and walking right at 12 months. I am convinced that her personality will not let her try something unless she is sure she will succeed. For instance... Her younger brother who is fearless and tried walking early with many a tumble rode a two wheeler before her. He was 3 years old and fell all over the place while learning. She was not wanting to learn without knowing she could do it. So she put her two wheeler away, and mastered the scooter for two years. Then she was two years older, and much more coordinated, and she rocked that two wheeler in one try as a seven year old! She was sure she would succeed and she did it. So knowing this about her helps me and my husband to back off and let her take things in stride. She has a great head on her shoulders, and she is proving to use great judgement in life so far. So try to be patient with your little "almost walker" she is going to be good at knowing when she can handle challenges in life. ;)

Laura - posted on 05/02/2012

No wonder it didn't make sense. Still I can't figure out why someone asks for advice and then gets angry when it's given. You don't have to take it or like it but the hostility is ridiculous. We're supposed to be moms helping each other out and giving each other advice. If you don't want any then don't solicit it. Just my opinion.

Firebird - posted on 05/02/2012

There was a post by Angel that was deleted.

Alison - posted on 05/02/2012

Angel, the longer she is NOT walking the more time her spine has to fully develop. It is actually an advantage in the long run to put off walking as long as possible.

My oldest daughter was a lot like your, very active very early. We really thought she would be walking by 7 months. But she didn't actually start walking until she started spending a lot of time with children close to her age who were walking. After two weeks of being babysat with a 2 year old and one week of vacation with another two year old, she was totally walking at 13 months.

Dove - posted on 05/02/2012

Between Joanna's 2nd and 3rd response.... there had to be something.

Laura - posted on 05/02/2012

I don't think anything has been deleted. Joanna offered some advice and Angel got completely offended. I can't figure it out either.

Dove - posted on 05/02/2012

I hate it when I come in late to a party and the offensive post that everyone is commenting on is already deleted.....



Anyway, Angel, your daughter is only almost 11 months old. Average range of starting to walk is 9-18 months with some kids even being earlier and some kids even being later without any issues. Let her be and it will happen when SHE is ready, not just when you think she is ready.

Laura - posted on 05/02/2012

Why is this thread coming across so hostile. I don't think anyone giving any advice was trying to put the poster down but boy did she react that way. Angel, you asked for people's advice and suggestions and then got defensive when they gave it. Not walking at 11 months is really not that big of a deal at all. Let your daughter do what she is ready to do when she is ready to do it. If she is a bit apprehensive, so what, it will pass. She won't be five years old and in school and not walking so what are you so worried about. Just hold her hand as long as she needs you to and let her be. Some kids walk at 8 months, some don't walk until much, much later. As a parent whose child has developmental delays and just started walking two weeks ago just after she turned three years old, you should be happy your daughter is on track developmentally and happy and healthy. The rest will all fall into place.

Firebird - posted on 05/02/2012

Oh, and by the way Angel, you may want to read up on the No THUMPS rule before posting anything else on this site, since your last post is technically an attempt at a personal attack.

Elfrieda - posted on 05/02/2012

Well, I'm 30, since that's so important. My son was also afraid of falling. Having one of those push-toys really helped him practice walking without being scared because he was holding onto something. He knew how to do it very well at 13 months, even backing out of corners when he'd pushed the toy in, but didn't dare go without it until 15 months. Even after he started walking, he still preferred crawling for another two months!

You can see it as "Oh no, my child is too timid and cautious" or you can look at it this way: a lot of anxiety as a mom comes from thinking her child might get hurt. With careful kids, we don't have to worry as much about them doing stupid things like running straight off the stairs or into the road. I trusted my son on the stairs at 15 months because he was very careful. (just if he was playing he might get distracted and fall) I can perch him on the freezer while I hunt around for his shoes and he never falls off. He's never needed straps on his high chair or stroller. He's two now and not really overly timid, he just looks at everything carefully and makes a plan before doing something. It's not a bad quality at all.

Brittney - posted on 05/02/2012

I would just let her be (my daughter surprised us by walking at 11 months exactly). In fact, I took her to the mall play place and she saw all the children walking and walked 15 steps all by herself. And I'm sorry, what does being a teen mom have to do with anything?

Amy - posted on 05/02/2012

I agree with Joanna she'll walk when she's ready to walk. I'm not sure what signs you saw at 6 months but she'll walk when she's confident to do it on her own. My daughter didn't walk or crawl till 14 months old. She always scooted around on her butt, then one day she started crawling, the next day she took her first step away from the furniture. I encouraged her by just sitting out of her reach but unless there is something medically wrong it's one of those things that they will do in time when they have the confidence.

Sherri - posted on 05/02/2012

Sorry Angel but Joanna is 100% correct there really isn't anything you can do but let her be and let her do it at her own pace. If she hasn't attempted to do it on her own yet then she truly isn't ready. Simply walk with her holding your hands or let her furniture walk she will gain the confidence to let go and attempt it on her own when she is good and ready.



I also have been doing childcare for over 20yrs. So I have a lot of experience with this.



I also am not a teen mom and my 4 kids have never been in daycare I am a SAHM too. Before you question me too.

Firebird - posted on 05/02/2012

Excuse me, I am 27 years old and the only people who have spent real time with my daughter besides me, are her school teachers. She's never been in day care, hardly has babysitters. Just school. Pull your head out of your rear and listen to how immature you're sounding.

Firebird - posted on 05/02/2012

Why does she need to be encouraged? As long as she sees other people walking around, that's encouragement enough for a baby. She's 11 months old, she needs to be allowed to do things at her own pace, and if you're trying to 'encourage' her to speed it up, then yes, you are pushing her. And I don't recall saying anything about you being a mom "who wants her child to better than all else." You seem to have come up with that idea on your own.

Angel - posted on 05/02/2012

I'm not pushing her at all, I've been looking for ways to encourage her. I want my baby to stay a baby forever! her doctor agreed that she is showing all signs of readiness, and has been for months now. Her fear has taken over so much that she will no longer hold my hands to walk.
I need encouragement ideas, not to misunderstood and taken for a mother who wants her child to better than all else.

Firebird - posted on 05/02/2012

You may see her as ready to walk, but if she isn't walking alone yet, she clearly does not feel ready. Just leave her be. She'll do it when she does feel ready, and pushing her is only going turn her off from walking.