Late walkers

DD is a week over 14 months, and still not walking. She pulls herself up on everything and will walk all over our apt with her walker toys, but has no interest in trying it unassisted.

For those with late walkers, did you do anything to really try to encourage them to walk? Or did you just let them learn it at their own pace? All the babies in her playgroup are walking, so I feel bad that she's always crawling around after them!

Btw, she started crawling at 7 months, so we thought she'd walk early, but guess not!

Late walkers

Does she take steps holding your fingers? We had a PT tell us to not let DS hold us, but that we should hold his wrists, and eventually give him less and less support. This made a huge difference. For DS, it was a confidence issue.

We also bribed him with food to take steps lol

DS was 17 months (14 1/2 adjusted when he started walking)

Late walkers

Also, while she likely wouldn't qualify yet, you can always call EI for an evaluation. I found meeting with the physical therapist to be great - he gave other helpful tips to encourage him, as well. We didn't qualify for EI, but I'm glad we had the chance to meet with a specialist and ask questions.

Late walkers

DS was 15 months when he started walking. He also had torticollis at 3 months and was in PT through EI since he was 9 months. I don't think 14 months is incredibly late, but like the PP said...you can always call EI.

Re: Late walkers

DD cruised FOREVER. She started walking with her push toys pretty early and would do laps around the whole house holding my hand, but she was so hesitant to take more than a couple of steps on her own.

I felt like it took forever before she worked up the confidence and stopped being so cautious.

Then one Saturday morning, a few days after she turned 14 months, she just started full-on walking and never stopped. You could see the pride in her face with each step she took! She was beaming.

Now at 15 months, she's a maniac.

Re: Late walkers

DD is 13 months and CAN take steps alone (she has) but really only prefers to hold a a finger.

She gets happy and shrieks with excitement walking but only while holding a finger.

If I put her down, she will stand there, take MAYBE 1 step then drop and crawl.

Honestly, no worries. She can do it physically so I don't worry. I know I didn't walk until 15 months.

My niece (who is 2.5) didn't walk until 19 months and she runs like everyone else now!

I would worry if it seemed like a lack of strength. IF she wasn't pulling up or cruising

Re: Late walkers

Posted by maymama

DD is 13 months and CAN take steps alone (she has) but really only prefers to hold a a finger.

She gets happy and shrieks with excitement walking but only while holding a finger.

If I put her down, she will stand there, take MAYBE 1 step then drop and crawl.

Honestly, no worries. She can do it physically so I don't worry.

I would worry if it seemed like a lack of strength. IF she wasn't pulling up or cruising

Re: Late walkers

DD is 18 months. She can walk alone, at least for a few steps but has zero interest in doing so. She always has to be bribed to do it. She prefers walking when holding onto anything else for stability (side of couch, a persons finger, etc.) Just keep her walking that way and eventually she will do it on her own and get more comfortable with it. Try to get her interested in doing it (like put something on top of the couch she'll want) and then stand her up away from it but facing somewhere "safe" to her (like a couch cushion) and see if she goes for it!

Late walkers

DS could walk alone but did not want to. It was not until almost 18 months (15.5 adjusted) that he walked. He cruised forever. I used lots of toys to encourage him to get up and moving. Eventually he just took off on his own and now he won't stop.

Late walkers

Walking is not delayed until 18 months so I definitely wouldn't be concerned yet. DD walked at 16 months and had been getting PT through EI for about 2 months at that point. She had been cruising since 9 months and one day the therapist stood her a few feet from the couch and held her by her hips to help her get her balance and DD just went for it. The couch has always been her safety zone since she knows she can crash land there and be fine (she hated losing her balance or falling). We just followed that a lot in the beginning and balanced her at the hips so she could get her confidence and not hold on to us. By that first night she was going from one end of our house and back!

Re: Late walkers

Both boys took their first steps at 15 months. DS1 was walking FT within 10 days. It took DS2 about a month before he was walking FT. I didn't do much to encourage walking. They cruised along furniture and walked with push toys. DS1 would drop to the ground if I let go of 1 hand while walking. DS2 was perfectly happy holding onto 1 hand, but wouldn't walk on his own.

Re: Late walkers

my son cruised forever as well! he took his first steps at 14 months but wasnt REALLY up on his feet until 15 months

Late walkers

DS was the same way. then one day we went to the Children's Museum with a bunch of friends and he just took off with all of the kids walking. He wanted to get around and there werent any walker toys to help so he finally did it on his own

Re: Late walkers

DS#1 didn't walk until 15 months and I think ds #2 was 17 months.

Re: Late walkers

DD is the same way. I think she's just a few days older than your adorable daughter. She actually just started pulling herself up onto her feet (but then can't get back down), and doesn't really try to cruise while holding onto things. I don't have advice - just wanted to let you know you're not alone. I feel bad too for her bc all the 12-18 month olds in her daycare are walking except for her.

Late walkers

My twins started walking at 17 and 18 months. They cruised for quote sometime before that. DS #3 didn't walk until 16 months.

Re: Late walkers

DD didn't walk until 16 months. She was so overly cautious about everything I think she was scared.

Late walkers

DS cruised forever and took his first couple steps alone at 15 months. However, he was overly cautious and didn't walk around the house alone with confidence until 17 months!! He's 18 months now and NEVER crawls or cruises, just walks everywhere. We worried a bit but my ped didn't make a big deal of it. I think they just do it on their own time.

On another note, don't ever let anyone tell you that walking or not walking is linked to intelligence. DS at 18 months says well over 80 words and has been putting two words together since ten months old. He just took his sweet time walking.

Re: Late walkers

Thanks for all the responses. It's helps me feel better knowing there are a lot of babies out there who walked after 14 months.