16 month old won’t walk.

greysgut · 21-04-2021 10:19am #1

Hi everyone.

My 16 month old took her first steps nearly 3 months ago. She still hasn’t took off her on her own. She has loads of encouragement from myself husband and son, but she has no interest.
We have a vtech Walker and a little doll and pram that she always pushes along.

Anyone have any tips???

Frasier · 21-04-2021 10:21am

Don’t put pressure on- it will happen. Our eldest was 16 months before first steps and now flies around. A neighbour’s son was 20 months

Milly33 · 21-04-2021 10:48am

She will be fine, as above do not put pressure on her or yer selves she will do it in her own time... Our two were more or less the same, took a few steps then nothing.. Could pull themselves up on things all that goes, stand in the cot but just took their time to walk.. Some kids then like to scoot on their bums so they are all different..

irishgirl19 · 21-04-2021 10:51am

I'd take them to them to the public health nurse to be on safe side. Might need a hip xray or something simple.
My daughter was a late walker but pediatrician said it was likely because she had low muscle tone/hypermobility. She doesn't anymore.

partyguinness · 21-04-2021 10:52am

My daughter started walking 3-4 months later than when her older brother started.

Give them time. Soon enough you will wish they were still crawling.

Blazer · 21-04-2021 10:56am

16 months is old though... as someone said take them to the public health nurse.

Our 2nd fella was the same..eldest walking by 7 months, youngest couldn't sit up until 10months etc and didn't walk till 18 months I think it was.
We took him..low muscle tone etc but at least we knew then it wasn't something worse etc.
If your child is not hitting targets by months have them checked out as a precaution. Better safe than sorry as they say.

jrosen · 21-04-2021 11:23am

No harm is speaking to your PHN. It may be the case that she isn't bothered or there could be more to it. Best to know early.

greysgut · 21-04-2021 4:05pm

Thank you for your replies.

She was in braces for 18 weeks last year but has had 3 X-rays since October and everything is as it should be. Public health nurse said not to worry as she is well able to walk, she just chooses not to at the minute.

She’s after getting used to daddy holding her hand too ðŸ™ˆ

Bobsammy · 21-04-2021 5:37pm

greysgut wrote: »

Thank you for your replies.

She was in braces for 18 weeks last year but has had 3 X-rays since October and everything is as it should be. Public health nurse said not to worry as she is well able to walk, she just chooses not to at the minute.

She’s after getting used to daddy holding her hand too ðŸ™ˆ

Were the braces for hip dysplasia? Both my girls are hippy babies, my eldest didn't walk until 18 months and was 16 months before she was standing at all.

Now she did have a spica cast for quite a while in her first year, followed by an abduction brace.

But the hospital kept reassuring us that she would walk in her own time and they wouldn't worry at all until she was past 18 months.

shesty · 21-04-2021 6:28pm

Tbh, 2 of my 3 didn't walk til they were well over 16 months...possibly 17 months for my boy.
They could, they just preferred to hold someone's hand til they were quite steady.The fact that she is walking is probably quite a good sign....she will do it in her time.

greysgut · 21-04-2021 7:06pm

Bobsammy wrote: »

Were the braces for hip dysplasia? Both my girls are hippy babies, my eldest didn't walk until 18 months and was 16 months before she was standing at all.

Now she did have a spica cast for quite a while in her first year, followed by an abduction brace.

But the hospital kept reassuring us that she would walk in her own time and they wouldn't worry at all until she was past 18 months.

Yes, hip dysplasia. She had the harness from 6 weeks to 16 weeks and the abduction from 24 to 32 weeks. She’s out of it since October maybe, and they keep calling her for X-rays before signing off.

Bobsammy · 21-04-2021 7:59pm

greysgut wrote: »

Yes, hip dysplasia. She had the harness from 6 weeks to 16 weeks and the abduction from 24 to 32 weeks. She’s out of it since October maybe, and they keep calling her for X-rays before signing off.

She'll get there - they all do. But that's a lot of time when she wasn't moving as they normally do and what they said to us was that they still need to go through all the normal stages before walking so not to worry.

My younger girl is an abduction brace at the moment (she's 7 months) and is flying around the floor in it but only backwards! It's so funny to watch. And my big girl, who's actually going in for surgery on the hip next week, never stands still, running and climbing on anything she can. A side effect of the cast is her incredible upper body strength from pulling herself around in it!

Pistachios & cream · 21-04-2021 8:13pm

My little girl is the same. 18 months old, hip dysplasia diagnosed at 6 months. Spica cast and then full time brace until mid February. 2 weeks out of the brace she was standing and taking little steps with us helping and with her Walker . Slow going since then but she will get there.

We were told while she would be delayed walking as it’s very hard to do in the brace she will still do it within a normalish range. It’s important not to focus on one single milestone. As long as she hits other physical ones then she will be fine. She has taken steps so it’s just a case of wanting to do it.

Also I find my little girl is very strong with great core and arm strength because of the brace so she can crawl and even crab walk quicker than she can walk so she’s not bothered.

bee06 · 21-04-2021 8:44pm

Sounds to me like she is walking but she just likes a bit of support or assistance is she’s pushing a pram around?

SmallgirlBigcity · 21-04-2021 9:34pm

My little boy is 17 months old and still holding hands while walking too. I've held the back of his collar before and let go and he can walk by himself but he chooses not to. He prefers to hold hands and reaches for it all the time. I'm not too worried though. He'll take off in his own time. I've read before that there's no point worrying about it and they'll do it when they're ready. Hope this helps!

fits · 22-04-2021 8:11am

She will walk when she is ready to. I wouldn’t worry too much yet. I’m sure the hips delayed things slightly. If she’s not walking at 18 months you could contact your gp or PHN.

One of mine has a diagnosed condition. He walked at 25 months but the last few of those he was walking holding hands etc. He just didn’t have the core strength to balance himself but when he did - he took off. At 16 months he was just about crawling.

storker · 22-04-2021 8:15am

Our two were very late walkers also. No need to worry at 16 months.

El Gato De Negocios · 22-04-2021 1:59pm

Our now 4 year old boy was later walking too. He had low muscle tone so we had a number of physio sessions and did an exercise program with him. He is flying around the place now. As mentioned, if you do have any concerns to get them checked out (personally I'd avoid PHN's for anything other than the most basic of checks). If you are in Dublin I'd recommend Milltown Physio. We took our guy there the girl that we had the sessions with in there was wonderful.

But honestly, the fact that your little one is standing and is able to walk using the walker i wouldn't be overly concerned. IIRC our lad was probably only walking unaided at 18 months or a bit older.

greysgut · 22-04-2021 3:45pm

bee06 wrote: »

Sounds to me like she is walking but she just likes a bit of support or assistance is she’s pushing a pram around?

Yeah she has a vtech Walker and a pram and totters off no problem.
She stands on her own for ages if she’s a toy in her hand.
In the past week she has taken off on her own 3 times that I have noticed.

I know all babies are different, my son took his first steps at 10 months and by 1 he was running around.

She has great upper strength, son is a testament to that!

Thanks for all your replies x

starlady1 · 22-04-2021 8:45pm

Don't worry 16 months is well within the normal range, up to 18 months is normal according to our paediatrician.

My child also has hip dysplaisa which does delay walking. Anything up to 2 years is normal when this happens.

Don't worry. You can ask your PHN to refer to Paediatric physiotherapist but I woudn't bother. My child is under one of them and she has said because of the hip dysplasia she would do nothing until he is 2. They need time to catch up. Try not to worry.

bee06 · 22-04-2021 9:51pm

greysgut wrote: »

Yeah she has a vtech Walker and a pram and totters off no problem.
She stands on her own for ages if she’s a toy in her hand.
In the past week she has taken off on her own 3 times that I have noticed.

I know all babies are different, my son took his first steps at 10 months and by 1 he was running around.

She has great upper strength, son is a testament to that!

Thanks for all your replies x

I did read somewhere once that younger siblings walk later than the oldest because they have more to entertain them or big brother will “help” them. My 2nd was later rolling and crawling because she was being entertained by her brother I think. She didn’t need to get moving to entertain herself.

greysgut · 23-04-2021 10:18am

bee06 wrote: »

I did read somewhere once that younger siblings walk later than the oldest because they have more to entertain them or big brother will “help” them. My 2nd was later rolling and crawling because she was being entertained by her brother I think. She didn’t need to get moving to entertain herself.

That makes sense. She’s always being entertained by siblings.

partyguinness · 23-04-2021 10:33am

bee06 wrote: »

I did read somewhere once that younger siblings walk later than the oldest because they have more to entertain them or big brother will “help” them. My 2nd was later rolling and crawling because she was being entertained by her brother I think. She didn’t need to get moving to entertain herself.

Yes and younger siblings will talk better as they have their older siblings to learn from.

My daughter is 4 years younger than her brother. She was far later in walking than older brother but learned to talk far better and earlier than brother.

Wheety · 23-04-2021 11:19am

Our 16 month old is the same. Flies around on her bum but won't stand. We took her to be examined just to be sure and there's nothing wrong with her and she has had a few physio appointments to try and get her doing more. She will stand for a few seconds at a little table or at the window but little else. Bought little boots (not booties) for her today on recommendation on the physio.

Physio reckons she just doesn't want to stand. He said her legs are very strong though. Probably from kicking while getting her nappy changed

She'll get there eventually. But to put your mind at ease maybe try the public health nurse like we did. It's not a big issue yet but they like them to be walking by 2 years old.

Just reading your posts again and your little one is doing more than ours. She won't take a step at all and woill only stand for a few seconds after we've put her in a standing position. Nothing to worry about yet though. She just doesn't want to stand. Her uncle on her Mother's side was apparently the same, scooting about on his bum until one day he just started doing it.

heldel00 · 23-04-2021 12:04pm

Our now 3yr old never crawled just scooted around in her bum (arse was gone in every pair of trousers she owned!)
Took steps at 15 minths but didn't walk until 18months. Was a friggin nightmare because her mind was an independent 18 month old but her body wouldn't cooperate. She was so frustrated.
Beyond 18 months is concern

carleigh · 23-04-2021 2:51pm

My 2 year old didn’t walk until 20 months. He attends a paediatrician due to allergies and he saw him at 18 months and Doctor said he wouldn’t be concerned unless he still had not started walking by 2. Once my son started walking, the running and climbing up the stairs came within a month!

If you are concerned contact your GP or PHN, but we were told just to give him time.

Ck18 · 30-04-2021 8:46am

Blazer wrote: »

16 months is old though... as someone said take them to the public health nurse.

Our 2nd fella was the same..eldest walking by 7 months, youngest couldn't sit up until 10months etc and didn't walk till 18 months I think it was.
We took him..low muscle tone etc but at least we knew then it wasn't something worse etc.
If your child is not hitting targets by months have them checked out as a precaution. Better safe than sorry as they say.

She hasn’t missed any developmental milestones yet though... the normal range for walking is 11-18 months old.. her LO is clearly just happy and chilled out ... the fact she is walking alone with push toys too shows that she is physically capable

yellow hen · 06-05-2021 9:43pm

Blazer wrote: »

16 months is old though... as someone said take them to the public health nurse.

16 months isn't old. 18 months would be the later end of the scale. I don't disagree that it's worth getting a child checked by phn if you're concerned. Personally I wouldn't be though. I'd give it another month or two.

greysgut · 11-05-2021 12:01pm

Thank you everyone for your replies.

She took off last week on her own and hasnt stopped. :cool:

I do believe its normal to worry,like any parent so I don't regret it.

Neyite · 11-05-2021 1:50pm

Mine was 16 months too. But when he did it, he was sure and steady on his feet and never fell. I remember my neighbour's daughter who was three months younger than him started walking at 11 months and she gloated a bit over it. But I remember that kid constantly falling for a few months, whereas mine never did.

To this day he's like that with everything, won't try something unless he's sure he can do it.

Diemos · 22-05-2021 11:11pm

We had a girl in our family who didn't walk until she was 22 months, specialists etc all reviewed, she just started walking one day.....like she had been walking the entire time, zero wobbling.
Specialists couldn't explain it but she is a teen now flying along like all the kids her age.
Her parents were up the wall (understandably) but turns out there was nothing to worry about.

So to echo what other have said, speak to a doctor or PHN but try not to worry.

16 month old won’t walk.

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