How late did your kids walk? Blake walked at 14.5 months, which I thought was bad, but Nick is already 16 months and not walking! I know it's not that he's not capable, since he'll stand perfectly balanced while playing with stuff... Sometimes I wonder if it's just rebellion - he's such a feisty thing (red hair even!) and usually when I try to help him walk (which is not even once a day!) he just folds up his legs and refuses. Any ideas? Or even just moral support! I embarrassed myself so bad the other day. I was together with the women at church and here my friend's 11-month-old girl was walking (5 months younger than mine :( ). I started asking her about it & I burst into tears! I didn't think it was affecting me that bad, but just seeing someone so much younger walking... [cry]

I'm not sure how things work in Canada, but in the US you can get a free evaluation by a developmental specialist in every state. Do you have any early intervention programs in Canada. Hopefully everything is fine, but it just might make you feel better to have a professional opinion. Do you know a physical therapist you could talk with?
My oldest daughter walked at 14 months. My younger daughter walked at 6 years old (she has several disabilities). It was late, but we didn't give up.

I agree 100%. If it's a matter of will, they can give you some tips to help with that (and you'll figure out some strategies of your own... moms are resourceful like that, heehee). If it's a matter of ability or motor coordination, then you'll want to get started with physical therapy right away to get him caught up.

Oh and I do understand... I have a 4 y.o. that doesn't talk. at all. Then I see these little one year olds chatting away, and it does make me sad sometimes. I know that God created us all different, but it does hurt when he isn't hitting a milestone and we aren't sure why. However, getting that eval and knowing that his hearing was fine was a relief... they ruled out hearing loss, then we move onto something else... so I think either way you will feel good about getting an evaluation.

What does your ped say? What does your dh think?

Everybody loves telling me... "don't worry; he'll walk in his own good time." But I'm not sure that helps me all that much. Thanks for the advice though... I'll try that.

I would try not to worry about it too much. Hey, I know it's a lot easier said than done though. My grandfather did not walk until he was 17 months. His mother told him he was the smartest. He had everyone carrying him around for so long! He'll do it when he is ready. My little girl didn't walk until she was almost 14 months. I though that was late so I know how you feel. She was the same way- she would stand or buckle. Then one day she just took off. He'll probably just get up and run one day. Hope this makes you feel at least a little better.

I know you don't want to hear it. But babies really do learn at their own pace. My dd started walking at fifteen months and it felt like an eternity but my ds starting walking right after his first birthday. I don't think there is any magic age. I wouldn't even start worrying about if he is developing at the right pace. Give him some time. Once he starts wanting to walk, you won't be able to stop him! :)

Mine all walked early, but they had a cousin who didn't walk till 16 months. So even within same family blood lines it can be different from baby to baby. Still it wouldn't hurt him at all to be checked out. Past 16 months is a little later than most. Likely all is fine. But it would put your mind at ease at least if he checked out by a pediatrician. It can't cause any harm! The little guy knows that once he starts it is a life time of walking! :D

My advice would be encouragement. If your kid is anything like Timmy he'll enjoy doing things, if he gets praised for them. So if you see him take a step or anything just cheer and tell him what a great job he's doing. The more boisterous I am with my praise, them more Timmy grins and wants to do it.

Mine walked at 17.5 months. He had been cruising at 9 months, crawling at 13 months and then finally one day just got up and ran across the room and hasn't stopped running since, unless its to climb!

You know its funny that we are encouraged to "work with" them with walking; I'm more laid-back with ds and gave him the freedom to roam and explore (within reason, of course) so I figured he would walk pretty early because he wasn't all cooped-up. Well, dh was a different story: his mother was very paranoid and afraid of him "getting hurt" (um, he's a boy...) so she always held him or kept him in a play pen. And you know what? He walked at 17.5 months too! The moral of my story is that they're gonna walk when they're gonna walk, no matter what we do.

As parents we want to feel pro-active, like are "doing something" but when it comes to certain things, we really can't force them. Relax, you'll be pulling him down from the book case in no time :lol:

I'm not going to say anything any different from what you've already heard. My oldest was an early walker at 9 months, but I was itching for her to start at 7 months, which is the age I started walking. With DD#2, though, I really don't care when she starts.

Yes, Audrey was walking pretty early, but her speech was every bit as delayed as her walking was early, so it evens out. Did your son start doing other things early (like talking, etc.)? I've noticed that if they develop early in one area, you can expect a delay in other areas. Like, my friend has a daughter who was talking really early, speaking full sentences, etc., and it amazed us, but she didn't start walking until she was about 18 months old. It evens up.

Yes, same with ds: he was slow with gross motor skills like walking, but was extremely advanced with fine motor skills; by around 9/10 months old he was able to spin a dime on its side.

Did your son start doing other things early (like talking, etc.)? I've noticed that if they develop early in one area, you can expect a delay in other areas. Like, my friend has a daughter who was talking really early, speaking full sentences, etc., and it amazed us, but she didn't start walking until she was about 18 months old. It evens up.

Yes, I have noticed that too. The little girl that I know that walked fairly late was really advanced with her speach.

Same here. Even though Gracie didn't walk until she was fifteen months old, she knew all of her ABC's (was able to say them and identify them) and could count to 10.

Well, I wont bore you with all the details, but I have 3 children. My oldest didn't walk until he was 2 years; middle at 15 months, and my youngest at 10 months. Same mom and dad. And EVERY child is different. Just pray about it and know that GOD will be with him and he will walk in HIS time.

I have noticed that my almost 13 month old has NO interest in walkign, almost like "rebellion" as you desrcibed. I think I may have been TOO encouraging and she seems timid of falling and also thinks it's funny to flop to her knees. If it is a rebellion of sorts, I think the best thing to do is "leave it alone." I don't try to "get her to walk" anymore, She pulls up and cruise around and stands to play with things, and I just kind of leave it at that :)

Funny how we spend the first couple years teaching them to walk & talk, and the next 15 years teaching them to sit down & shut up...

but anyway, last night he suddenly started "walking" with his hands touching the floor, gorilla style! Looked hilarious! Guess it truly won't be long now.

good news! I love the bear crawl! It's just so cute.

hey... my friend had the county specialists come observe her son because he was 15 months and not walking. wouldn't you know that the little stinker began walking only a week after the specialists came and the day before they were scheduled to come back :shock: I guess it was what motivated him [rofllol]

Hi, I'm new and just saw your post. My son is 18 months old and JUST started walking -- and he still crawls more than walks! So don't feel too bad. So many moms -- including my own :) -- kept asking me: "He's not walking yet??" But once he stopped teething and was feeling better, I noticed all of a sudden he started to walk more and more.

Although it was years ago, i remember buying a cheap remote control car and DH & I having fun encouraging DD to crawl - as she would follow it.

I am sure one can find some "push-type" toy - like a pram or trolley of some form - that he can support himself, while walking - having fun with the toy may hopefully distract him that he is actually walking, and will hopefully encourage him too.

Just a thought...