18 month old not walking

[hannah40]

my 18month old still doesnt walk he crawls and walks round the furniture.he walks holding onto our hands but wont let go and walk on his own.does anyone else have 18monh olds that dont walk?

[PurpleParis]

Hannah, all I can tell you is my own experience and it was probably the opposite of your's! My daughter walked unaided at 8 months! Yes 8 months, it was great but also awful, she was so tiny and yet walking, I heard one woman in the street say to another 'oh look at that woman with the midget baby'. My son walked at 10 months, I put it down to the fact that I used to put them in one of those swings you put in the doorway, they could feel their feet and loved it, neither of them had any qualms about 'letting go' of the furniture. Your son will walk unaided when he's good and ready and you say he is already using furniture and your hand, don't put unnecessary pressure on the both of you, I am sure the baby clinic will put your mind at rest....anyway....who know's...he may just start as we speak! Good luck because when he does you'll be running around after him!

[hannah40]

thanks for the reassurance.

[redcrx]

I wouldnt be concerned if he is able to walk holding just one hand of yours, he may just be worried about letting go.

One way my two learnt to walk unaided was by holding something in their hands. Perhaps you could try holding something that he can grab the end of and then once hes walking with you let go of the item

I know of a few children that didnt even cruise at that age, just crawled and there was no underlying reason.

[4getmenot]

I remember being shocked that presenters sara cox child had her first steps at 2!!

[annie0000]

Not yet walking at 18 months is perfectly fine - I personally know of two children who didn't walk until well past age 2 who are not any different to their peers now. Although one of them was found to have really bad eyesight and they think that that put him off because he was basically walking into a void. He got glasses and now he is 8, he barely needs them anymore as they have managed to correct his vision to a great extent.

When mine were at that stage of holding on, I gradually moved the furniture slighty further apart until they couldn't quite reach, but it was too much effort for them to drop to the floor, crawl a few inches and pull themselves back up again - after a few days, they just decided to let go and take the two steps across.

You will be on here in a few weeks complaining that he keeps running around and you wish he was still crawling as he was easier to keep up with then ;o)

[marval]

I didn't walk until I was two and a half. The doctor just said I was lazy, because I shuffled on my bum. I am sure he will walk soon enough. He walks holding your hands, so that is good.

[albaqwerty]

both of mine walked at 10 months, younger one didn't talk until he was over 2yrs.
Each little 'un will do their own thing when they are ready. Doesn't help the worrying about them tho, Hannah, but they will do their "thing" when they feel good and ready.

[Ice.Maiden]

Everyone's given you some solid advice here hannah. My eldest son was like PurpleParis's daughter. We went on holiday when he was 8 month's old, and he suddenly stood up, holding onto a chair, and then let go and walked right across the kitchen on his own. We could't believe it!
My second son was about 15 months before he even attempted anything, and my friend's daughter was over 2 before she walked unaided. They all do things at their own rate, so I wouldn't bother about it at all. x

[Compostella]

My Sisters Girl (my Neice) was 20 months before she walked.

She did all the same things that your Son is doing buit just wouldn't walk on her own.

Don't worry, the fact that he is doing these things shows that he has the strength to walk and knows that there are benefits to getting higher so the fundamentals are there, just maybe lacking the confidence.

It will happen, just let him do it in his own time and watch him go when he does.

I know its easy to say and if I were you, I'd be fretting but having seen my Niece first hand, I am 100% confident your Son will walk very soon.

Then your trouble really starts.....................