1Yr. Old Wont Walk

I would sit enjoy it while it lasts! Once she starts, she'll never stop! Carpe Diem! Next thing you know she'll be waving good bye from her kindergarten class room.
M.

S.,

Just give her time. She will start walking. Two of my kids didn't start walking until the were 14-15 months old. Some kids just take longer.

Hi S. -
What I found with my daughter is that when she's ready, she'll do it. My daughter started pulling up on things and walking holding onto things at 7 months...but did not do it by herself until 15 months! A push toy, meant for learning walkers can be really fun for them, as well as just giving her every opportunity to practice when she wants - holding her hands and walking with her, etc. Also, some type of toy (like a doll stroller) that they can push and walk with, but that doesn't actually support their weight can give them that little extra boost too - my daughter was walking around for a month or 2 pushing her doll stroller, never realizing that it wasn't supporting her weight and she was doing it by herself!

But yes, the most importatnt thing is to be patient - when she is ready, she'll start to walk!

Hi S.,

My youngest was 14 months before he began walking by himself. Just be patient and treasure every moment with her because pretty soon she will be all over the place and running from you and you will be wishing she wasn't walking.:-) If she is standing and taking steps then she will walk in her own time.

M.

What's the rush? She will start moving when she is ready, and then, look out! :)

I wouldn't worry about it. My daughter didn't start walking until she was 16 months and she's just fine! I would just keep encouraging her and be patient. :)

Hi S. -

I'm not sure if it will work for your daughter, but one of my sons - he's 15 now - used to push around his little brother's ring set. I know that's now what it's called, but it is shaped like a mini-swing set with dangling things hanging from the center bar. You put an infant under it and it encourages them to reach/grab. I hope you know what I'm referring to. Anyway, he would walk anywhere when he could push that toy around. When I took it away from him so his little brother could use it, he refused to walk. One day, I was doing laundry and gave him a plastic hanger to hold on to. I don't know if it was the shape or feel that did it, but from that day forward, he could walk anywhere as long as he had his hanger with him. This lasted a month or two and then "the race was on."

Hope this helps,

M.

I am a mom of 3 girls. My youngest is now 9 and soon to be 10!!!! Where did the time go??? Trust me, your child WILL walk and then you'd wish you could velcro her to a chair for just 10 minutes. You're doing great mom, just enjoy the sweetness of these moments. It's a fun adventure that's worth the wait! A little bit of memory is returning to me.....my girls were never what you call EARLY walkers....they all waited till about 11-13 months and the truth is....I liked that because they weren't falling over all the time or bumping into stuff because there were "ready". In the words of Martha Stewart..."it's a good thing" :o)

My son did the same thing and then one he just started walking everywhere almost running even. It was crazy. Does she cruise along your couch or tables?

Hey there fellow MO girl... I moved here from St Louis 6 years ago :)

don't fret about your daughter.... she's start moving when she's ready..... I've had friends kids that didn't start walking until they were at least 15 months and now they are more advanced than the ones that started walking earlier (I'm not sure if it's just a weird coincidence or what)...................... but, just have patience, she'll walk when she's ready :) and then you'll wish that she would slow down

First of all, don't rush her. "Normal" can be anything up to 18 months. She'll get there. Enjoy this time and make it all fun.

That said, what we did with our kids was we had a large, fluffy ottoman near the couch. My kids actually developed this on their own, and we picked up on it. We made it a game to have them walk from the ottoman to the couch. They would often fall on one or the other laughing their heads off at their accomplishment. Then we would quietly move the ottoman further away little by little, so they would have to take one, then two, then three steps to reach it.

The other thing we did, although your baby may not be ready yet, is to get one of those sturdy push along walkers. You'll just need to be right there to catch or prevent the spills at first.

Let her do it at her own pace!! She'll get there on her own. No child is the same, so don't compare her to anyone else. Just enjoy her being little!!!! You are going to blink and she'll be driving...and you'll wish you had her holding onto the couch again. Just let her take her time to figure it all out and watch every minute of it.

S.,

It is always so sweet to me to hear of first time moms parenting concerns:)
Take a step back and embrace this precious time of watching your daughter learn at her own pace. There isn't a set in stone concrete timeline of when children HAVE to do something. Some babies walk at 10 months, some babies don't walk until 18 months - they prefer to get around differently thank you very much:) It sounds like your daughter is moving along beautifully. She will eventually start walking on her own....then you will have to run to keep up with her! Enjoy her PROCESS of learning and try not to be so concerned with the outcome. It's great that you want to be active and involved with your daughter and keep her busy too. Is your daughter a very active child as well? Is she more laid back and takes her time doing things? I invite you to try this: Next time you are feeling the need to keep busy and active....try just sitting on the floor and seeing what your daughter wants to do. You might be surprised at how much learning she is doing by just playing with some tupperware she found, or quietly looking at some books. Beleive me, all parents feel like we have to do more more more for our children so they will be developmentally on track, or we are helping them excell at something. I am sure you are a wonderful mamma and just want the very best for your daughter. But check in with yourself of why you feel that you need your daughter to "get going" on walking, or "always finding ways to keep you and your daughter busy". Is it really true that she has to be walking now? or you both always have to be busy? Take time to just BE. Take time to just watch how she learns. Explore a leaf together. Play with playdough and squish it between your fingers. Sit and name all of her cute body parts...count her toes and kiss them. When parents can slow down to the pace of a child's magical world - and not our idea of what their world should be - that is when we are really able to be present and not miss a moment of our childrens wonderous lives.

Much good energy as you enjoy motherhood.

A.
Mom of 4, Birth and Parenting Mentor

PS. Within the next few months I will be starting Inspired Parenting Play Groups which focus on the magical process on how the child plays and learns and at the same time creating a strong community network of mothers. If you are interested, email me and when I get it started I will get you the information.

She will walk when SHE is ready. Not walking at a year is totally normal. Don't try to force the issue - you can make things worse and harm her physically by not letting her muscles take her natural time to develop them in her timing. I personally have stopped reading "growth charts" because it leads so easily to fear that one's baby isn't "normal," when in fact those charts are simply a collection of averages, and also an absurd amount of "keeping up with the Joneses," which is harmful both to one's baby and to one's sanity. This isn't the first thing that she won't be exactly "on time" for. Best wishes!!

I wouldn't rush it. As soon as she starts walking around, you'll be chasing her to keep her safe and out of trouble!

My daughter walked at 8 months, was running and potty trained by 10 months, and spoke in coherent, understandable sentences around 10 months also. She read over 100 books at age 6 and raised more money than any other student in the city for a Multiple Schlerosis fund raiser.

My son took a few months longer to do all those things. He is now 26, his sister 31, and their behavior/personalities are not related whatsoever to their developmental infant accomplishments.

My daughter was a straight A student all through school, but has struggled for years working low-wage jobs, lives from paycheck to paycheck.

My son was a horrible student, got by with C's and D's, but is now a district manager in three states of a restaurant chain, makes 80 grand a year, and owns two homes. He bought the first when he was just 19!

Advanced infant development is not important. Just have fun with your daughter, love her, treat her with respect, patience and understanding. Praise her when she does something good and scold her when she's bad. The most important thing to remember is that children learn from watching and imitating the behavior of those around them.

Good luck!

I agree with everyone else, but I have to share my daughters walking story. She took her first steps because I had a toy that she wanted. She was 7 1/2 months old, and I have not been able to stop her since. Her early walking has meant a lot more scrapes and bruises.

Hi S.,
My daughter didn't stand on her own until 15 months and didn't really start walking until 17 months old. She still a little wobbly and will be 18 months old in a few days. Our preditrician wasn't concerned and said he would send her to physical therapy if she wasn't walking at 18 months old. She's real long and skinny and not much of a risk taker. Your daughter will walk when she's ready. :)

I have three little ones, the first walked at 15mos, and she just one day got up and walked. The second it was a week after her first birthday and she stubbled around like a mummy and took MANY more falls to earn her the nickname clumsy mumsy. My third didn't walk until he was 17 mos, now he is 20 mos and he doesn't walk anymore, he runs!! With the two that didn't want to walk at the younger age my husband and I would sit on the floor together with our legs in the V shape and have a toy or ball or something of interest to get them to take a couple of steps and you are right there to catch them before they fall! But don't worry at all, all kids are different and life is a bit easier when they are still floor bound:)
E.

It will happen, just wait and be patient. I have known children that didn't walk until 16 months and one was even two! No matter what we did to 'help' it along, they just weren't ready. One of the favorite items we did use was a Step 2 grocery cart. They have a wide base and are not as tipsy as the Little Tikes carts. The little one I watch started walking with the assistance of the cart and she was only 10 months.

Hi S.,
You can try a toy that she can stand behind and push, and walk along with.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2331997
This is the one we used. It can be lowered so they can sit and ride on it as well. That's what seemed to help my daughter the most. And she may just be taking her time. My daughter didn't walk until she was about 14 months old. Hope that helps!

Dear S.,

Don't push her. I had a boy and two girls. My boy walked just before one year, but still plopped down a lot. My first girl did not walk until she was 14 months, and now she has two children and is working on her PhD! The second girl did not walk until 13 and 1/2 months (and that was only the babysitter pushing her), and she is the director of a front office of Lifetime Fitness and has won them many awards. Walking comes when they are feeling secure and ready, but it has NOTHING to do with their brain development being slow, believe me.
K.

Don't worry, she'll walk when she is ready. My son didn't start walking until he was 16 months.

I just went through the same issue with my 13 month old. He still does not prefer walking, even though he shows the standing and balance ready for it. My husband and I encouraged him by getting a treat (like a lollipop) and standing about 4ft from each other with him in-between us. We stood him up and just coaxed him to walk to the lollipop using words and body language that he understands, like... "stand-up", "come to mamma", go to dadda", etc. We made sure to dramatically praise him and give him a lick of the lillipop when he took a step or two. We just kept helpin him stand and starting over when he sat back down. About 10 minutes we did this. We've been repeating this throughout the last week or so and he is walking more and more every day. Also, it is NOT unusual for some kids to show little interest in walking until up to 15 months. A book I just read said not to get too concerned UNLESS they are not progressing at all (by standing or at least furniture walking). There's no real stastic that says a child should be walking by one yr anyway--hopefully ignorant people haven't told you that your child is behind... my mother-in-law kept making concerned comments when my child wasn't walking by one (she did it with his crawling too). Ignore those comments!Good luck with your walking progress!

My daughter didn't walk unitl 15 months. She didn't potty train until 3.5 She is happy and smart. Nothing wrong with her. They say not to think about worrying until 18 mos and they are not walking still. Let her do it when she's ready. She will do it. Just be patient.

Hi S.,
I had the same problem. my 15 month old just started walking.. so my advice is that she will walk when she wants to. my daughter just turned 15 months on the 7th. and she just started walking at then end of may. so just be patient. it will happen.

She will walk soon, be patient!

Don't worry. My daughter started cruising at 10 months, and would walk along but always had to be touching something, like running her fingers along the wall. She just wasn't ready to let go until a week after her 1st birthday. We were at Gymboree and she wanted to get to Gymbo the clown. I guess she forgot she wasn't near any support, or maybe decided it was worth taking the chance, but she got up and walked to him and never went back to cruising. Your daughter will go when she's ready. Just be patient.

She'll do it when she's ready...my daughter didn't walk until she was 13 months old!

It's a confidence issue and may take several weeks, but be patient - she will get there! And then you may wish she couldn't walk so much and get into trouble so fast! :-)

Hi S.,
I see you got a ton of responses already, but I agree with the others, she will walk when she is ready. We all came out fine. Just encourage and practice with her, but don't pressure or get frustrated with her. I noticed your from Missouri, I am as well. Moved to Scottsdale 3 years ago and have a 10 1/2 month old son. He's not walking, but loves to pull himself up and stand all day. LOL. What part of Missouri are you from? I miss it...

Welcome to AZ! I'm also originally from MO (Cape Girardeau area), but moved here from Alaska in 2001. I hope you love it here as much as I do. As for your daughter not walking, please rest assured this is very normal. My daughter, now 3 years old, took her first steps at 13 1/2 months but refused to walk after that until 14 1/2 months. We would hold out our arms and beg her to walk to us and all she would say is "nuh-uh" and shake her head. She's perfectly normal and healthy. Your daughter will walk when she's ready and there's really nothing you need to do to help her accomplish this developmental task. Enjoy each moment for time flies!
R., RN, CNM SAHM of 2 Happily married 7 years!

hey girl put your mind at ease mother og three here my son didnt start walking til 15 months he would stand all the time but sit back down and crawl becuase he could get to where he wanted to faster. Then one day while in the kitchen he just kept getting up evry time he fell and in about 12 tries he was walking and the next thing you knew he was running enjoy the crawl time hahahaha and dont worry until she is 17 or 18 months then if there is still no walking then start looking for other reasons . But it all sounds good dont fret the little stuff. out of three kids one walked @ 1 year the other @ 15 months & the other @ 10 months its all good .

Hi S.:

The best advice I can give you is to just let her go at her own pace. There's no need to hurry her along to walking. Just remember... there is no turning back once the walking starts. It can be overrated! :) Just enjoy whatever stage she is in right now. She will walk, and SOON from the sounds of it!

Average age for walking is 15 months. Don't pressure her or worry, she will do it.

S.,
My primary advice...Patience. She will walk consistently when she feels that walking is more of a benefit to her than crawling. One way to encourage walking would be to get her around other kids who are walking and running. There are several indoor play areas in the valley that would be great cool places to encourage her. Like I take my daughter to Superstition Springs Mall where they have a play area that you can use for free. The kids there are running and climing on the equipment in an area surrounded by padded benches for the parents to sit. You can walk around the area with her to explore the differnt stations, and she will see the other children having a great time walking/running and climbing...she may want to join in the fun.

Kids will learn to walk when they are ready...if you did nothing, your daughter would learn to walk. (Exceptions would be those with developmental delays...but you wouldn't be talking to people here about that)
Supportive push toys meant for standing and two hands can help, my daughter used one to learn the last stage of walking, for a grand total of 2 days, then abandoned it. No more desire on her part. So buy used or borrow one. :)
I would not use the walkers out there...They do not help a child follow the natural muscle development/coordination that occurs for walking. I do not know that they hurt so much as just provide an illusion of helping a child walk...for safety, supervision is required too. I would not be lulled by the plastic completely surrounding them.