My Baby Won't Walk...

I wouldn't worry, my son didn't walk until almost sixteen months. He didn't want to sit up on his own either. He is now 8 and very active, plays sports and is a very good student, academically. He'll come around when he is ready. On the other hand my daughter was 10.5 months when she started walking.

Try getting a big truck that he can stand and push my son and step daughter do this all the time. The little girl I babysit took her fist steps doing the same. I tried it out and yes, it is fun. LOL

B., my daughter is 19 months old and she didn't walk on her own until she was about 17 months old! :) She was doing the same, pulling herself up, walking while holding my hand but she was afraid to walk on her own. You could see that her legs were steady enough but she was afraid to fall.....it's okay if he isn't ready yet. The doctor's say it's okay up until 18 months, then they start questioning developmental concerns. Hope this helped!

Hi B.,
My advice is to just let him watch you. Put toys close by but out of his reach. When you are with another person, such as a parent or sibling of yourssit across from each other on the floor having your son go back and forth. make a huge fuss when he takes steps. Do nothing except talk to him if he doesn't. We did this with my daughter a few months ago and it worked like a charm. remember, he'll do it when he's ready, but a little encouragement never hurts!
Good luck!

All babies have their own time line of learning their motor skills. He is probably just taking his time...I think my son was standing before he would crawl, I swore he would go straight to walking. He will eventually figure out that is feet are there and if he gets up on them he can see more things on the outside of his crib, and that if he moves them while in his walker it can get him closer to things that "catch" his eye. My daughter didn't walk until she was 13 or 14 months old.
Believe me once he starts standing and taking those few first steps in only a matter of days that he will be on the go and you will be on your toes every second. And there will be moments that you secretly wish that he couldn't move that walker anymore....:). Dont' stress yourself out over this, he will get it..and you have enough stress being a single mom and full time student. Believe me I did that for 3 years when I was in school.

I have had four children and none of them walked at 11 months. Have patience and enjoy that you don't have to chase him around!
N.

11 months is young. My ped said that the averages for motor skills have been changed in the past 10 years. When we were babies, it was typical for little ones to start walking around 1 year, but now that has been changed to closer to 15 months. Since they are now supposed to sleep on their backs, many babies just don't spend enough time on their bellies to develop the muscle strength for motor skills until a bit later than they did years ago. Plus there is a wide range of development - you may see other babies standing/walking at his age, but others are just not as active. The different areas of development grow at different rates and in different orders for some children. Children that are very communicative may be slower to develop motor skills. It all evens out and doesn't mean they will be delayed in any way. It's just like adults - they have different interests and different strengths. The other thing I've read is that development can be inherited. If you and your son's father were later walkers, then he might be as well. It's no guarentee though.

Give your little guy lots of time to play on the floor. Create obstacles like pillows to climb over and tunnels to scoot through. Put toys up on low stable tables/sofas that will encourage him to work to get them. Get down with him and crawl around. All of those things will help him to be happy and have fun without realizing that he's gaining strength and skills. Before you know it, he'll be reaching up to new levels and will be up on his feet. There is research that walkers/stationary play centers are really not that helpful for developing the necessary muscles for walking. It is the same for jumpers. All of them hold babies' hips/legs in a way that is different than what they need to do to walk. Using them occasionally won't cause them harm, but it's really best for them to have more time being free to explore on the floor where his legs and hips can be free to have full rotation and movement.

It doesn't sound like there is any reason to be concerned about his development. It's always exciting when they move on to the next step, but remember that you can never go back and those steps pass so quickly. Try to enjoy where he is now and know that soon enough he'll be toddling around and bumping his little head into everything in the house and will be covered in plenty of bruises.

my son didn't stand til he was a year and didn't walk til 15 months its perfectly normal for him to not be standing or walking yet he just needs time try leacing him on the floor when you go into an adjacent room of course where you can see him but far away enough that he will want to come to you eventually he will want to get to you faster and try and walk to you

I have 3 children..ages 2 1/2, 4, and 5 1/2...they all walked at different times. 11 months is actually early for them to be fully walking. It is actually the time that he should be just starting to learn to use his muscles and coordinate his nerves to function together. I would just say keep encouraging him and giving him praise when he can get to his feet, it will take some time though. Being in the walker can help, but they normally use that to scoot themselves around, and normally backwards first! I would say that unless there is any reason, like he is not able to use his legs at all, you have nothing to worry about. And just a little side note, don't push your little guy to do too much at early stages, it can lead them to not be interested and get frustrated with things, enjoy the little steps in how they grow!

Hi, You shouldn't be too worried about your 11 month old not walking yet. I have a little boy and he didn't start walking until he was 14 months old. We tried putting him in his walker and holding out toys or a snack and he would not move. Just give him a little more time and i'm sure he will surprise you.

My daughter did not ever use a walker. She did just as your child is now(Sitting there). My daughter did not walk till she was 14 months old. Your son will walk when his little body is ready. Dont push it, cause once they start walking, they will NEVER sit.

Hi B., I have raised 4 girls and none walked at the same time, but except for my last ( at 9 mos.) they were at 12 mos or a little older. My grandsons were at 12 months also.One grandson though would walk on his knees but not stand up. My daughter started taking him to a upper cervical chiropractic specilist for ear infections and with in a few days of his adjustments he started walking. we felt that maybe his equilibrim was off. That might be something you can look into. If he still isn't walking by fourteen months you might need some medical opinion. Good luck.
J. W.

B.,

All babies are different. They really dont start walking til like 12months or over. Just keep trying, help him hold his hands, walk together behind him or in front. If you got him walker try getting some of his favorite toys and letting him come towards you. My little girl who is 10 1/2 months she has a walker and around 6-7mns she would walk in, go backwards and foward and play in it. NOW...so wont do anything really unless I leave her in a room or something.

My brother didnt walk til he was 1 and before that he took little steps w. help then his 1st bday he took his own steps. Just bare with him, he will work soon and look out he'll be on the roll :) Good luck!!

Don't worry about it yet. Most babies don't walk till 12-13 months and boys are usually later than girls. My son didn't walk till 15 mos and the docs said nothing was wrong. It will come.

Hi B. - Some babies are late walkers. My son didn't walk until he was 18 months. Needless to say I was also very worried. I had several walk behind push walkers, not the kind that they can sit in. Anyway I had my son practice w/ these 2 or 3 times a day. At first he would push them while on his knees. Once he was comfortable with that, I made him stand up. It took some work and I was persistent and made it fun. I too would push the toy and then pretend to fall and then laugh. That way they know it's okay to fall and it's normal. Good Luck! - S.

Good Lord, B., don't rush the child! All kids learn to walk eventually and when they do you wish they hadn't! My daughter took three steps the week after her first birthday and didn't take another one for another two months! She also did the army crawl instead of a real crawl for two and a half months of her life! No worries!!! Your baby WILL walk no matter what kind of encouragement you do or don't give:)

Hi B.,
I have 5 children and my 1st was walking at 9 months. Well, that was the only one who walked before a year. My other 4 walked between 12-13 months. I wouldn't worry at all, he has plenty of time before you need to start worrying about it. As some of the other mothers have said, once he starts he won't stop and then he will be all over and there might be days you wish he would just sit in his walker...lol. My brother didn't start to walk until a year and a half and my mom says there was nothing wrong with him, he just didn't want to. Enjoy the few days you have left before you are chasing him ALL the time...good luck.

Dear B.,

Your son is simply not ready to walk yet. Don't worry, he is just fine! He will walk just as soon as HE is ready, and not one moment sooner. Which means, please be patient with him because he will feel your stress and sense your disappointment. He needs for you to be his cheering section and nurture him in everything he does, no matter how long it takes. By the way, it is normal for babies not to start walking until after their first birthday - or longer. My son didn't walk until he was one year. It was actually exactly one year. And you do not get much warning. They seem to go from the description you give of your son, to all of a sudden one day, and they... are up and walking. They are not always the steadiest creatures all the time right away. If you really think about it, walking is the most intense, major physical accomplishment for a baby. So please relax, and enjoy these "now" moments with him. Don't miss a second of his awesome life worring about something that he hasn't done yet, because he's going to do it - and when he does, B., make sure you have good running shoes, and a great sense of humor!
K.

My first born did not walk until she was 13 months. Be patient. It will happen in time.

My daughter took a long time to walk too. But when she got it, she was off. So don't worry. Your boy will do it too. Just treasure this time since before you know it you'll have to run all over the place after him.

many children at 11 months arent really motivated to walk or stand. I think over the next 2 months if he hasnt stood on his own yet, then talk to his doc about it. My mom always told me to massage babies' legs and move their feet around different times of the day from the time they are born, because its good exercize. They become more aware of their muscles this way. Another thing you could do is put toys or snacks like on a table and encourage him to get them off the table or chair.

I wouldn't worry yet. 11 months to 14 months is average for a child to start to walk. Don't push it, he will walk when ready. If you are really nervous ask the doctor. I just encouraged my boy a little at a time.

Good Luck

All children walk at their own rate. You can try some push toys but he will do it when he wants to.

Most babies learn at their own pace. None of my boys even tried walking before a year. I have been told by numerous pediatricans not to use a walker. They say it hinders their ambulatory skills and can actual take longer to walk. They don't actually learn to walk in thoes. If he will walk when you hold his hands than just do that a couple times a day. He'll get it eventually.

Hi B.,
He's only 11 months old. Don't panic. He'll walk when he's ready.