5+ months since his first steps & still not walking!!

[crunchy_mommy]

Did anyone else's kid have a long span between their first steps & full-time walking?

DS was pulling to standing before 6 months, walking well holding our hands during his 6th month, took his first solo steps by 7 months... then around 8 months he learned to crawl instead...

Now at just over 12 months he is STILL not walking full-time. He still hasn't taken more than 5-10 steps at a time.

I know some babies take a week or a month even to become confident enough to walk, but FIVE MONTHS and counting?!?!?!

I don't know if I'm THAT concerned (and of course it's way easier for me to not have him walking!!) but I did want to see if anyone else's kid(s) did this! Just seems really weird (but then again, I shouldn't be surprised, he is quite a unique little boy!)

[Jenne]

From what I've read, developmentally it is really critical for kids to crawl. It is also perfectly normal to not walk "well" until 14-15 months so at just 12 months he/you've got plenty of time to not only be normal but to be a little exceptional. So, from what you've said, everything sounds great!

Jenne

[breanna31]

My daughter took her first steps around 9 months and then nothing. Every once in a while she would try and take a few steps and then give up when she realized what she was doing. I started to feel like she was never going to walk (silly, I know). She just turned 1 on January 16th and about a week or two after her birthday she became a walking machine. It was so weird. She went from hardly trying, to walking all over the place and fast! I bet he will be walking soon. You will wake up one of these days and he will surprise you I was just anxious for her to walk because I think a little person walking around is one of the most precious things there is haha.

[sapphire_chan]

He pulls to stand, but can he get up without pulling? Can he squat down to play and then stand again?

My guess is if he can't do those things that as soon as he can he'll take off. Not all kids do the walk, fall, crawl, pull, walk pattern. Some don't see the point of walking instead of crawling until they don't *have* to crawl as part of walking.

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

He pulls to stand, but can he get up without pulling? Can he squat down to play and then stand again?

I'm glad you mentioned this. He has only gotten up without an object nearby once or twice. He can squat & stand back up but he can't easily get up in the first place unless there's something to balance himself on. I bet that's what's holding him back!!

I was starting to worry that maybe his separation anxiety was interfering with walking... or maybe he wasn't getting enough practice because he spends so much time in my lap or in my arms. I know it's silly to even worry because they all learn to walk eventually... I guess this week I've been questioning myself a lot!

TY everyone, I still think it's strange but maybe not soooo bad...

[sapphire_chan]

Are you still doing lots of walking around holding him by the hands?

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

Are you still doing lots of walking around holding him by the hands?

No, not really. Occasionally I'll take a hand & we'll walk somewhere but since he learned to crawl he prefers to mostly crawl or cruise.

[3*is*magic]

I'd not worry. Taking steps at 7 months is VERY early for walking. 12 months is about average, and lots of kids don't walk at all until 15 or 16 months. It doesn't sound as though he "lost" a skill, but that he tried something he wasn't ready for and returned to more age appropriate behavior. It reminds me of a friend who called me up when her baby was 10 or 12 days old and had rolled over independently - she was amazed! But then the baby didn't do it again until he was 3 months old .

[bluejaunte]

Mine could walk baaarely assisted -- just touching one of my fingers for balance -- at 7 months. Didn't crawl until 10 months. Didn't walk unassisted until 16 months. And then when he decided he was ready, he walked perfectly. Now I have to run after him everywhere we go.

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by bluejaunte

Mine could walk baaarely assisted -- just touching one of my fingers for balance -- at 7 months. Didn't crawl until 10 months. Didn't walk unassisted until 16 months. And then when he decided he was ready, he walked perfectly. Now I have to run after him everywhere we go.

Awww my DS has a sole mate in the walking department then!! & I'm glad he's not the only one who was taking steps before learning to crawl!!

[Luke's mama]

Taking steps at 6 mos? That is amazing! Your LO probably just needs a break after all those accomplishments! My DS couldn't even sit up at 6 mos (or roll, frankly) and he is developmentally normal. He took a few steps at 13 mos, then nothing for a month, then a few more, then a month break before longer strings of steps, and wasn't walking full time until 17 mos. But he walks like a pro now! I am sure yours will when he is ready.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by Jenne

From what I've read, developmentally it is really critical for kids to crawl.

I've actually heard the opposite, that it's not considered a milestone because it's not critical. Not all kids crawl. (I didn't and my DD didn't).

[shanniesue2]

DS started cruising on the same day he started crawling... he was about 6 1/2 months old. He was 13 months old when he started walking. I was also really worried that it seemed to be taking sooooooo long for him to walk. Even though 13 months is completely normal.

Try to just breathe through your nervousness. 12 months is completely acceptable for not walking on her own.

[crunchy_mommy]

Well at least I know he CAN walk... and I suppose I should enjoy this last bit of time before he's running faster than I can catch him!!!

[ShyDaisi]

Micah took a couple of steps just before he turned 1, then he didn't walk until almost 2 months later. When he did finally walk, he would take double digit steps. He never wobbled, just took off!

[Jenne]

laohaire- You're right, not all kids crawl and that is just fine! But research does indicate that for some it is a critically important developmental milestone--in fact there are certain therapies where kids are taught how to crawl many years after they walk.

Some interesting articles on walking/crawling:
http://www.chiroweb.com/mpacms/dc/article.php?id=40282
http://jillurbane.typepad.com/themen...portance_.html
http://nacd.org/newsletter/1009_down...e_crawling.php

Jenne

[crunchy_mommy]

Just thought I'd post an update! Yesterday DS started walking up to 10 feet!! (Before he'd go no more than 7-8 steps) -- so I think full-time walking is just around the corner! (YIKES! ) He was so proud of himself each time he walked all the way from one room to another!