Why does it seem like people think early walking is a good thing?

[Koalamom]

My dd walked at 8.5 months and ds (now 10 months) has been walking at 8 months. He is just way too mobile and many mamas I talk to are so proud as showing off their early walking babies. I just don't see what is to show off. I would be just fine if ds wanted to just sit and ply with toys instead of jumping in the tub, climbing on the couch, throwing things in the toilet, just getting into trouble. He is just too young for this. He has been so active for so long I can't even remember the quiet days. Anyone go through this?

[briome]

I have not, luckily, but have a few friends who have. I am with you that early walking may seem like they are 'advanced' which I guess is true but it is also troublesome!

What gets me is when a new mother is anxious for her baby to crawl/walk because the stationary baby is boring. I say hang out with a mother who has a moving baby and 'trade' for a little bit.

[russsk]

DS didn't walk early, but he was an early crawler. He was army crawling at 4 months and boy could he move. I got nothing but sympathy from other moms.

[Adallae]

I'm one of the weirdo moms that prefers a mobile baby ....I've had a lot more fun with DD since she starting moving. Maybe I won't be as anxious when there are two.

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by Adallae

I'm one of the weirdo moms that prefers a mobile baby ....I've had a lot more fun with DD since she starting moving. Maybe I won't be as anxious when there are two.

Sure it is fun, and dd and ds run around and play together outside so well, That makes it worth it. But sometimes I need a break- Like when I go to the bathroom, my baby can run after me. I just want to pee alone!!

[firewoman]

Out of the four of my children who walk (little baby hasn't started yet!) I have experienced the gammet of early to late walkers. My fourth baby was the "advanced" one and it was exciting how quickly she crawled, walked and talked. At the same time it made me sad because I felt she was a baby for such a short time. My first didn't walk until she was 15 months old. At one year she was about as mobile as my eight month old is now. Her babyhood was just long and while I worried about her not walking I very much enjoyed how little she seemed for so long.

I think people get excited when their children hit milestones and perhaps some don't realize the consequences of having a walker. It does make things A LOT harder!

[LaLaLaLa]

I loved it when my kids started to walk. Not in a show-offy way, but I just felt like it made my life so much easier. We could go to the park and I didn't have to worry about them crawling around on wood chips, which must be uncomfortable. Even playing outside in our own yard was easier when they were up off of the ground. If I had an armload of stuff to carry into the house, it was nice once my kids could walk beside me, clinging to my fingers, instead of my having to carry them all the time. Carrying kids is wonderful and I still do a fair amount of it, but it is also great having the choice to put them down sometimes.

[Norasmomma]

Both my kids have been mobile early, my son is 8 months and cruises and stands all the time, he's crawls incredibly fast. Since he's started crawling we've had to be on gag patrol, he'll dig in the plants and eat the dirt, eat dog hair. I joke that my babies don't like being babies, but want to be crazy toddlers. They both have been like this. DD didn't walk independently until a week shy of her 1st b-day, but she crawled fast and cruised from 6.5 months and DS was 7 months. I have to say it has made it easier with DS because I can put him down now, before he'd cry, now he can check stuff out.

Did you crawl early or your DH? my family seems to have early mobility. My uncle walked at 8.5 months and so did I.

[HappiLeigh]

I was annoyed by my early walker. It was like she didn't have the sense to be mobile, but her little body allowed it anyway!

[Mamabeakley]

DS2 walked at 7.5 months, DS1 at 9 mo, DD is still crawling at 10+ mo. Walking at 7.5 months was crazy - I felt like everyone "saw" him as a toddler, but developmentally in every other way, he was still a BABY.

That said, I was happy for both my "early" walkers because it made *them* happy. DS1 in particular did NOT like being stuck in one place and made us walk him around holding onto our fingers pretty much from birth. So it was a relief for my back when he walked, too!

[Shannie77]

Originally Posted by LaLaLaLa

I loved it when my kids started to walk. Not in a show-offy way, but I just felt like it made my life so much easier. We could go to the park and I didn't have to worry about them crawling around on wood chips, which must be uncomfortable. Even playing outside in our own yard was easier when they were up off of the ground. If I had an armload of stuff to carry into the house, it was nice once my kids could walk beside me, clinging to my fingers, instead of my having to carry them all the time. Carrying kids is wonderful and I still do a fair amount of it, but it is also great having the choice to put them down sometimes.

This is how I felt too. I found it much easier when DD started walking, it just seemed like there were so many more things we could do.

[mama2mygirl]

Originally Posted by HappiLeigh

I was annoyed by my early walker. It was like she didn't have the sense to be mobile, but her little body allowed it anyway!

Me too! Both of my girls walked early and it's just hard. Now, at one, the baby can climb anything. But she has no sense at all. I think it's a lot harder once they move.

[Plarka]

Originally Posted by Mamabeakley

DS2 walked at 7.5 months, DS1 at 9 mo, DD is still crawling at 10+ mo. Walking at 7.5 months was crazy - I felt like everyone "saw" him as a toddler, but developmentally in every other way, he was still a BABY.

That said, I was happy for both my "early" walkers because it made *them* happy. DS1 in particular did NOT like being stuck in one place and made us walk him around holding onto our fingers pretty much from birth. So it was a relief for my back when he walked, too!

7.5 months, that's amazing! When did he start crawling? And you have me cracking up out loud at the picture of your son making you walk him around holding your fingers from birth!!!!!!!!!!! I assume you are exaggerating!!!

[emmalizz]

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[ElliesMomma]

DD walked at 10.5 months -- so, fairly early. DS began pulling up the same day he "officially crawled" (i.e., across a room) and he can now stand momentarily without holding onto anything. he's currently 8 months. i fully expect him to be walking in the next month or so. frankly, i'm looking forward to it too. because -- for example tonight, the neighbor kids came over and DD and them were playing in our driveway. DS wanted to play too -- he really did. but i didn't dare set him down on the asphalt to crawl, i don't want him tearing up his knees. but if he could stand on his feet, then yes, i would let him. he's a super busy kid, just like his sister. and she, an early-ish walker, has turned out to be very athletic.

[bandgeek]

I was one of those moms that was proud to show off my walking baby. I mean, I'm proud of a lot of things my kids do. My DD will never walk at all, but I love to make her smile so she can show off her gorgeousness to other people. She'll never talk, but every coo or squeal she makes just turns me to gooey mush with adoring eyes.

DS walked at 8 months 1 day and I was proud...well, because of how incredibly strong and well-cordinated he was. Fat babies are supposed to walk later but he could hold up and move all 27 lbs of his bad self.

He's now an incredibly clutzy and uncoordinated 5 year old and I've found other things I'm proud of him for.

There's nothing wrong with being proud of your kid, for any reason.

I never thought he was "better" than any other babies. Or smarter for having learned to walk earlier. I didn't compare him to others or try to make parents feel like their kid was behind. I was just proud, plain and simple. And I never was annoyed that he could get into things. He could do that before he walked anyway.

[Fuamami]

Ds1 walked at 9 months, and I really wished he hadn't because he had a head the size of a large pumpkin. He was ALWAYS falling over and bonking it, I think it was just too big to balance up there. But he was determined to go!

[lifeguard]

I think for some people it is something they like to brag about. It's so hard to avoid the compare the babies game.

Ds was crawling around 6 months & shortly after that pulling up & cruising. He didn't walk particularly early but that really didn't slow him down any, he was in to EVERYTHING. I agree, I barely got to enjoy the quiet, easy days of putting him on a blanket with toys & being confident he wasn't going anywhere. Although after 7 months of him crawling through gross stuff I was happy when he could stay on his feet.

[lach]

Let's just say that I'm ready for my 24lb 15mo to start walking. Like, a few months ago would have been nice! Carrying him everywhere is a PITA and is hurting my back like you wouldn't believe. For some reason my knees have been hurting lately (extra pregnancy weight? Though I haven't gained much yet) and carrying him around isn't helping.

[Kmama2]

Originally Posted by Fuamami

Ds1 walked at 9 months, and I really wished he hadn't because he had a head the size of a large pumpkin. He was ALWAYS falling over and bonking it, I think it was just too big to balance up there. But he was determined to go!

LOL!!!!!!
I haven't had an early walker yet- ds might surprise me though. Dd walked at 12 and1/2 months. Ds has been army crawling all over the house since just before 6 months and started pulling himself up to standing and crawling hands and knees since 7 and 1/2 months. I think he will walk earlier than his sister did. I can't imagine him walking now at 7 and 1/2 months or 8 months like some of the babies on here! He is soooo little!!!!!
But I was happy when he started crawling. He entertains himself so much better. He just crawls all over the house playing with random things his sister leaves on the floor or crawling into the closet or under the bed ( and getting stuck) and making us all laugh!!. Its also freaken adorable when he crawls to my feet and wants to be picked up. I love love love the 6-12 month range. So I enjoy my early crawler ALOT. I'm sure an early walker would probably get into more trouble though???? But I could see it as advantage at the park. Ds doesn't like to be wore alot unless he is tired and if he crawls around he eats mulch etc. Yesterday we were at the beach and ds kept crawling around getting sandy and eating sand.