Should we be worried about our granddaughter who is 15 months old and not walking yet? Is it just late development or could there be other problems. Her right leg seems to drag and she seems to be struggling with balance. She went from sitting to sort of crawling and is scooting her way around now. Otherwise she is very active, and is saying words and even putting words together. She is also eating by herself.another problem is her sleeping habits, at 15 mths she is not sleeping all night, and doesn't want to go to sleep, she fights it to the bitter end. And once she falls asleep she rolls all over and will not hold still. We are at a loss as to what to do at this point about that.
It seems as I was writing my concerns, my granddaughter has made attempts to walk, and is doing better everyday. Itlooks like she wants to just "take off", then realizes she is walking and goes down ! My daughter agrees that if she is not walking by this month she will take her in for an evaluation. She will start with her pedicatrian, and then go to a chiropractor who is a friend of ours, who specialty is pediatrics both of us do chiropractic and mostly alternative medicine. we will do what it takes if the problem persists through this month, with specialist, etc. Thank you all for your insights !!!!!! as I was reading your responses I realized I may have exxagerated the leg dragging, she scoots around with her right leg tucked under her,with her left leg moving her, and as she goes to pull herself up, she minimally drags her right leg behind her to the standing position, but then walks around furniture, etc. as long as she has something to hold on to. Okay, now the sleep problem, it improves when she is well, but she has had two ear infections in the past 4 months which may have added to her discomfort in the sleep area. All of your responses are very insightful and very much appreciated. Support is always the best tool, we know we are not alone with our concerns for our children. Thanks again, G. K
My friends daughter did not walk until she was two. She is just fine. I would ask her doctor abuot her leg dragging though. As far as sleeping goes, my kids never sleep.
Hi G. K,
I think this child should be evaluated by a doctor. Most babies are at least "cruising" if not walking by 15 months. If she is dragging a leg, that is something her doctor needs to know about.
Hope this helps.
Patti B.
It can be normal to not walk at this age, but leg dragging is not normal. It is also perfectly normal to night wake at this age. She should be evaluated.
Hi Gradma K. Because of the right let drag, I would be concerned. Please understand I was a foster parent to infants with medical issues for years so I have seen a lot of this. First of all, go to http://www.frcnca.org/directory.html, find the county you are in and contact your local family resource center. A family resource center is a non-profit that is ran by parents of special needs kids. They will know who is best to assess your grand-daughter. There are usually two places - early intervention services through the school or from a regional center. Someone at the resource center can tell you all about the different places.
The not sleeping through the night can be due to sensory issues which is not uncommon for kids that are having other body issues goingon. When someone from early intervention does an assessment, this is one of the areas they will look at.
L.
My oldest daughter did not walk until she was 18 months old, however, I agree wih the other response that you should probably talk to her doctor about your concerns. Your doctor will be able to evaluate your granddaughter to determine what, if anything, could be wrong. As for the sleeping issue, my second daughter was never a good sleeper. She, too, was always moving in sleep. She is 4 now and, while she still doesn't seem to need a lot of sleep, she sleeps more soundly at night. (no naps since 2 years old)
Hi there. My cousin had a problem with her baby who is a little bit older than your grandbaby. Don't know if it's the same exact issue because all I know is her baby wasn't walking and the Dr said she needed corrective shoes. Once she got the corrective shoes she automatically started walking.. worth a try to see if that may be the problem. My son was a late walker but he was walking by 14mos. Good luck.
I'm a pediatric occupational therapist and suggest you to have her assessed or screened by a developmental pediatrician.
Good luck and don't forget to mention your visual observations about her strength on one side as compared to the other.
I suggest talking to a physician who is not an MD. Dr. Amy Kelchner N.D. at the Ukiah Naturopathic clinic might be able to give you some assistance. If not she can refer you to someone who can.
If you decide to go to the regional center there and your granddaughter is qualified for physical therapy ask for Brian Ferrier-Tayler. Both Brian and Dr. Amy do CranioSacral therapy as well.
D. Bohr,B.S., NCTMB
Mom and G.
retired elementary and early childhood teacher
CranioSacral Therapist/Maternity Massage
My 16-month-old just started walking and he was also dragging his right leg a bit (for a couple of weeks) before he started walking. He is actually not really willing to walk yet on his own unless it is from his Dad to me or back...I think he is just a bit nervous about the whole thing. But the point is that I don't think you should worry about the dragging foot until you talk to your doc or an OT (Easter Seals I agree is great) about it...Also, I noticed that some people responded to you that it isn't normal for a 15-month-old to not be walking, but our pediatrician told us that it is perfectly healthy at 15 months if they are not walking...They start to question things at 18 months. So my advice is not to worry, but it never hurts to call your doctor or even to see an OT to be feel more confident.
I would have her evaluated by a specialist for her delayed development for sure. As for sleep, I HIGHLY recommend "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Weissbluth. It sounds like she is overtired. At her age, she should be going to bed for the night around 6:30-7pm and napping at 9am and 1pm for at least an hour. You would be surprised the positive effects of quality sleep, even on development. The most common reasons for night waking and difficulty falling asleep is too late a bedtime and an overtired state. For children who are really overtired, Dr. Weissbluth suggests a REALLY early bedtime until they are more rested. Email me if you have any sleep questions.
L.
Hello. I think it's great that you can help take care of your grand daughter. I wanted to just say that I am a mom of boy/girl twins that are very different in everything they do. Although, they were born at 32 weeks my daughter started walking around 13 1/2 months, but my son did ont walk until he was 18 months!!!! He was the fastest crawler ever! Much like you I was very concerned about his late development and thought there was something wrong. My pediatrician told me not to worry and not to compare the kids. Every child is different and unique in their own way. They will walk when they are ready and I believe they have until 18 months before it becomes a concern. Also, the leg dragging should be discussed with the pediatrician immediately. Whenever there is anything that bothers you, you should discuss it with your doctor first :) They know what is ok and what is not and they can refer you to a specialist.
Anyway good luck and I hope everything is ok with her.
Sorry for not commenting on the sleep issue. That is always a tough one but there are many books out there and looks like some of the good ones have been recommended already.
I can tell you,from personal experience - my 3 children did not walk til oldest was 18 months, 2nd child was 17-1/2 months & baby was 17 months old! Fortunately, we lived in a duplex & next door lived a navy Dr. & his wife & 2 children - they walked at 11 & 12 months. Anyhow, Dr. Bob examined my children, checked hip bones, leg movement, heartbeat, and anything else he could think of. After that exam I took kids to my family Dr. who also ran same tests, adding an X-ray to soothe me. They're fine, no problems & are all now in their 50's. So, get d-i-l to take little one to Dr., for a check-up. I & hubby were much relieved, at the time! As for sleeping, buy a sleeping harness for her - are wonderful as child can move where they want & no worry for parent, grandparent or whoever is caretaker. Wishing you much relief & success with this little one! A.
It sound that there are differences in your granddaughters right and left legs with your description in addition to possible balance problems. This type of difference should be looked at by an experienced professional. A great reference is your local California regional center. They will provide an evaluation and services free until the child is three y/o, if a need is determined (i.e. gross motor delay in this case-that maybe related to musculo-skeletal differences).
Good luck-
K.-occupational therapist
Hi G. K,
Can I just say that both my grandmothers played a large part in my upbringing and I've enjoyed the closest relationships with them for all of my 43 years. It's lovely that your grand daughter has you in her life!
It might be worth having her checked out so you can rule out any potential problems, but I didn't walk until I was 18 MONTHS OLD! I was a big baby and my mom said I was content to scoot around on the floor, dragging one leg behind. They also were worried and took me to the doctor, who found nothing out of the ordinary. Then one day I got up and walked from the kitchen, through the dining room, into the living room. Go figure.
My oldest daughter never, ever wanted to go to sleep from the day she was born. She's still a night owl at 14 years old. She, like every young child, needed to nap during the day but would fight it to the bitter end - and it was bitter, let me tell you. I have a picture of her at 18 months, sitting on a GRATED floor heater (turned off of course), legs apart, head forward with forehead resting on the grate of the heater, sleeping. It is bizarre. When I picked her up to put her in bed she had the indent of the metal on her forehead. She was a very high energy child, always moving so I thought we were really in for it. But now at 14 she's calm, a great student, and a phenomenal human being. I'm very proud of her.
Best to you and your grand daughter!
T.
I completely agree that she should be seen by a chiropractor. I have known many babies who are colicy or have sleep issues that are solved after being adjusted. And what you said about her leg makes me wonder as well. I'm willing to bet thet her alignment is out of wack. If you hold her upside down (by her hips - not ankles, although the chiro who is trained will do ankles - you don't want to injure her!) and her back curves to either side, then she is out of whack. She should curve straight back. Find a chiro that specialized in pediatrics. ;) Good luck!
Most everyone has already given the avice that I was going to, but I want to stress that the symptoms are concerning. The leg dragging especially, which could be caused by a neurological problem. The pediatrician should be notified. If it is only a developmental delay, he or she can give a referral for one of the agencies such as Alta Reigonal. They will send a specialist to the house to give an evaluation. If the child qualifies, Alta will help provide services free of charge.
I am thinking that perhaps a visit to a pediatric chiropractor could help. Certainly it would affect walking to have any misalignment. As well, aligning the spine aligns nerves, which might result in more calm and cooperation. I take my children to Kristine Hicks on Church and Clipper in SF. Her practice is called More Mojo Chiropractic, and she's amazing, gentle, and subtle.
I see positive behavioral changes in my 2 yr old when we see her.
Good luck!
I see you've gotten several responses. I just want to add my voice to those who may be suggesting you take advantage of Easter Seals in the county. They do a great screening for free on all developmental issues. IT is very unusual that your granddaughter is not walking by 15 months. That said, it doesn't mean there is some major problem. It is very worthwhile to investigate. Easter seals is in the phone book. Best wishes!
I don't normally just do work without someone asking for help, but I feel that this is such a simple matter and that her hips were out of alignment. I've sent Quantum Touch to her.
It is good to crawl as long as possible though as it gets the energy in the brain to cross from one side of the body to the other. Right controls left side, and vice versa. Adults who have trouble with memory generally are not crossing their brain patterns. Tracing figure 8's around the body by waving the arms in figure 8 patterns and crawling are good ways to hook this back up.
Love, L.
Teacher of New Consciousness,
helping humanity through love and intention
She should absolutely be taken to specialists to find out what this is all about. I wouldn't wait if I were you. Keep us posted.
I think you should ask the pediatrician for a referral to a specialist who is familiar with cerebral palsy. Because your granddaughter appears to be dragging her leg and is still navigating on the floor, she may have a very slight CP impairment. If your pediatrician will not do the referral, contact the cerebral palsy foundation in your area. It is usually the parents, family members and care providers who recognize the need for intervention and training that often solves or mitigates a mild CP problem. After all, they are the most consistent and alert observers of the details of their kids' lives and how they function.
P.S. If no evidence of CP is detected, ask for a referral to a pediatric orthopedist to see what other condition might be keeping her from walking.
Hi G. K,
I would get her checked out to make sure everything is fine. Every child is different and goes at their own pace, but at 15 months, I think that she should be seen by a doctor/physical therapist. You mentioned that her leg drags-- that would be a concern to me. I am not sure where you are located, but there are places called Early Learning Institutes that can help you. Good luck to you!
Molly
Hello,
I agree with the response by Laura C. You should definitely seek an evaluation through your local early intervention center. They can help you with identifying any issues, and then they can direct you on how to proceed with therapy services or doctors.
Our son did not walk until 15 months either. His balance was not great and when he would run he was very uncoordinated. At first we didn't seek help, but when it did not improve we went forward with the evaluations at 2 years old. Those evaluations eventually led us to a neurologist that diagnosed our son with very mild cerebral palsy, due to preterm labor. It's so mild that his pediatrician didn't even notice or pick up on it. He is now 3.5 and doing great. You wouldn't even know that he has a disability unless you know what to look for. The sensory issues that Laura mentioned were there also (didn't affect his sleep though), but he has overcome all of that now. Early intervention is amazing, and if nothing else the evaluation will give you peace of mind.
Good luck with your granddaughter. I'm sure you'll get the answers you're looking for.
A.
It is not that unusual for toddlers to not be walking by 15 mos.; my 15 mos. old son, who is very coordinated and races around on all fours, is still not walking, though he seems to be able to fine when we encourage him to and hold onto his hands. With him, it seems like he just hasn't developed a strong enough desire to do it. I have met lots of people who's kids didn't walk until much later than this, who had no trouble at al later, so I'm not worried. However, if you are sensing some structural issue, like the foot dragging, maybe it would make sense to see a doctor about it.
My son is also a restless wakeful sleeper, but I think that's really normal as they are so excited about all their new skills and experiences.
tk
15 to 18 months is that later end of "typical" development. I worry about the "dragging" of the leg. When looking at development it is important to consider if she was premature at all, which then you would adjust her age to consider her real due date as her age as far as development. Also, you need to consider health/medical issues which impact development. You can always request a physical therapy evaluation from the pediatrician. They look at her muscle tone, bone and joint development and range of motion. It is very important to consider the behavioral issues surrounding sleep: does she have a bedtime routine such as bath, massage, story, and then bed-time. She is old enough to understand that bedtime is at a certain time, and she may not go to sleep right away - but bedtime is a set time to be in bed. Considering her afternoon nap, is also a consideration - is it mid-day & not late afternoon?
Hi,
I can't really address the sleeping issue, I would like to weigh in on the late walking. The dragging foot is something that should be addressed by your granddaughter's doc (as should the sleeping problems), but I wanted to encourage you that late walking is not itself a problem. My daughters both walked late. The first was 15 months and my second was just shy of 18 months. Now at 13yrs and 11yrs, they are both fine, play sports, good grades etc. Sometimes kids are too busy developing verbally and will wait to walk. Nothing to worry about.
You have gotten some good ideas so far, the only thing I might add is another type of bodywork (cranial-sacral work)that might help your granddaughter settle down, sleep better & assist if there are any neurological issues with her spine. My chiropractor practices this type of work, she also does pediatric chiropractic work, & is VERY gentle. Any time a leg is dragging, that is a bit of cause for concern. Sometimes small adjustments can make a huge difference, and make the child MUCH more comfortable & thus can help improve her disposition. Good luck!
They also say that children who develop speech early develop large motor skills late. I would be a little concerned about the dragging leg, however if you see her using the leg to its full potential at any time than I would say this is probably normal too. My second, although only crawled for about 8 weeks, also tended to drag one leg and scoot rather than crawl.
I would definitely have her evaluated just to be sure and even if it is just a slowness to develop her large motor skills, then some early physical therapy can help with bad habits and lazy muscles that are harder to change later.
Good luck!!
I would definately go see a dr. There are enough signs to warrant that something could be wrong.
I'll be praying for you both. Good for you taking care of your grand-daughter.
B.
My daughter didn't walk until she was 16 months old, so I wouldn't worry too much that way. The leg dragging is something you should have a pediatric specialist look at right away, though. If something is amis, the earlier it can be identified and corrected, the better off she wil be.
