Childs Soft Spot

Hi, my oldest son, who is 7 years old now started walking by the time he was 8 1/2 months, I think this is normal. My youngest who is 1 1/2 he started walking at 11 months.

Hi D.,

Each child is different. My uncle who is a pediatrition told me that soft spots can close up around nine months or sometimes can take until 18mo. As for walking...let him go at his own pace. It will be so cute to see a little baby walking around. My boys were walking by 10 months. So don't sweat it. Sounds like the little guy is doing just fine. Keep up the good work!

Hi D.,

I'm not really sure about the soft spot. My son had his till he was almost two, and my 10 month old daughter still has a small one.

However, the walking thing is perfectly normal. Some friends of mine have a little boy that started walking at the end of eight months. My little girl started walking this month, and my son started walking at 11 months. It seems that each baby is ready at there own time. There is no set rule.

Hope this helps.

R.

When the are ready to walk - they will. My neighbor's son walked at 9 months and his soft spot was almost completely closed. Right now - that's just where your son is developing. He's fine. he's probably seeing his older brothers walk and he's just ready!! :)

Not sure about the soft spot but 2 of mine walked at 7 1/2 mos, so did I. Two more of mine walked at 16 months. They are all different. Just let them do what they do and be who they are.

Hi D. ,,
you just may not notice his soft spot as much ,,but it will not totally close till he is in is early teens ,,how i know this is i was kicked in back of head at 14 and back oh head turned to mush and bruise came out on face ,,they said if i'd been much older it would have killed me ,,which my parents thought it nhad at 1st thank the good LORD i'm still here ,,,as for walking my youngest walked at about 9months he had to so he could keep up with the bigger kids lol self defence at a young age you got to love them
goodluck L.

not sure about the soft spot i'm sure your pediatrician and tell you more on that. my son who is also 9.5 mo is also beginning to walk (he's #2). Some kids pick it up quicker than others, my daughter didn't walk til 14mo. It's just so that life doesn't get redundant ;) enjoy!

Hi D., not too sure about the soft spot, but the walking is perfectly normal. My son started to walk when he just turned 11 months old and my daughter, who is 1.5 years behind him started walking right before she turned 8 months old. To this day she does everything early, but I contribute that to her trying to keep up with her brother:) In fact, noone in my family can remember her not talking:) Its wonderful for them to learn new things, just baby proof and all will be great!

Some kids start walking before 1.

Are you worried or just bragging? I'm kidding. It looks like he's just developing at a faster rate than your older two. Keep his development tracked with his pedi and at home...and just watch him soar!

I have a friend whose daughter had various medical reasons which delayed her ability to walk and talk. Her neurologist explained that children will not start walking and talking at the same time. The brain can't handle both speech development and learning to walk simultaneously. It's one, then the other... So, chances are, if your little guy is an early walker, then he probably will not show the same verbal capabilities (in comparison to your other children) until a bit later.

Can't comment on the soft spot question. I'd still protect that area though...

Hi, you should definitely ask your pediatrician about the soft spot. My son's soft spots (they have more than one) were closing up too early and he ended up having to have surgery on his skull when he was almost 1yr old. He's 3 now and everything's great, but they said that if it closed up too early, his brain would not have enough room to grow and it could cause problems like blindness, seizures, etc. Please, please get it checked out. I'm glad we had the surgery when he was a baby and not a toddler---he doesn't remember any of it and even though it was difficult for us as parents and on his big brother, it was a lot easier than it would've been if he'd been old enough to be scared and nervous, etc.

not sure about the soft spot-but walking at 9 1/2 months is no big deal. my middle child rolled front to back at 3 months, back to front at 4 months and was completely mobile at 4 months and 1 day- she learned to roll to get wherever she wanted! She never really crawled much but walked at 8 months. She was also a big climber-learned to pull drawers out to make stairs so she could get to the top of dressers and counters. Sometimes you read that it is best for them not to walk too early- they need that "floor time" to pick up certain concepts- but really there is nothing you can do to stop them if they are determined. She is now almost 13 and very intelligent, altho dyslexic. The one thing that I occasionally have read altho it has never been proven and is usually considered a wive's tale is that kids who don't crawl are more likely to be dyslexic because they don't learn some crucial concept when they don't do that right/left arm/leg motion. Who knows? My daughter is very competive,an incredible athlete,totally creative, can memorize anything and can't spell to save her life-she'll do just fine. And my other two kids both walked right at 1 year and also have their own idiosyncracies and learning differences and brilliances.

They won't do anything until their bodies are really ready to do it and God is amazing like that. I had one nephew that started walking at 8 months and his brother at about 9 months. My son was 14 months. They will do it when everything in their body is exactly right and they are ready. You are doing a great job... and with the soft spot I am sure that my daughter's was gone by nine months but you can never go wrong by bringing it up at the next docotrs appt and I am sure that they will answer that question.

I have 3 boys also. Mine all are dare devils and were trying to walk by 10-11mos. The soft spot closing before he walks is the best thing. As you know they fall and hit their head daily. Mine would pull up on my wood dinning rm table and hit the top of his head every time. Hopefully he won't be a climber! That gets really scarey.
***You know having Boys is hard but I believe God gave me all boys because they all protect me at all costs! There is something good to say about being the only princesses in the house for a while.
Best wishes! K.
www.FreeGasAtLast.com/Id

my son started walking at 9 months and had his first trip to the ER to get stitches at 9 months. He was walking and fell and hit his eyelid/brow and cut it a little bit and had to get stitches. He is my little dare devil now. Always running, jumping, climbing, etc. He is almost 4 now so I don't have to worry about his safety as much because he has already mastered climbing everything he can in the house. Just be prepared to really keep an eye on him. As far as the soft spot goes, just run it past your pediatrician with your next appt.

My oldest son is 2 years old and very active. He was walking by 9 months and climbing by a year. Now no height is to high for him to attempt (much to my worry). So it sounds like your son is very normal for him.

Hi D.. The soft spot has no age limit on when it closes. As for the walking, he has 2 brothers that he is keeping up with. He will probably do things faster just to be involved with them. Enjoy him. He sounds perfectly healthy and normal to me.

L.

Hey, you got it alright! There is nothing wrong with personal development, he is at his rate! My younger son, never had a soft spot! He had a small head, but has matured normally. All kids are different when it comes to walking. This child has his brothers to watch and wants to be like them. Heep up the good work!

Hi D.,

According to this article, the soft spot can close between 9 and 18 months (sometimes not until 2 years). But if you have any concerns, ask your doctor.
http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=10&e=parentres...
Also my oldest son walked at 9 1/2 months ;) (my youngest at 11 months). Hope this helped!

All of my kiddos walked by 9 monts (my youngest by 8). If they are ready, they are ready and it is not harmful. As for the soft spot, you may have the pedi look at that. If they close too soon they could have a problem, but it is probably just fine.

There is nothing wrong with him walking at 9 months old. My son was walking and talking at 7 months old. Each child develops at their own rate and will walk and talk when they are ready.
I don't know about the soft spot. I would still try to protect his head. I read somewhere that even when the soft spot isn't noticable that the bone covering it isn't strong until about 18-24 months old and should be protected just as it was when they were born. Of course, you want to avoid a hard hit to the head at any age.

Your child's soft spot closes as a natures protective measure in order to let themselves walk. Once it closes they walk within a few weeks. One of natures miracles I suppose!!! My daughter walked at 9 months also. It is a bit challenging to say the least because the mind from nine months to 12 months is so different!! Get ready!!! He will be just fine!!!