My 14 month old is being very stubborn about walking. He will do everything but actually take off walking. He is climbing all over, walking along furniture, etc. We even saw him stand on his own for a few seconds and take a couple steps as far back as 2 months ago. He's done it a few time since them, but we thought for sure he would be walking by now. At 8 months, all he wanted to do was stand, and we were still waiting for him to crawl. Now, it seems all he wants to do is crawl. Everytime we try to get him to walk, he drops to the ground to crawl. I know he is just comfortable with that and the walking will come in time. He has always done everything toward the end of the normal range, and we are not worried that he won't do it. Everyone tells me not to rush, because once he walks, it will be even more crazy, but it is so hard not to want it to come. Does anyone have any suggestions or things that have worked for them to help their kids get into the walking? I don't want to rush him or pressure him, but also want to do anything I can to support him for this developmental stage and help him along. I would love to hear about any moms who have gone through this same thing.
Hi is finally walking at 15 1/2 months! He loves balls so much, it finally happened when he wanted to stand up and play catch with daddy and when daddy would not throw the ball right back, he would walk over and get it. He is not all around like crazy yet, but I know it is coming now for sure! Thanks everyone!
He will do it in his own time. My daughter started crawling early and pulling herself up and we thought she was going to be walking in no time. She didn't start until she was 15 mos. old. It will come in time and then you'll be yelling "come back here".
Buy him a push toy or two. A toy that requires him to stand, walk and push might be the motivation he needs. Also, put things like food or his cup just out of reach. If he only has toys he can play with on the ground and everything he needs is handed to him, why should he try to walk. We did these things to get my daughter to walk and they worked for us. I think what she liked the very best was all the clapping and cheering my husband and I did when she took steps on her own. Hope this helps:)
He'll be fine. Just relax, he will walk when he is ready. My son walked at about 13 months but my daughter didn't walk until closed to 16 months. I have a friend whose son didn't walk until 17 months. You'll be surprised, one day he will just walk.
KB
Don't worry so much about it, it just means he is not ready. My 4 year old didn't walk until 17 months and he is doing just fine. One day you will be surprised and he will just take off. One suggestions I do have that my son used is a walking toy. He loved it.
Get him a walk-behind/ride on toy to help him work his legs in the outstreached position. He'll get it in time. :o)
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You sound EXACTLY like I did when my son was 14 months. He didn't walk until 17 months. I too, wanted him to walk so he could be more independent. People told me the same thing all the time and it didn't make me feel any better. One thing we did that I think helped is that we put away all the push toys he could walk behind. It seemed like he was using them as a crutch or that he didn't realize he could walk without them. He still used anything he could find as a push toy, including the laundry basket and his leap frog activity table! We made sure every time he attempted to walk we cheered and praised. But mostly, we just waited. Our soon, did everything at the end of the range too. Although now that he's 23 months he is advanced at talking, so go figure? You may want to ask you Mom and MIL (if you haven't already) when you and your husband started walking. I walked at 12 months but my husband walked at 18 months. I found some comfort in that he takes after his Daddy. Good luck and hang in there. How many kids crawl to the bus on their first day of kindergarten?
Try WALKING WINGS. This is a great little invention! It is a harness that goes around baby's chest, with two straps for you to hang on to. It's not like a leash, it drives me crazy when I see parents walking their kids like pets. It's a walking aid and it really works, because you can prevent bad falls and injury. And it gives baby confidence and more balance, since their arms are not being held up in the air by you or dad. you can find them online, Ebay, or Target. Good luck
Lots of great suggestions here. I agree with Shari that you give him something to walk behind: a shopping cart or ride-along toy. Just make sure it will support him. My son refused to get any help to learn to walk, but really liked stumbling over to mommy's smiling face while I sat on the floor with my legs in a V inviting him toward me. I think he liked that I was at eye level with him. Good luck!
my husband tried to coach our daughter on walking - every afternoon she had walking practice. she talked early but did physical things late. One day she stood up and walked across the room saying walk walk walk. she was 14 and 1/2 months. she is fine. your son is fine. he will walk when he is ready.
Sometimes the best motivation is to hold something he really wants just out of his reach, and only make it accessible if he walks how you want him too. But you have to be careful not to have motivation turn into frustration, so start out with short distances and try to make it as easy as possible for him to "earn" his reward. It doesn't work for everyone, but it might be something you would be interested in trying. Good luck and love to hear how it works out for you!!!!!! Have a great day.
J.
You don't need to do anything. Your son will start walking on his own. Try not to worry in the mean time.
Hi KB!!
I have a 1 1/2 year old who didn't walk until the end of her 15th month! It was very frustrating, especially since I have a 2 1/2 year old as well. I think it is MUCH easier once they start walking, but I think my little one is just a wee bit stubborn & was only ready when she was ready. My 1st child walked at 10 months, so it was really hard for me to wait for the 2nd to get moving, but now she is absolutely non-stop! I know you have heard it before, but it will come!! Good luck!!!
J.
My daughter is about the same age as your son, and has just recently started walking. Around 12 months she started standing on her own in the middle of the room - I thought she'd be walking the next day. Boy was I wrong! It took her several more weeks just to take ONE step! Now, at just over 14 months she's walking about 1/2 of the time (maybe a little less).
Before she was walking on her own, I would hold her hands and we'd walk around like that I'd say in a sing-songy voice "Walking walking walking" and then one day when she was across the room I asked her "Can you walk? Can you show me how you walk?" and she stood up and took a step! It was so funny, but she really did get it. We also have a little push toy that she loves, but I can't say if it helped or hindered her walking...I think she was ready to start walking around the same time we got it anyway.
But overall it was a pretty slow process. People always say, you'll just look over one day and they'll be walking, but for us it wasn't like that. It's been nearly 2 months since she took her first step and she's still not walking full time. I think that it's important that you don't put too much pressure on the kids or act disappointed every time you stand them up and they drop to their knees. He really *will* walk when he's ready! And honestly, he's not late. People will say he's late, but they probably don't know that the "normal" range for walking is like 8 months to 17 months. So 14 is no where near the end of the normal range - he's got 3 whole months to go before he's considered a late walker! If he's not walking by then, it would be appropriate to talk with Early Intervention, and even then a little physical therapy would probably get him on the right track quickly.
Good luck and seriously, don't worry!
He will walk when he is ready. I have triplets who turned 5 this past June. 2 of them walked about a week after their first bday. My other son didnt walk til after he was 17 months old. I was worried also. He is fine. The only thing I could suggest is checking with Early On or the ISD in your area. They help with children that are deveolpmentally behind til they are 3 yrs old. It costs nothing. I hope this helps and good luck.
Since the child is cruising around tables and such, I would put a couple of tables near each other, so that he can switch from one item to the next. Slowler move them a little bit farther apart as he gets good and moving from one to another. Eventually they will be far enough apart that he can't reach one without letting go of the other one, then he will need to lean to reach it and then take steps. Put things that he really likes on it, like a sippy cup or toys or pacifier. Good luck. I would jsut not rush it though, you aren't going to be able to get anything done once he starts walking.
My son did not roll over or crawl until 14 months and didn't walk until 16 mos. We were starting to get very worried, although our pediatrician kept telling us he was fine. He seriously just walked one night. Try sitting a few feet apart with your husband and sending him back and forth. Once they realize they can do it-- they are so excited. We did that one night and he kept walking after.
