I am just wondering when your baby started walking. My little girl just turned 12 months. She does all this really great stuff and she seems really smart. I mean I was able to teach her some sign language and everything!! But she is so not interested in walking! She has taken a couple steps and she walks around the furniture when she wants but really she seems to hold no interest in learing to walk. I need reassurance! There are kids out there that take their time with this right???!!!
My son started walking at 13 months. I believe that he was a late walker because he's a very cautious child. He's also very intelligent. I don't think intelligence has much to do with whether a child walks early or not. I think it has more to do with how cautious the child is and how interested they are in learning to walk. Some kids just don't feel the need, or they are reluctant because it's a big developmental leap.
Don't worry--it will come! This is one of the many miles stones where there is a broad range of time what is "normal." My friends daughter who is 2 1/2 months younger than my son was walking before him. She started around 10 months and my son was about 14 months before he starting taking more than a couple of steps unassisted. With her already cruising and taking a couple of steps, she'll be on the move before you know it!
Here's an excerpt from Babycenter.com on walking:
Most children take their first steps between 11 and 14 months, but the normal range for reaching this milestone is very broad. Some kids walk as early as 8 months, others as late as 17 months. Don't worry if your child is one of the later ones — what's important is the progression of skills. If your child was a little late learning to roll over and crawl, chances are he'll need a few extra weeks or months for walking as well. As long as he keeps learning new things, you don't have to be too concerned.
Hi J.,
Your daughter sounds a lot like mine. She had no interest in walking at first. In fact, although she took some steps, she seemed scared to walk. By the end of her 12th month she was walking. I think what really got her moving was that we went to a birthday party and her friend was already walking and getting around. That day Annika took off. So anyway, I wouldn't worry, it sounds like she is fully capable, she's just taking her time getting started. Watch out once she gets going, then she'll never stop!! :)
Hi J.,
if she is developing okay with all her other large motor skills, the coasting is the first step to stepping! I have 4 children and each one walked at a different time, ranging from early, about 9 1/2 months, to normal, one year. So, just keep working with her, giving her lots of opportunities to strengthen her leg muscles; I used to do the "bicycle", where the baby is lying down and you gently move the legs as if the baby is riding a bike. This does two things (at least) to teach coordination and to exercise the legs. She sounds like she is doing okay, so I wouldn't worry at this point, since she is coasting--once she's walking you're going to be busier than ever!
