Help getting my child walking on her own.

November 6, 2006 11:33 AM

My 19-month old still isn't independently walking on her own yet. Any suggestions on what I can do to help her along?

I know they will do it on their own, and each child is different.

But 19 months seems a little late to me for her not to be walking on her own, doesn't it? It isn't a physical problem, she walks fine with her baby walker, and when I hold her hand she will walk right along with me. I don't carry her around any more that I have to, I have her walk with me as much as possible. It all seems to be a lack of condifence. She just seems really afraid to take that step and fall. She also is not good at just standing and balancing herself in one spot. She'll cruise furniture like a pro, climb stairs and up onto furniture....just no walking.

I guess I am really just looking for some suggestions as far as what I can do as a parent to help her out? I don't want to push her as I know she'll do it when she is ready, but I don't want to ignore her possible needs that I could be helping her with.

posted by Gooney to Health & Fitness (23 answers total)

Stop using the baby walker. She'll get frustrated and start going from furniture walking to just plain walking.
posted by mikepop at 11:42 AM on November 6, 2006

As mikepop said, stop using the baby walker.
posted by alms at 11:53 AM on November 6, 2006

Yep. Stop helping her. She'll figure it out.
posted by agregoli at 11:56 AM on November 6, 2006

Baby walkers delay muscle development. Get her a push-toy or walker, something she can lean on a bit while she works on steps.
posted by thirteenkiller at 11:57 AM on November 6, 2006

Er, not THAT kinda walker..
posted by thirteenkiller at 12:00 PM on November 6, 2006

What does your child's pediatrician say?

If you're in the US and are concerned that the circumstances might be as a result of gross motor or cognition issues, by all means see about getting a referral to an early intervention program for an assessment. It's a state-funded service that is good until your child is 3. Your pediatrician can help make that referral.

Chances are, your child walk when she is ready. Not all of us are daredevils.
posted by plinth at 12:44 PM on November 6, 2006

I guess baby walker is the wrong term. Sorry, we have what looks like a lawn mower push toy she walks around the house with....exactly what thirteenkiller showed.
posted by Gooney at 12:47 PM on November 6, 2006

Oh! Well then, you're doing good. :) She'll get there eventually!

It might help her a bit to hang out with other kids her own age or a little older who like to walk.
posted by thirteenkiller at 12:54 PM on November 6, 2006

Have you ruled out any ear problems that might be affecting her balance?
posted by iconomy at 1:37 PM on November 6, 2006

You could try standing her up, holding her hands over her head and helping her walk that way. Or putting a favorite toy a bit out of her reach, or holding it over her head, so she stands up and tries to walk to get it.

Most of all, don't worry. My little one started walking at around 19 months, and within a couple of weeks was doing laps of the house. Talk to her pediatrician if you like, but just give her time.
posted by PlusDistance at 1:41 PM on November 6, 2006

I didn't walk until I was 24 months and I turned out just fine. It sounds like she's doing great if she walks along with you... I think a little more time is all she needs.
posted by lorimer at 1:45 PM on November 6, 2006

My daughter has fought with "glue ear" (otitis media, a slow building-up of fluid behind the eardrum) and it has affected her equilibrium to the point where she started walking late and still can barely jump at three years. Has your pediatrician given her ears a thorough looking-at? Even if you say "yes," I'd suggest scheduling an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist to have her ears checked out. Our first pediatricians missed the problem and then misdiagnosed it.
posted by lekvar at 1:54 PM on November 6, 2006

First of all, it's not a race. Unless the pediatrician says there's a problem, let her figure it out on her own.

Secondly, though, is if she isn't in a day care, and you can afford it, do it. She'll see the others and feel like trying more and more.
posted by clearlynuts at 2:03 PM on November 6, 2006

My son started walking at around 19 months and until he did start walking on his own, he didn't even have as much ability as your daughter has right now. e.g. He never stood still without holding something (and leaning heavily on it) until well after he was walking. He started walking by letting go of one thing and managing to grab the next piece of furniture (after a few fast stumbling steps) before falling over.

She's going to start walking any day now. What you're already doing sounds great.
posted by winston at 2:21 PM on November 6, 2006

Put a favorite snack on the seat of one chair in the middle of the room. Stand her up holding another chair 1 foot away.

Gradually increase distance.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 2:25 PM on November 6, 2006

My currently 21 month old didn't start walking until 17 months. A few months before that the doctor recommended physical therapy as he wasn't pulling himself up. That was useful, but the best thing was to enroll him in a parent-toddler dance class and Gymboree. With all the other kids around him walking it really encouraged him to get up on his own to join the fun.
posted by ShooBoo at 3:47 PM on November 6, 2006

I have heard of a little trick that may help. You said she walks while holding your hand. What would happen if you were holding something and she held that? Then, when you let go of the object, she may keep on walking without realizing you aren't still her anchor. I was told to try this with clothespins, although anything lightweight might work.
posted by saffry at 4:18 PM on November 6, 2006

I think you already got all the good advice.
One of the few things I regret about my daughters babyhood is that I worried too much about things that I thought she should do, but didn't.

She is probably learning to do other things now (even if you do not immediately notice them). Most children can only learn one thing at a time. Relax. If you do want to speed it up I second the suggestion of time with other kids. I have seen this with many things with my daughter and her friends (eating with a spoon, going to the potty, climbing stairs etc.)
posted by davar at 4:48 PM on November 6, 2006

This is late. See a doctor. Time to lose the walker as well. It may be something, it may be nothing. Either way, you need to put her in a situation to challenge herself and also to find out if there is a bigger problem that you need to start treating.
posted by caddis at 5:56 PM on November 6, 2006

What seemed to prompt my son (who was easily cruising around the furniture by 10 months but still not walking independently by 15 months) was a pair of shoes that squeaked whenever he took a step. He LOVED them -- it probably wasn't the only factor that got him to walk, but it didn't hurt.

There are a few brands out there -- I got some from Pipsqueakers.

They do get annoying for the adults in the vicinity after a while, though they make people smile when they first hear them. As a bonus, once your kid's walking, you'll be able to tell which aisle of the grocery store she's run off to explore. (Once they get started, they move quickly!)
posted by lisa g at 11:35 PM on November 6, 2006

To add to the anecdotal evidence, my sister didn't walk until 21 months and she turned out just fine.

As long as the doctor isn't worried, then I wouldn't sweat it (ok that's easy for me to say!)

thirteenkiller's link gives some good reasons as to why she might not be walking yet. Every child develops at her own pace.
posted by different at 5:29 AM on November 7, 2006

So, have you tried progressively moving chairs apart? Or did you just want assurance on slow development?

Children are very conservative and don't want things to change. They are happiest if they can get by by continuing whatever works, though sometimes parents really need to make them change (tricking is much better than forcing and I don't know what is going on in the minds of the parents of 3 and 4 year olds who are still breast feeding or wearing diapers).

My 1st son took his first independent steps between two pieces of furniture that were maybe 3 feet apart. He did this two times without realizing what he was doing. Then it struck him - he didn't look elated, he looked horrified - his whole theory of moving around via furniture had been destroyed. However his bad mood did not last long. His new theory became that furniture served as launching pads for brief streaches of un-aided walking to a nearby target, and shortly thereafter he didn't need a target.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 7:20 PM on November 11, 2006

sorry, the above in-thread link should have been: #progressively moving chairs apart.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 8:26 PM on November 11, 2006