Alex was 16 months yesterday and still refuses to walk! She cruises the furniture, stands on her own for a few seconds, recently started climbing onto the sofa and stands up holding onto things. She'll walk if I hold both her hands and walk with her. Should I be concerned? Is it a confidence thing?

G, Alex (16 mo) & JJ (7 weeks)

Really, I wouldn't worry.Ii know it is easy to say when I have a lo who is walking (mine is 18 months and started walking at around 15 months), but really, given what she is doing, she will walk soon. It is far too early to be concerned. my lo, on the other hand, does not speak much at all. Everything (and I mean everything) is dada from me to the window to the pram to his dinenr - everything. And my speech therapist friend says not to worry. Though I do!!

I wouldn't worry at all. Rhys started walking at 17 months and I was becoming obsessive about him not walking. Within 2 weeks of his 1st steps he was really confident and on his feet all the time. He's 18months now and is trying to run and jump ha ha. Just keep encouraging her we started doing really small gaps incase it was a confidence thing.

I wouldnt worry too much hun, it sounds like shes nearly there. As she is happy to put weight on her legs it does not sound like a physical problem. Really dont panic, by the sounds of it it wont be long now!!

I wouldn't worry either. Kara didn't walk until she as almost 19 months and she is almost 22 months now and running about. She was very similar to your lo as she hadn't the confidence to let go of our hands and walk on her own.

Hi
I dont think you have to be concerned until lo's reach 18 months and still not walking, this is the age they are reffered i think. Sounds like your lo is building up the confidence to walk and just needs to get her balance and confidence!
My lo is nearly 15 months and has taken a few wobbly unaided steps but isnt going anywhere soon i dont think! Im sure your lo will be off soon xx

HI
My daughter was very late too, she would cruise and took a few steps at the creche but not at home, we have wooden floors so I got her some knee pads. I think that she was just very cautious and even now (3) she's still careful. she's hardly ever fallen over. I think its a girl thing as boys seem to charge around and dont mind falling over and bumping into things.

Hi Hun, you may remember from March 08 bit. Chloe is almost 16mths and still not walking either!! My hv team told me to get her checked by the gp as policy is within our area for this to happen if not walking at 15mths. she has been checked and even our paed consultant has reviewed her this week at her routine checkup for her reflux and confirmed there is no medical reason why she can;'t , it;'s just confidence and that she is almost too good at crawling - why learn something new if you can get where you want to by another means!! Chloe is pretty much the same, cruising like made, climbing everything and anything, walks with either a hand or a walker but just not on her own. She can't stand by herself yet which she has to be able to do i would think before she can walk.

I am desperate for her to walk as she is too heavy to be carried a lot now (26lbs just about) and also we have my bro's wedding in august and she is flower girl and getting weekly texts from my bro asking 'is she walking yet??!!

anyway just wanted to say you are not alone!!

Lara xx

Please do not worry. Charlotte is 18 months on 13th and she is doing exactly the same as your lo. In fact she has only just started walking a lot more with support the last week or so. My hv has not been concerned as she's been cruising for ages. I was getting really stressed about it but have relaxed more now.

Don't worry. Gabe is 14 months and has just started to walk, a few steps unaided. BUT he cannot crawl and never has! I think it's a total confidence thing. What I do is I stand Gabe up against the sofa (facing outwards) and hold my arms out so he can walk to me, or we get him to walk between 2 people. Sometimes it works .

Yes, do what Tiger Lily said that works - also a friend is a PT and she also suggests standing the LO against the wall. They can just stand there as long as they can and then encourage them to walk to you...

Gems, Lucas is identical to how you describe Alex and they are pretty much the same age! I wouldn't worry tho. Lucas didn't crawl til 11 months so I wasn't expecting him to walk quickly either!!!