27 month old not walking yet, need some advice please

My son is a late walker. He's just turned 19 months and we have been referred to our local hospital for a check up and hopefully physio. I'm not overly worried as he had the same check up at 13 months as he wasn't crawling and they thought all was fine we were just told he would progress in his own time. Like your son my little boy has been later than average at meeting milestones. I stopped reading the 'at 11 months your baby should be riding a bike while juggling' ages ago. He is bright and doing well in all over ways it's just his physical development that has been a bit behind which everyone has always put down to him being small.

I'm starting to find it hard when he is around children his own age thou as I don't feel he's able to join in as they are all running around and I feel because he isn't he gets treated younger than he is. Have you found this?

My son has never crawled just shuffled on his bottom. He is cruising thou and can pull himself up so at least he can get around on his feet now. I think with my son a lot of it is down to confidence. Have you found this with your ds? I also think that with late walkers they are so much more aware of the dangers of falling etc that it makes them not want to let go or not be held etc.

Will your son use a walker if you hold him under the arms? If you can get him to do this (although I know it's easier said than done it may help his confidence for you to be able to let go). My son was very stubborn with his walker we had been trying to get him to use it for months. He would do it a few steps if we held him like this. Then he stopped wanting to do that all together. The other day thou he just pointed at it as if he wanted to go on it so I got it out and he held on and walked with it I was soooooooo pleased and proud of him. I've tried letting go of his hand when he is walking but he won't walk totally unaided and clings to me so I don't want to push him too much and scare him completely.

Did your sons physio give you any good advice?

Hi Carol, thank you so much for your kind words! I have to admit after the rollercoaster of the past 2+ years I still feel like I am constantly blaming myself for my son's problems. I suffered horribly from PND, or PTSD, I'm still not sure how to describe it, for the first 18 months of his life - very anxious, problems sleeping etc. I kept telling myself as he got older, and the myriad of appointments grew less and less, it would be easier to relax and just enjoy my son and life in general. I've never been one to worry over his development at the drop of a hat, but now at his age and with all these new appointments being made for him I've found myself very upset about it all and although I don't want to rush him to do anything at all developmentally, I wish there was anything I could do to really help him walk just so we could all go back to enjoying life. That seems very selfish I'm sure

We have tried baby walkers but he's a tall boy for his age, and he ends up hunching over which the physio said wasn't great and he just got frustrated. We live in Ireland so there's no Portage scheme here, however we have just been refered to Enable Ireland for some specialist physiotherapy and whatever other therapy he may need, which is great. I'm hoping they can provide us with a special walker for him that's very sturdy because I know if he had one he'd probably love pushing it along pretending it's a car or something

His hearing is perfect, and he's never had an ear infection that I know of. In general his health is great, only one cold so far and teething pain. I have a couple of friends nearby who have kids between 1 and 2, although none his own age, but he loves them to bits. He's very sociable. I'm planning on trying out a Montessori preschool next year for him, but to be honest I don't think he would cope well with it now. He has a bit of a fear of loud groups and electronic toys so I could imagine a preschool would be a bit hectic with that in mind

I'm forever positive about his walking during the day to friends and family alike, but when he goes to bed and I start thinking about the implications of what these health professionals are telling me, and the possible reasons behind him not walking, I get very anxious and I just feel very helpless I guess that I'm his mum and I can't seem to help.

Hiya Emma

I definitely know how you feel with regards to seeing them playing alongside kids their age, my son is shuffling around on his knees all the time usually while they're all running around, jumping, climbing etc. My best advice to you hun is to remind yourself he's only 19 months, they are all unique, and it really is crazy how fast they develop when they're ready. My son shuffled on his bum too, he sat up late and then one day at 15 months he just started shuffling around on the floor, delighted with himself! It's great that he's cruising too, you must have been so happy when he did if you've been worried

I do think with my son he lacks confidence too, but mostly he has very very wasted calf muscles, which personally I think is because they didn't get used at all 'til now. His main physio has given us plenty of exercises to try strengthen his calves so he isn't so wobbly standing up but they are still very small. We got him some shoes in Clarks a few weeks ago with higher ankles than the little cruising shoes, and within the first two days he began dropping down off his tip toes. I'm delighted, and now even in his socks or bare feet he is flattening his feet to the floor, so a part of me still hangs onto hope that it's just who he is and nothing wrong.

As I mentioned in my other post, he did try to use the walkers but he's just too tall for them now so he just got really frustrated bending over to get them and walk. He will only walk if I hold him under the arms, he gives out if I try just hold his hands or hold him lower as he is just too unsteady on the toes. The best exercises I got from the physio were:

-Sit him on your lap on the floor, with you sitting back on you hunkers, and his feet flat on the floor, then gently press your hands above his knees and slowly rise up a bit, so he'll take his weight, and just gradually get higher over a few days if needs be and that'll help him gain confidence and make sure he keeps his feet flat on the floor.
-Get a big beach ball and sit him on that (holding him) and his feet on the floor, helping his balance while having fun bouncing.
-Get somebody else to hold his hands while you're holding him up from behind, and just guide him around like that (our son is so much steadier on his feet this way, which is why I think a specialised bigger walker would help as he could hold onto that).

That's all I can think of at the moment but thanks for replying, and all the best to you and your son

Hi, I wouldn't worry just yet. He is 9 weeks behind others at the same age due to his prematurity. So I would say don't panic. Some babies just walk late. It's not uncommon. Keep encouraging him. I have a boy and he was relatively late walking compared to ther babies about 16 months or so but boys are notoriously slow and a bit lazy to be honest. My gorgeous little boy showed signs of walikng at 12 months but just couldn't be bothered because crawling was so much easier!! Lol.

Hi Pamela
My Son was not prem but has Downs Syndrome and was born with a major heart defect, so had surgery at 4 months and was 6 months before he lifted his head, as he had no body strength at all prior to the surgery
He sat at 10 months and crawled at 14 months and stood up on furniture around 16-17 months
At 21 month he took his first steps and then a month later fell ill and didn't walk again for 6 months!! So he was 28 months when he properly started to walk
Has the physio suggested Piedro boots for him? They support the ankles and would keep his feet flat
Also, I used a 360 degree seat rather than a walker, the walkers splay the hips as they move, but a 360 only rotates but they push off the floor and this strengthens their leg muscles and enables them to be upright and free of being held
Also, we has a sturdy walk along toy from Argos, which did not tip and this helped (it is what he took his first steps from)
It is slow and torturous when they are late in meeting milestones, but they do get there and it is just that little bit more special when they do
At 5 my Son is a daredevil running, jumping, balancing well and has picked up massively, so try not to worry
You sound as if you are doing everything right and it is really just a matter of time
Fran xxx

Hiya Fran, thank you for your kind words too Your son sounds like such a little trooper! I actually asked for a referal for the Piedro boots as I read a lot about them and thought they couldn't do any harm to try, but our main physiotherapist is saying not to until he's had the brain and spine MRI. I got him some higher ankled shoes in Clarks and they have helped him not to walk on his toes as high but as soon as he is out of them he's back on the toes, although now in the past few weeks I've seen him flatten his feet several times a day so my fear of his tendons being a problem have gone away. I've not heard of the 360 seat you've mentioned, would you be able to link one for me to look at please? (in a PM if it isn't allowed openly on the board) It's great to hear how well your son is doing despite all the hurdles thrown at him in life thus far, you must be so proud of him All the best xx

Probably right and best to wait until after the scans, but the boots may help, or any sturdy footwear that supports the ankles
A friend of mine has a DD with Downs who was 3 1/2 before she walked, but it just takes time and is confidence as well as physical stability
I found these pics of DS in the seat and know it came from ELC (rotating 360 seat) so not sure where you could get one now (perhaps ebay?) but this one had 4 separate legs that were height adjustable so grew with him
In the pics he is about 18 months or so, he looks much younger as he was so tiny with no hair!!!
The last one is of him around 3 once he got quite sturdy and attempted a bridge!! Happy days
The walker is this one from Argos Buy VTech First Steps Baby Walker at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Baby walkers, Pre-school.
Hope this helps
Fran xxx


 
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Thank you for the advice Fran, and the pics. He's adorable!

DS had his brain and spine MRI done this Tuesday, what a horrible experience that was. I'm glad it's over now and just anxiously awaiting the results, which apparantly we aren't going to hear about 'til the 31st of May at the next pediatrician appointment. It's a bit much waiting two months IMO but what can you do?

We have been making sure he wears his high-ankled shoes for a bit every day and they do improve his toe-walking a lot, but as soon as he's out of them he goes right back up on the toes. We have had numerous appointments with Enable Ireland, and so far the only appointment that's yielded any interesting results has been the one with an occupational therapist, who says DS shoes a lot of markers for Sensory Processing Disorder. She said that it could even account for why he dislikes walking flat-footed, even though he can flatten his feet.

I still feel like we're in limbo now, waiting for those MRI results, but we're moving forward slowly at least and DS is very happy in himself most days. It would be nice to get some answers in the next few months so we could focus on what we could do to help him. I feel like I should be doing more but I have no idea what to do!

My son is 23 months and been having investigation since 12months as he was not weight bearing. He has had several physio sessions which he hates and seen an orthopedic professor who has ruled out ligaments. He will walk only on tiptoes with me holding his hands this has got better as like yourself he would only do it under arms until month ago. We are waiting an mri scan to rule out neurological so mild cp. His intellectual and everything else is fine. Just so frustrating waiting and can't help him anymore. As for repeating mri scan I think you should as the brain develops all the time and I have read early scans don't always pick up things early on. Good luck and hope you get answers soon x

How frustrating to hear they wont help until the MRI results.  After all, Piedro boots would be a great help, no matter why your son is toe walking.  Hopefully you'll get some answers but until then, just keep fighting, the boots will really help.

Our daughter was the same, but she was actually diagnosed with CP at aged 2.  We always knew there was a risk though and her scans showed that from about 3 days old.  There can be all sorts of reasons for toe walking though, so best not to think about the what ifs.  Just make sure you are doing plenty of massage and stretching to avoid the muscles becoming shortened.  Another thing that encourages Abby to put her heels down is flashing shoes.  Hers only flash if she has flat feet.

Fingers crossed for the results.

My 29 weeker only started walking a week after his 2nd birthday. He was a bum shuffler so thus was easier for him.to move around quickly.

Once he got the hang of bearing weight in his legs it all came quickly.

We had physio and all sorts. He simply found bum shuffling the way he wanted to go.

Hi Pamela
Any update on your child? I'm going through the same thing af the moment so could do with some help!!
Thank you

I have two children one born at term and one at 26 weeks. My daughter was born at term perfectly healthy no concerns but she was late with lots of her physical milestones. She never rolled over or crawled (was a bottom shuffler). We were referred to paeds at 18months and they tested her for all sort which were all negative and we thens aw physio and OT who couldn't find anything apart from that she has hyper mobile joints. She eventually walked at 21 months and at just turned 5 is growing in physical confidence daily. We found out through an OT this past year that her vestibula system (balance) doesn't work as well as it should which probably contributed to her late walking and lack of confidence in climbing and running. My son was born at 26 weeks and is now 18 months (15 corrected). He does a half crawl half bottom shuffle thing which drives his physio crazy and he is walking with a walker but we were given piedro boots and they've made huge difference- he can stand unsupported for few seconds in them which he can't without so I would def ask if your son can have a pair. It's so hard not to compare but also listen to your gut and if you think more needs to be done then push for it