My 12 1/2 Month Old Daugther Will Not Walk?

Question

my daugther will not walk unassisted, she can walk walk holding onto things but she will not do it on her own, all she wants to do is crawl. all the other babies we know that are her age are already walking! is there anything i can do to get her to walk. she has a walker and uses it. i am just worried that she is falling behind in development issues. my doctor told me not to worry she will walk when she is ready

Answer 1

Your dr. is right...12 1/2 months is too soon to be worried.  If her motor skills are where they should be and her cognitive skills as well, then you should be able to relax.  If you want to be sure, you can call First Steps (look in your local directory) and ask for an evaluation.  You may have to ask your daughter's Dr. for a referral.  They will do an assessment of her cognitive thinking and motor skills to determine if she is developing at the rate most babies her age are.  If not, they can offer a solution such as physical therapy, etc.  My daughter didn't ever really pull herself up to things and walk much.  She crawled on her elbows and pulled herself along.  She took her first steps at 15 months.  Now at 2, she is very bright and can hop on one foot.

Your daughter will take her first steps she is ready.

It will probably happen when you are least expecting it, instead of when you are coaxing her.  

Answer 2

He's right, most chidren start walking when they are atleast 14 months, so you have nothing to worry about until then. She's still getting the hang of things and taking her sweet time, no need to rush.

She'll do just fine:)

Answer 3

She's fine!  Only one of my kids walked before the first birthday.  There is nothing to worry about unless she still isn't walking by 18 months.

All you can do is encourage her.  You can try bribery if you want to.  Hold a favorite toy or treat a few feet away from her and see if she will come to you (be sure there isn't anything for her to hang on to).  When she does it make a big fuss about it.

Be thankful, they grow up so fast, you still get a few more days/weeks before she is really busy and going everywhere.

Answer 4

quit trying to make your kid fit in because you want them to. Just let the kid be a kid and she will walk when she is ready. pressure on kids for no reason other than to make you happy just makes kids psycho later in life...  

Answer 5

bring her to a park where there is a field of grass and nothing to hold on to. Then dangle a toy or piece of cake a few feet in front of her and make sure she knows that if she doesn't walk she can't have it xD

and make sure when she DOES walk on her own you applaud and praise her, she needs lots of encouragement, and it will give her the incentive to do it.

Answer 6

There is absolutely nothing you can do to encourage your daughter to walk.  She will not take one step by herself before she's good and ready.

I was so worried about my own daughter, she was almost 18 months and still not walking.  The doctor told me that if by 18 months she still wasn't walking he'd refer us to an occupational therapist.  

Two days before she turned 18 months old she started waddling around the house all by herself.  Two months later, I have no idea why I was so anxious that she start walking because now she's absolutely into anything and everything!

Children grow and develop at their own pace.  Its hard not to do, but you should never compare children, even siblings!

Good luck!

Answer 7

did you try to get her one of those toys she pushes and walks behind? i heard walkers dont even help bc they dont strengthen the right muscles needed to walk. my son will only walk holding on to something, my hands or his push toy. when my neighbor comes over, he will hold onto his hands and let go when hes walking and my son will just stand there for a minute. so, i think it is working. just work with her and she will be walkingbefore long

Answer 8

the doctor is right. I was worried with my oldest when she was that age. she wasn't walking unassisted yet either. The all of a sudden, we were at Circuit City and she stood up and started walking...towards a rack of cell phones....typical girl :-) Well, when she did that it was the day before she turned 15 months. I was so worried, but now I wish she would sit still!!!! Dont worry, give her more time. They usually go by the fact that as long as they are walking by 18 months, unless there is some mental problems to begin with, they are fine.