Piglet is rocketing towards 15 months old. He is healthy, he is happy and he is learning every day. But he is not walking. He is like lightening when he crawls – that kid can move – but he has little to no interest in getting up on his feet to get around.
As with just about every other mother out there I have watched his peers and inadvertently compared his development. I’ve made excuses “oh well he was premature so his corrected age is only 14 months“. I’ve made jokes to shake off the comments, but I shouldn’t have to. Because it’s ok to not walk yet.
I get asked a couple times a week if Piglet has walked yet. Not by family, but usually by strangers or people we don’t know very well. For those who know Piglet’s age I am usually met with surprise when I say he’s not up on his feet yet, even more so when I mention that I don’t think it’s going to be happening any time soon.
I get the impression that others think I should be worried about Piglet not walking – or at the very least be practising with him at every available opportunity. He has no desire to walk, and so far no sign that there is anything physically stopping him. I am letting him do things at his own pace.
Of course, there have been occasions recently where it would be good for Piglet to be up on his feet. When he turned one we moved to an older swimming class. It is really obvious that he is “behind” the rest of the class in many of his abilities. Our pool is really shallow and so the little ones can walk around at the shallow end, apart from Piglet and I who have to be away from everyone else in the deeper end so that I can hold him in the water. The children also stand on the edge of the pool to jump, but Piglet has to sit. He is happy though, and he doesn’t realise that he is different.
When you look at a group of similar aged children in Primary school it isn’t possible to tell which of them walked at 10 months, 12 months or even 16 months. They are all running around and are as competent as each other. If I ever find myself wondering when Piglet will walk I just remind myself of that, of that fact that in a few years time he will be the same as everyone else.
We do practice walking. He has a walker that he pushes around if the mood strikes him, and we toddle around the living room a bit. But we don’t spend hours on it every day. He clings on to your hands, often shaking with fear, and is like Bambi on ice. I’ve seen some toddlers that are completely kamikaze, but Piglet is a lot more nervous in general and doesn’t seem confident in his own abilities.
Piglet has always been a bit behind the curve with all his milestones. He didn’t sit until 8 months, commando crawled at around 10 months and didn’t get up and crawl properly until nearly a year old.
He’s following his own path and doing things in his own time. And that means he can’t walk yet – and thats ok.
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I’m glad you are not letting it bother you. I always wonder why mums are keen to push certain things. Weaning for example. Why would you start that ANY earlier than you have to?! I finally understood this when Dex started crawling. Why, oh why did I push it?
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I don’t know if I can even put into words how much I hate when people do that – question/comment/judge how long its taking for your child to reach milestones. My best friend is going through this right now. Her baby is eleven months old today, not even a year old, and there are obnoxious people scratching their heads over how come she cannot walk yet – I mean, are you kidding me?? #PostsFromTheHeart
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It’s crazy isn’t it! I hope your friend doesn’t let it worry her
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This obsession with when children ‘should’ be doing things is one of the worst things I’ve encountered since becoming a parent! My own mum is one of the worst offenders. Constantly asking has he done XYZ and then when he blooming has she never mentions it and moves onto the next thing! Arrrgh.
Toddlers can walk anytime up to 18 months and be considered in the ‘normal’ range. Our first decided to walk bang on one year but that is very early. (That isn’t a humble brag btw.) Our second took his first steps yesterday – woop – but then decided he couldn’t be bothered and hasn’t attempted it at all today. He is nearly 15 months. He took ages to crawl. He was still sat there on his bum at 11 months and then one day started standing. Then worked out how to crawl. So my point is every baby is unique and all those busybodies need to wind their necks in! Just enjoy your baby – he will seem a lot less babyish when he does start to walk. 🙂
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Well done to your second! I think there is a big difference between taking their first steps and properly “walking”. It takes them a while to be confident usually.
I’m keeping him a baby as long as I can – he has other ideas 😉
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My two were late walkers. One at 15 months and one at 16 months. They were both super chunky babes and lazy boys. They are both fine now though. If you are concerned seek some help, but only if it worries you. Other people often force their perceptions on you.
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I am not worried – he has plenty time before I find it a concern 🙂
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Hi my daughter took her 1st steps at 18months and my baby is yet to walk too at 14months. You’re right once they’re up and running around it makes no difference when they 1st did it!:)
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My eldest didn’t walk until nearly 2, and did t crawl either. She just stayed put. My youngest didn’t walk until 18 months and crawled a little. They’re both in their teens now & you wouldn’t have known. They both talked a lot when little – I figure their energy went into that instead:-)
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Definitely working on their speech skills rather than their walking skills – no problem with that!
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You are right not to spend time worrying about when he will take his first steps. Your Son will do it when he’s ready and in his own time. All babies are different, that’s what makes them unique #postsfromtheheart
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Thank you
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You are so right not to worry hun..Piglet will walk when he’s ready too, no need to try and rush or pressure him at all. You’ve got the right attitude xx #postsfromtheheart
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Thank you. It is really hard to not compare kids and I think we do it subconsciously a lot. But we shouldn’t
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I loved this post so much. All of our children learn things at different speeds and that is ok. They like us will learn when they are ready, their different personalities leading the way.
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Thank you. Way too much pressure is on them to meet milestones these days – they’re just babies!
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I hate milestones and the constant questions from people about the development of your child. Both of mine started walking around the 15-16 month mark but i was pretty much asked everyday rom their 1st Birthdays if they were on their feet. #PostsFromTheHeart
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15 months isn’t late! Little B walked at 10 months & it was a nightmare – be careful what you wish for I say!! #postsfromtheheart
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Love this post. It’s such a shame that babies can’t just be babies and that parents feel such a constant need to compare. It’s natural I know but all children are different and develop at their own pace and like you say – that’s ok! #humpdaylinky
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