Has anyone else had a toddler that wasn't walking at 15 and a half months, not even close to standing on their own without holding onto something. His feet are always turned out to the side, like that comic strip Cathy! I think his feet turned out pengiun like are what's stopping him from walking. Anyone have any advice for me to help him walk?
2006-09-05 13:24:16 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Evan asked how old I was..I'm 29, no spring chicken :)
2006-09-05 13:32:09 · update #1
I had two kids that didn't walk until they were 15 months old, BUT they did not have the penguin feet. You need to address this to the pediatrician. He/She should have said somthing about this by now. Your child may need to see an orthopedic specialist for special walking shoes to correct the problem. Good luck!
2006-09-05 14:39:22 · answer #1 · answered by hotmama 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter walked very late, but that's b/c she has Cerebral Palsy. My suggestion to you is to find a Developmental Pediatrician, an Orthopedic doctor, and possible a Neurologist. Your son's delay in walking is most likely caused by the position of his feet, but you need to know WHY his feet are positioned like that in the first place. Does he have abnormal muscle tone? (meaning, can you stretch his leg muscles with ease; does he have good range of motion in his legs; can he bare weight on his feet; are his leg movements "stiff"?) If so, he could have hypertonia (high muscle tone). A Neurologist would be able to tell you if it's due to brain injury. How is he progressing with other milestones? Did he sit up at the typical age? How about crawling? Does he favor one side of his body more than the other? These are also some signs of a possible Neurological disorder. If his foot muscles are just misaligned or something, that would be an orthopedic problem. But I'd want to rule out everything at this point. It's not so much that he isn't walking yet; it's about his foot position and the fact that he can't or won't stand on his own either.
If you are concerned about any areas of physical or cognitive development, you should contact your local Early Intervention program to have your son evaluated. You do not need any type of referral from your pediatrician for this service. Both the evaluaton and services are free of charge.
I hope I didn't scare you, I just wanted to be honest about the things I know b/c of my personal experience with my daughter. With her though, we knew it was Neurological b/c she was born very premature (at 25 weeks) and had a brain bleed (which raises the risk for Cerebral Palsy). I hope you find some answers for your son and I hope it turns out to be just an orthopedic problem. GOOD LUCK!
2006-09-05 18:32:25 · answer #2 · answered by Marie K 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter didn't walk until 15 1/2 months and there was nothing wrong with her. Her doctor told me at her 15 month check up that it was nothing to worry about until 18 months and if she wasn't walking by then we would start looking into it. But if you can see a problem with your son's feet I would bring it up with his Dr. right away and be persistent. If you really feel there is a problem don't take no for an answer. The sooner something like that is corrected the better because their bones are still pliable and only get harder over time.
2006-09-06 08:02:16 · answer #3 · answered by Mommy of 6 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter was 15 months old when she started to walk. I think the doctors consider it a problem if the baby isn't walking by 18 months. But I know it can be worrisome so talk to your peditirican to see what they think, especially if you think there might be a problem with his feet - sometimes a conversation with a doctor is all you need to ease your worries.
To encourage him to walk try holding his arms high over his head and try to get him to walk with you that way. I used to put my daughter ontop of my feet, hold her arms and walk with her that way. Put some favorite toys on the opposite side of the room and walk with him towards to toy.
Don't worry - he's going to walk soon!
2006-09-05 15:37:37 · answer #4 · answered by Jennifer K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really would worry yet. All kids are different. If, by 18-20 months, he still isnt walking I would bring it up with his ped then. As for the feet to the side thing, I noticed that with my son too, I think its more for balance than something actually being wrong with their feet/legs. When he walks now his feet are how they should be.
My daughter didnt walk until she was almost 14 months, her brother however took off at almost 10 months--mommy wasnt prepared for that!
2006-09-05 23:02:45 · answer #5 · answered by ~ Amanda ~ 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know of a few toddlers that didn't walk until about 18 months. But I would be concerned about the feet turning out. Need to talk to your ped.
2006-09-05 13:32:53 · answer #6 · answered by jzz224 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Work with him. Help him support his weight on his feet and gradually get him to pull up to stand. He will begin "traveling" by using the edges of furniture to guide himself and then walk on his own. However I think that at 15 months old and not walking he should see his doctor and probably get him in to some kind of leg exercising program.
2006-09-05 13:34:36 · answer #7 · answered by d4cav_dragoons_wife84 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask your pediatrician for a physical therapy evaluation. He may have gross motor delays. Is he reaching all his other developmental milestones at appropriate ages? Is he talking at all? At about a year, a baby should have at least 10 words in his vocabulary. Have your pediatrician do a developmental screening. Some children just bloom later than others, but just to be safe have him checked. If he is demonstrating developmental delays he will be eligible for therapy, such as physical therapy or whatever is needed to address the delays.
2006-09-05 14:01:13 · answer #8 · answered by cindy1323 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sister was late to pick this up. My brother was in the middle. I was up and walking quickly (6 months) because I'm gay and crawling was beneath me. - Yes, my PARENTS are actually the ones that are amazed.
No big deal UNLESS he is walking pengiun/pigeon toed. SEE A DOCTOR ASAP or he will walk pengiun/pigeon toed the rest of his life.
2006-09-06 19:48:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
do no longer problem. My daughter became sixteen months in the previous she might walk. she use to stroll on her knees everywhere she went. i might for approximately 10 minutes an afternoon a prepare the walking. I in no way pushed, if she did no longer prefer to stroll i did no longer make her. Then sometime she merely took off. So that's going to take place while they are waiting.
2016-09-30 09:22:49 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋