Daughter Won't Walk Alone...?

Question

My 13 month old daughter refuses to walk without someone either holding her hand or using a walking harnass. She's too afraid to walk on her own, even though she knows how.

Any tips or suggestions to help her get over her anxiety of walking independently?

The harness I use is the kind for balance so she won't fall. It's not those types that resemble dog leashes...

Answer 1

In a year you will wish for her to hold your hand instead of running away!

Why would you use a harnass on a child who is not a flight risk?

Just be patient, she will do it soon. Kids don't like to be pressured, so don't stress her out.

Answer 2

Now that she is able to keep her balance and just chooses not to walk on her own I wouldn't use the harness.

I would keep walking with her holding her hands and then letting go. In a narrow space like a hallway have her walk from you to another person like a game. She won't know she is walking because at first it is like you are passing her back and forth. Make sense? :)

You can try having her hold on to the end of an unsharpened pencil - one in each hand and you hold the other ends. Walk around guiding her and then let go of the pencils and she'll be walking on her own.

Also, joining a playgroup where she is around walkers her own age will really get her moving. It works like a charm.

Good luck. One of these days you'll wish she would just stay still for a minute! SD

Answer 3

Just give her time and don't rush her!! My daughter did not walk by herself until she was 17 months old.

My son crawled at 6 months , pulled himself to a stand at 6 1/2 months and almost climbed out of his playpen! (the sides were mesh and the holes were large enough for him to get his toes into) He walked at 14 months

When you stop to think about it, babies have a lot more courage than most adults --when they fall down, they don't give up. They keep trying until they do it.

Unless the doctor says she has a problem, just let her go at her own pace.

Every baby develops at their own pace and trying to hurry them along really does not work.

Just a thought ---if you are using a harness for balance, you are telling her that you don't think she can do it on her own.

Answer 4

My daughter did the same exact thing. She refused to walk by herself. As soon as someone let go of her hand, she would sit right down and I stressed just like you. She started walking on her own at 15 months on Halloween. She is now 21 months old and likes to walk everywhere!!

Answer 5

Just keep encouraging her. Thirteen months is still young. Ask her to bring you toys from across the room. Make fun out of walking and give her tons of praise when she takes those steps independently. She will start walking alone when she's ready, then running and driving you nuts! Enjoy her dependence on you while you still can.

Take care.

Answer 6

Just keep helping her when she's comfortable she'll do it herself. Maybe have her eyes tested to be safe. The national average for children to start to walk by themselves is 15-19 months. That's an average. It'll happen all in time. Enjoy her while she is still little, they grow up too fast.

Answer 7

9 to 16 months is the average age a child learns to walk. i wouldn't push the issue until she is a bit older.. you really can't *make* a child walk until they are ready.

Answer 8

She will let go eventually. Trust me, she won't still need to hold your hand when she's 13.

Answer 9

Maybe she has ESP and feels that she is in danger... walk with her and hold her hand.....one day you will wish you could hold her hand.

Answer 10

Why would you want her to walk alone. can get lost. To young, and insecure