Why aren't you two WALKING already?!

Any hints on encourage two stubborn nearly-17 month olds to walk, like we know they can?!?!

I really think that they aren't walking because 1) they are very proficient crawlers and are even very good at carrying things while crawling so they don't have the incentive of needing their hands free, and 2) it seems like they lack the overall level of confidence to just "let go".

One of the girls has taken steps by herself before but only as if it were some sort of game we were playing. They are strong, pull up and cruise, climb into and over things and are in all other ways completely on target for their motor skills.

Need some ideas to get them g-o-i-n-g!

 

I think once they get going, you're going to be back here saying "WHY DID I POST THIS???" :laughing:

All you can do is encourage, encourage, encourage. Once our kids got close to walking, dh and I (or my oldest ds and I) would sit a few feet away from each other and encourage the kids to walk between us. We'd start by holding onto both hands until they got close to the other person, and then the other person would take both hands. Then holding one hand. Until finally the baby would let go of all hands altogether and walk 2-3 steps on their own. Once they realized they could do it and it wasn't as scary as they thought, it didn't take long for them to take off.

If they are standing along the couch, hold a much wanted toy a couple feet away, at head level or higher, and encourage them to come and get it.

Leave a space between walking objects (couch and ottoman, or chair and coffee table), of at least 2 feet, far enough for them to have to let go of one object completely before they can reach the other.

Don't worry, it sounds like they are so close that they are going to be walking before you know it!

 

I agree with Danielle, in addition to what she suggested, another thing that helped my DS with walking was a push to walk toy and his sister's play shopping cart.

 

I was thinking the exact same thing when my two were about 16 months, and by the time they were 18 months they were motoring everywhere. We gave them lots of push toys and I would walk them along with my hands, but mostly it just took them one day to "get it" and then there was no turning back. It's super fun when they walk! Way less carrying too! Good luck

 

Mine didn't walk until 17 and 17.5 months. I was definitely starting to get concerned especially when we were around other kids who were much younger than they were and who were walking like champs. But, everything turned out fine and now they get along just as well if not better than other kids their age. It will happen, try not to worry! Easier said than done, though, I know.

 

Oh my goodness I wanted to post this so many times! Jace (baby b) didn't walk until he was almost 17mo and Tanner (baby a) JUST started walking TODAY... TWENTY months old

I knew he "could" do it, he'd walk holding onto the tip of my finger but would fall to his knees and walk on them as soon as he felt me pulling away. We just started letting him hold our finger everywhere he went and tonight I leaned him up against the wall, held the remote control in front of him but up high enough that he had to be standing to get it and he walked. We practiced this a few times and now the little stinker walks everywhere. So like you said you KNOW they can do it but they either lack confidence or find it easier to crawl. I got so sick and tired of ppl asking me if he was walking yet... especially since I knew he could do it but like everything else he does he's timid.

Good luck and just be persistent... not pushy

 

I was thinking the same thing!

 

:ibiggrin: Tee hee. You guys are funny. I remember when my son started walking too and yes, that thought did cross my mind. But, the thing with the girls is that NOT walking hasn't kept them out of any trouble at all because they can climb and create havoc anyway!

I will try holding things up high when I'm tempting them to walk. They've been dropping down to their knees and just crawling to the desired toy that I was using. Maybe I wasn't holding up high enough to make them have to reach for it. They have walking push-toys already as well...

I'll let you know how it goes!

 

We're going through this right now! Samantha stands and will take a step or two from one piece of furniture to the other. She'll walk five and fix steps between Paul and I, but she just isn't choosing to walk over crawling. I'm ready to see her tiny hiney in motion!

Alexis has no desire to walk. She's not standing unassisted and just doesn't seem to want to.

 

Two words: Cell phone! :laughing: I just had to find my boys' "currency" and that was my cell phone. I held it just out of reach while they were cruising and they'd risk a couple of steps to get a hold of it.

 

[quote name='Nate and Jack's Mom' date='09 March 2011 - 12:49 PM' timestamp='1299692997' post='1768208']
Two words: Cell phone! :laughing: I just had to find my boys' "currency" and that was my cell phone. I held it just out of reach while they were cruising and they'd risk a couple of steps to get a hold of it.
[/quote]
Oh yeah, Samantha's first steps were for the remote. I just need her to KEEP walking.

She's finally getting the hang of "Can I have that back" and returning the remote, too. Phew! Paul would die without his remote.

 

Two words: squeaky shoes :lol:

 

Thank you for posting this!! My boys are 15 months - and I feel like "people" keep asking me why they aren't walking yet. Mom wants me to talk to the doctor and it's making me crazy!! Don't people understand that all children are different?!