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Annalyn has been doing things on her own timetable since, well, forever. From the day our tiny premature baby doll ripped out her feeding tube and decided to eat on her own, to the weeks I waited for her to smile, then to roll and finally to crawl, this child of mine has reached each new milestone whenever she darn well felt like it.
And apparently she does not feel like walking. Because at 17 – almost 18 now – months old, she is not interested in getting off the ground and walking around.
On one hand, her insistence on crawling is helpful, as her love of the army crawl does clean a path on my hardwoods. And I’m pretty sure she’s easier to corral on all fours.
But this evening, when I wanted to run into the library and pick up a couple books I’d requested? I’m just gonna tell you: it was a real pain to lug her with me. And I was really wishing she could just walk beside me.
(Yes, in this fantasy world, she would hold my hand snugly and walk calmly next to her mother, never daring to dart into traffic or topple a stack of library videos. Humor me, okay?)
So, I’m asking you: how can I encourage Annalyn to start to walk? For this week’s backwards Works for Me Wednesday, I’m asking for tips. How did you help your kids transition from crawling to walking?
[Disclaimer: I understand that she will walk eventually, and I trust my doctor's assurance that she is doing just fine. I'm not losing sleep over her refusal to follow the timelines that parenting books provide, I promise. After all, I love that Annalyn is a unique individual with her own personality. (See Exhibit A below.) I'm just hoping she becomes a unique walking individual sometime before her second birthday.]
For more ways to offer your own tips on what will work, visit We Are THAT Family.
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I say be careful what you wish for! Once they start walking they never stop and they just keep growing and growing. :) She is so cute!
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my second child did the army crawl for about two years. it just wasn’t his personality to push himself to do something new. But, he did start walking and is now running around me in circles.
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My daughter finally walked for my cousin…sometimes it takes outside coaxing.
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with ryan i have learned that walking is one of those things that takes a lot of progression. crawling, then pulling up on things, then walking around furniture, then finally walking by themselves! there are little things you can to do encourage each step. like put something she really wants on the couch or something she can pull up on, then HELP her for a few times. and make sure you do a lot of clapping and praise her!
when she can pull up on things by her own, she’ll start to walk along the furniture, but that is still a step that takes a little while. don’t worry. she’ll get there eventually! ryan is almost 21 months and i still have to carry him into the stores although he’s starting to walk at home. and yes… the other commenters are right… you’ll be running after her one of these days!
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My kids were all walking before their 1st birthday, so I’m not really sure what to tell you. I’d have to agree with Tanna Clark though – be careful what you wish for! Hee! (But I remember those days of lugging a baby around and that wasn’t easy either.)
Best wishes as you figure out your dilemma…
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My son was in Physical & Occupational therapy at that age for various issues. One of the things they suggested was a sturdy toy shopping cart (like Little Tikes) weighed down just a bit with a phone book or something so he wouldn't tip it over on himself. They said those work really well because the natural movement is to push it, and the handle bar is in a good position for learning to walk.
I’m asking for birthday party advice in my WFMW post today… stop by if you have any tips for me!
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she’ll walk! i honestly don’t know how to encourage it–she just will.
do you have a baby sling? they’re almost even better for toddlers, cuz you can wear them on your hip as you do your errands.
she’s a sweetie!
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Our little C does things in his own time too, so I feel your pain.
Our son didn’t walk until 13 months, and I think one thing that really encouraged him was one of those walk-behind toys. We got it for him for his b’day, and within a month he was walking on his own. He’d been “cruising” for months, but didn’t care to let go…it was easier to crawl! And I’m not sure that he really got that he could walk across the floor and didn’t have to have something to cruise around.
Also, we quit carrying him around at home. If he wanted to go somewhere, he had to get there himself. And he eventually found that walking was better than crawling.
Now he’s climbing, chasing the dog…but I still love that he walks and I don’t have to carry him everywhere!
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Maybe make a game of it – hold a fav toy or book out, have her stand up (hubby could hold her) and then just encourage her to walk to Mommy.
Make sure you get her in a standing position so she understands what you want her to do, instead of just crawling.
Cheer loudly when she does :D
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My daughter didn't walk until 17 months, but she refused to be mobile at all – no crawling even. She was in Occupational Therapy for a few months that was more about training me than her.
I agree with ben & Erin. Put something she wants a few steps out of reach then encourage her to get it. If you are concerned, look to see if your area has an early intervention program. That's what we used and it was great.
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I always laugh when people say things like, “My kid didn’t walk until after their first birthday,” as though that was late. Hah! It made me feel slightly defective as a parent, too, because my son was much later. He took a few steps at 17 months and then started walking for real a few weeks later (he just didn’t bother trying for those few weeks in between). He just didn’t care. He was way more into his inside toy type of stuff (he knew his letters and numbers before he could walk, for example). So I think some kids just REALLY don’t care. He’s not the adventuresome sort and had other interests. It’s strange to me that last Easter we didn’t hunt Easter eggs because he couldn’t walk yet and now he’s can run and slide and stuff.
Anyway, what finally did it? My husband had a lot to do with the first steps. One night he really had a long night of encouragement and finally Will took some steps. But then there were those weeks in between…and his entire Parents’ Day Out class of kids cheered him on and he’s walked ever since. I credit those toddlers!
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The push behind toy worked really well with our kids- they both walked early but this helped with all the falling down and crying and I would think it would also help with the moving in the first place. However, it will be a long LOOONG time before she’ll be stable enough to hold onto your hand and walk beside you. Beware the double hand holding! Kids love it. Parent’s backs hate it! I had to stop very quickly with Aiden and he learned how to walk just fine and I never did it with Katie, and she’s even more stable than Aiden was, and walked around the same age too.
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Ariana didn’t pull herself up to stand until she was over a year old and she didn’t walk until she was 18 months…now she runs and jumps and dances and plays as hard as anyone.
I agree with putting toys up on couches, end tables (without sharp corners of course!), little toddler table/benches to roll cars /balls on are nice too…basically anything that encourages her to stand because the more she stands, the easier it is to get her to want to walk.
By-the-way…if you don’t already have one, I HIGHLY recommend the Incrediblock by Fisher Price. It encourages standing and walking around the block and it is a toy my 4 year olds STILL play with (of course we have every peek-a-block fisher price has ever made to go with it!)
Another tip is from my friend Sarah who’s daughter would only walk if she were holding her hand. One day she put little finger-sized sticks in her hands and she walked using the sticks…like training wheels :-D. Once she realized there was nothing attached to the sticks, she didn’t need anything anymore.
Good luck! :-D
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Thanks, everyone! I probably should have explained that Annalyn does stand and cruise, and she crawls and climbs a ton. And the push-behind stroller she has? The few times she’s pushed it, she does it on her knees!
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Try helping her to walk, but rather than letting her hold your fingers, have her hold onto pencils or some other easily gripped item. That way, you can hold on as well, but if she seems steady enough, you can let go without her changing a thing, or just let go of one. It gives kids a sense of security to have something to hold onto, regardless of if it actually provides support.
I’ve heard that a push toy can keep kids from learning to balance straight up because they are used to leaning on the toy a bit. I’m not sure that’s true for every kid, but it’s worth considering.
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How about a little stroller or a toy shopping cart she can push around? I’d guess that she’ll eventually spot something ‘up higher’ that she’ll want, and let go of the cart to go for it.
You’re smart not to worry. I doubt she’ll be crawling into the bus for kindergarten. But I do get remember heavy they are (I have four ranging from 18-26) and how mommy just needs a break!
She is a button, btw!
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my nephew was exactly like this. They took a long jumping rope and tied it in a loop. Then sat on hte floor and put it around their (parents) bodies and held it in a tight loop and encouraged him to walk in the middle and he had sort of handlebars on both sides to support him, but flexible enough for him to learn to balance. I think it helped. That and wearing ankle supporting stiff shoes to get him off his toes…
But you are right, she just do it when she’s ready!
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Your daughter is a cutie! And her name is Annalyn? My name is Annie Lynn! :D Strange again, how our lives cross. :)
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I don’t if it will help, but M didn’t walk until I put the diaper bag in the seat of his own stroller and let him push it. (The diaper bag weighed it down and the fact that he was getting so much freedom was HUGE for him.) Personally, I love that Annalynn has her own mind and I doubt that you are going to convince her to do anything until she is good and ready:D Her strong will served her well as a premie and, when channelled, will serve her well as an adult.
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Both of mine waited to walk until about 2 weeks after we had our 3-hour diagnostic appointments for physical therapy. So, you could try that. Spend lots of time waiting to have someone official evaluate her so that she can have the last word by getting up to walk the next day.
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My 1st son was a preemie (6 weeks early). He learned everything when he was ready including walking. My 2nd son was 18 months younger than my 1st and I remember carrying my olderst when both very pregnant and with a newborn. He walked around 18 months but wasn’t steady for a while after that.He would however walk holding onto a ribbon (wierd, I know). After a while we just let go of the ribbon and he continued to walk on his own, holding the ribbon. You never know. My 2nd son walked on his 1st birthday.
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