Isabella your latest posts could be me talking!  It took Jessica about 4 or 5 months in the toddler room at nursery being the only one not walking just shuffling along before she started to actually walk - and yes it is completely true what someone else said, because they have 2 hands free there is no added incentive to do anything different.

Will she walk holding your hand?  This the only way Jessica would walk for a really long time, and it sounds as if both of our dd's have the same problem - over flexibility, so more walking is the only cure.

I know its hard and very very slow but if you can get her to walk holding on then just go with it as much as you can, and just like my DD she will completely suprise you one day but suddenly letting go and going on her own!

We also had a footstep mat thing that has feet that when pressed make sounds, Jessica found that quite fun, and when playing we used to whip our hands away quickly to try to make her go it alone, which sometimes worked, but anythings worth a try!

My LO bum shuffled until 19 months and then he eventually started walking properly. I was worried too as a friend of his was walking at 9 months!! He always just does things in his own time!

Thats exactly it, they say that bum shufflers walk late because they don't need to walk. They have both hands free so they carry things and get around unlike crawlers. Glad you feel a little reassured.

I forgot to say that we had to take dd's walker away as she has got too tall for it and stoops over it which isn't helping.

I'm amazed with so many responses - thank you so much as I really feel like I'm on my own on this matter.

We have been to physio since dd was 15 months old - initially referred as she was not bearing any weight on her legs.  She has made progress - people think she is just being lazy but I don't quite believe that.

Physio has stated that she is extremely flexible - we have another appointment in a couple of weeks time.  Physio has helped but it is really strange teaching your child how to walk especially when you see your friends kids just doing it themselves.  If the situation doesn't improve I think we will be referred to the hospital soon. 

Nursery thought dd would start walking once she moved to toddlers but this didn't happen - she is a bum shuffler and is so fast so probably doesn't see the need to walk.

Thank you again for all of your replies - it is really appreciated.

Hi, Angel is 3 now but didn't walk until she was 22 months old. She shuffled evrywhere and we were beginning to think that it would never happen.. but it did! She started crusing about a month before this and it was a while before she had the confidence to go off on her own.

We never took her to a specialist as I was never worried about it. She did it in her own time. Its hard when others are younger and have been walking ages but try to to worry too much. You say your specialist says there is no problem  so i am sure it will only be a matter of time xxxx.

Hello my dd was cruising from about 19 mths but did not actually walk till 2 and a bit.  she was diagnosed with hypermobility by the chiropodist and a doctor.  could be worth asking about this.

Basically it meant that her joints were looser than most peoples so her muscles had to build up more before she could stand and walk.  children tend to have inserts in their shoes as they can tend to walk with their ankles facing inwards a bit.  they tend to grow out of it by the age of 8 but also are more suseptible to joint dislocation.

Because their muscles have to work harder they also get tired quicker - my dd sleeps more than your average child and the dr has put this down to how tired she gets from this now she is running around.

DD also tends to fall over more than most and even now at 2 yrs 10mths, is not very confident on steps.

nothing to worry about overall but you could ask the question from your doctor as it could put your mind at rest.  they will just check how bendy her joints feel if you push them about.  DD has this in her fingers, wrists, hips and ankles.

hth

Mel xxx

Hi, my friend's little girl is 2 y 1 month and is still cruising, she was 8 weeks premature and has been very slow crawling and isnt talking yet either. She has just been signed off by the physio though: she was happy that as she is able to cruise and has the coordination needed to crawl, that she will walk when she's ready.

Have you actually seen a peads consultant?

My DD was about 22 months when she started to walk unaided.

She never crawled, started to bum shuffle at 12 months and started to walk with assistance at about 16 months, but she took her first unaided step on her own at 22 months.

We saw a consultant from 14 months and still do so every 3-6 months.

She has over flexible feet apparently with no arch to her foot at all and her legs look really bent, her feet point outwards but all of these will supposedly correct themselves the more she walks.

She has just mastered running but is still yet to jump.

Apparently my dh didn't walk til he was 2, he just used to shuffle round on his bum.  No problems then and none since so it was just one of those things.

good luck x

with our lo to get him to walk on him own we used to put our fingers under his arms and walk him along them slowly take our fingers away after a few steps and after a few falls our lo walked across the room, he also had a push along walker which helped us as it ment he could cross the room with that to get something he wanted so we didnt have to take him

Hi it's the same for us!

Daniel was 2yrs 2nd August and isn't walking unaided yet. He's been cruising around furniture since about Xmas. He showed no interest AT ALL in walking until about 3mths ago, since then he's been walking around with his push along walker. And for the last month or so has been walking with us holding just one of our hands.

But like your LO he doesn't yet have the confidence to let go.

Daniel had his 2yr check last week and the HV wants me to see Daniel's Doctor about getting his legs looked at. But I'm sure there's no reason physically why Daniel isn't walking. It all comes down to his lack of confidence I'm sure. But I'm taking him to the Doctor next week on the safe side.

HV told me to take his push along walker away as apparently it's stopping him from walking. What a load of rubbish!!! If I take it away he'll go back to shuffling around on the floor and will have to rely solely on me and DF to walk around with him. He's only been using the walker since June, it's not like he's been walking with it forever! HV really wind me up!

Can I ask what happens at your LO Physio? As I may have to end up taking Daniel.

My dd turned 2 in August and is still not walking - she sees a physio once a month who doesn't think there is a problem.  She started cruising over a month ago but doesn't seem to have the confidence to walk on her own.  She is also very wobbly.

We are helping as much as we can but I'm getting frustrated - I just want her to walk.

Anyone else in same position?