Ot ~ Ds Not Walking!!

[SpectroMouse]

DS wasn't really talking at that age either. We were so worried! Then suddenly, he took off. He now talks more than any kid we know. Even his preschool teacher mentioned how advanced he is verbally. You just never know what's going to happen with kids.

I hope that will be the case with my son, he is 21 mos. old and isn't really talking. I have been losing sleep about it.....I have a nephew that is three months younger that is already using mostly two word sentences. I am getting to the point of dreading family get togethers because naturally someone always asks if my son is talking yet! Sorry to get so off topic, but if anyone has any advice, it would be much appreciated!

To the OP, my "early" talking nephew just took his first step at 18 mos. and was not really even pulling him self up before that! I would say don't worry, but I happen to know that it is easier said than done! (even when you are saying it to yourself) Keep us posted on his progress, my thoughts are with you!

 

[camlace]

Our pediatrician suggested DS see an orthopedic Dr. when he was not walking at 15 months. The Orthopedic told me to get him high top reboks. DS started walking the very next day after getting him the sneakers.

My daughter was also not walking around her 15 month check-up either. Her ped said we would see a specialist at her 18 month appt if she still wasn't walking. I had not put her in "real shoes" to that point. I happened to buy her a pair of high top sneakers as it was getting cold here and she really needed shoes to cover her piggies. Within the week she was a pro at walking (she wasn't even close before the shoes!). So I second the vote for shoes that support the ankle...it may help with the balance

 

[Stephres]

My second did everything late: crawling, walking and talking. She is big for her age so I actually had two moms ask me if she had a disability when she was crawling around Chuck E Cheese at 16 months. Make that 18 month check up and see what the doctor says, but I wouldn't panic.

 

[DawnM]

My middle son didn't talk until after his 3rd birthday.

He is now 7 and is not developmentally delayed in anything academic.

Dawn

 

[carissanboys]

My youngest ds didn't start walking until he was 17 months. He was crawling at 6 months and I just don't think he felt he "needed" to walk. He could get where he needed to by crawling.

The doctor was never concerned abou it, but we were in Australia and they tend to be a lot more relaxed about things like this.

 

[momsully]

DS5 did not start walking until 21 months. I was concerned so the doctor referred us to PT to strengthen his legs. DS used to "w" sit which the PT and the doctor both said could be causing issues. We broke that habit and he got some leg strength and took off. The following year he skied just after he turned 3 and now at 5 skis intermediate runs and swims on swim team. He actually has very strong legs now and you can see the muscle definition. Trust your instinct and talk to your doctor but hopefully everything is OK.

 

[Jen32113]

My son will be 2 next month and he can only say: hi, bye, go and (of course) no. I used to be really concerned about it, to the point I started making myself sick with all the stress. Now, I just go with the flow. We are going to ST and OT for his low tone and I do talk about it with our pedi, so I feel like I am doing everything I can to help him. I just figure now that he will talk when he wants to. I know he's smart - he just doesn't want to vocalize anything! I'm just dying for the day when he calls me mommy!

Anyway, what I am trying to get at is that all kids are different. My best friend's son is 16 months and talks up a storm, but he didn't walk until a few weeks ago. My son took his first steps at 8.5 months, but can barely talk now at 2.

Talk to your pedi just to get it off your chest. Try not to worry about it too much (I know, easier said than done).

 

[lulu71]

My DD took her first steps at 20 months. It was very worrisome at the time, but she is now (at 25 months) a pro and a better walker, runner, and jumper than kids who walked on time.

She was a butt scooter and didn't crawl until she was over a year old. We put her in PT at 12 months, which I think really helped.

Good luck! Your child will get it!

 

[crisi]

Talk to your peditrician. It could be something, it could be nothing, but if its something its likely that the earlier you do intervention, the faster the issues will get resolved with no permanent consequences.

 

[Mkrop]

I am typing this as I sit here and wait for DS4's PT to get here. He does PT and OT once a week.

DS4 did the commando crawl, sat up late, could not hold his head up when he should, and could not stand and put pressure on his legs at 12 months. At that point, the ped sent us for a PT evaluation. My son was diagnosised with hypotonia(low musle tone) in his trunk and hyperflexibility in his joints.

Hyperflexibility in your muscles is good, think gymanast, in your joints, it is bad and can cause knee and hip problems. He could put his leg in places no man should be able to.

Hypotonia in his trunk is bad because you have no core strength, therefore the extremities suffer as well. If you are familair with Pilates this is the whole concept, strenghten the core and the rest of the body will fall into place. He "w" sat as well, and this was because his core was not strong and sitting like this put unnecessary prssure on your hips.

Also if your core is not strong this can affect fine motor skills as well which is why DS4 gets OT as well, he also has some sensory issues so they work with that too. When he was first learning to walk, he would "slap" his foot harder than you or I would to have our brain send the signal to take the next step, he would slap harder to get that feedback to his brain.

They did tell me he could outgrow this and walk fine but that is was better to get on this issue early.

Ok the PT just left and I told her about your concerns, and said yes press for an evaluation, it is the best way to know for sure.

My older son exhibited some odd walking when he was 4 and he was tested, he scored 2 pts too high to need formal therapy and told me to keep him involved in sports, doesnt matter what but to keep him active.

I too have been the victim of some nasty comments ,even her on the DIS, by someone who was suppose to be a nurse, and didnt understand the difference between fat and low tone scary isnt it.

Anyway now most people dont know he has any problems, unless they get behind him on the steps but even that has seen much improvement and that his run is not as graceful as some other kids, and endurance is still an issue, but we will get there!

 

[hon_bunnie]

Dont Worry!!! My DS8 did not walk until he was over 18 months and he never crawled. He scooted everywhere on his behind. I was a nervous wreck and drove the Dr nuts until he did XRays on my baby to make sure everything was ok. He walked when was good and ready and now is the fastest runner in his class...

 

[2cutekidz]

Dont Worry!!! My DS8 did not walk until he was over 18 months and he never crawled. He scooted everywhere on his behind. I was a nervous wreck and drove the Dr nuts until he did XRays on my baby to make sure everything was ok. He walked when was good and ready and now is the fastest runner in his class...

On a side note DS did have x-rays done at 15 mos. He has a large soft spot and the doc. wanted to make sure there were no other issues. He had full body x-rays. Individual ones of both legs, arms, feet, hands etc. They found nothing wrong. Even checked for thyroid problems. No Other issues just a larger than normal soft spot. It has gotten smaller since then.
This poor kid has had more issues... At birth it seemed that he had an underdeveloped jaw. We were sent to a specialist that said no, he just has a small jaw (think weak chin). That has fixed itself as he's gotten bigger. Then the hernias, they also fixed a small tounge-tie (that's where the tounge is attatched to the bottom jaw. His was so small that the pedi. didn't notice it but the surgeon did.) And the soft spot with the battery of tests. I feel for all the parents that have something seriously "wrong" with their children. Luckily everything has all turned out alright with DS, but you have to wonder if it's all related!!

Anyway here's a picture of DS walking with daddy...

And walking along the furniture!!!

I'll try the hightops, maybe that will help his balance!! I still plan on talking to the doctor, but I think it's just a matter of time!

 

[jennwdw]

My son was not saying more than 2 word sentences until he was about 3yrs 4 mos. I remember because we'd been doing ST for so long already. Like I said before he's 7 now and talks well although we still have ST but more for his receptive language skills. If you are losing sleep over it get in touch with at Speech Therapist and have him tested. Your local school district can probably point you to the agency that will do this for free. In my state it's called First Steps. Wonderful program!!!!

I hope that will be the case with my son, he is 21 mos. old and isn't really talking. I have been losing sleep about it.....I have a nephew that is three months younger that is already using mostly two word sentences. I am getting to the point of dreading family get togethers because naturally someone always asks if my son is talking yet! Sorry to get so off topic, but if anyone has any advice, it would be much appreciated!

To the OP, my "early" talking nephew just took his first step at 18 mos. and was not really even pulling him self up before that! I would say don't worry, but I happen to know that it is easier said than done! (even when you are saying it to yourself) Keep us posted on his progress, my thoughts are with you!

 

[sarahsmom73]

Hi!

MY dd is 14 months old and has a 6 month gross motor delay.She isn't crawling or walking. She is low muscle tone and is getting PT 2 times per week and OT 1 time per week. She has had blood tests as well as seen a pediatric neurologist and so far they can not find a cause for her hypotonia. We are not expecting DD to walk until around 2. If you are concerned, see your Doc and have an OT/PT eval.

Early intervention is the way to go! Em is getting stronger but still has some trunk weakness so we need to get the girl stronger!!! Good look and if you are uneasy press for an eval!

 

[nemonoah]

I hope that will be the case with my son, he is 21 mos. old and isn't really talking. I have been losing sleep about it.....I have a nephew that is three months younger that is already using mostly two word sentences. I am getting to the point of dreading family get togethers because naturally someone always asks if my son is talking yet! Sorry to get so off topic, but if anyone has any advice, it would be much appreciated!

To the OP, my "early" talking nephew just took his first step at 18 mos. and was not really even pulling him self up before that! I would say don't worry, but I happen to know that it is easier said than done! (even when you are saying it to yourself) Keep us posted on his progress, my thoughts are with you!

I know exactly how you feel about the family get togethers, my DH's family (especially his mother) always has some comment to make about it,"oh so and so's little boy is 6mos. younger than Noah and he can recite the dictionary" I want to look at her and say "woop dee freakin doo!" of course I'm a SAHM so they always have to call him a mama's boy too. Uh yeah, he's two,of course he's a mama's boy!! Sorry I just had to get that off my chest!

 

[belle&beast]

I hope that will be the case with my son, he is 21 mos. old and isn't really talking. I have been losing sleep about it.....I have a nephew that is three months younger that is already using mostly two word sentences. I am getting to the point of dreading family get togethers because naturally someone always asks if my son is talking yet! Sorry to get so off topic, but if anyone has any advice, it would be much appreciated!

To the OP, my "early" talking nephew just took his first step at 18 mos. and was not really even pulling him self up before that! I would say don't worry, but I happen to know that it is easier said than done! (even when you are saying it to yourself) Keep us posted on his progress, my thoughts are with you!

I know exactly how you feel about the family get togethers, my DH's family (especially his mother) always has some comment to make about it,"oh so and so's little boy is 6mos. younger than Noah and he can recite the dictionary" I want to look at her and say "woop dee freakin doo!" of course I'm a SAHM so they always have to call him a mama's boy too. Uh yeah, he's two,of course he's a mama's boy!! Sorry I just had to get that off my chest!

I was not going to jump in on these comments, but I feel I should. Please ask your pediatricians about early intervention speech therapy. I am an SLP and have worked in early intervention and now in preschool. Kids progress so much more quickly the younger you begin intervention. At 2 years children should be combining word into 2 word phrases and a vocabulary of at least 250 words. An evaluation will not hurt and it could give you some insight about what could help increase your children's speech. Even if the SLP determines that your child does not need therapy, she will give you things to work on and probably a different approach to help elicit more words. If you have specific questions, please feel free to send me a PM. I am really an advocate of early intervention and have seen so much success!

 

[Mkrop]

Hi!

MY dd is 14 months old and has a 6 month gross motor delay.She isn't crawling or walking. She is low muscle tone and is getting PT 2 times per week and OT 1 time per week. She has had blood tests as well as seen a pediatric neurologist and so far they can not find a cause for her hypotonia. We are not expecting DD to walk until around 2. If you are concerned, see your Doc and have an OT/PT eval.

Early intervention is the way to go! Em is getting stronger but still has some trunk weakness so we need to get the girl stronger!!! Good look and if you are uneasy press for an eval!

They told me DS4's hypotonia was probably genetic. Although non of us have been formally diagnosised, I see elements, in myself and my brothers. My mom can 'w'sit.

 

[Mkrop]

I agree also with the above poster, get the evaluation, it cant hurt and like with my older son, he did NOT qualify but they did give me advice for him.

Also I keep hearing about xrays, if the problem is with low tone, this is muscle related and would not show up on any xrays, so it really doesnt matter if he was xrayed head to toe, this problem will not show up.

 

[nemonoah]

I was not going to jump in on these comments, but I feel I should. Please ask your pediatricians about early intervention speech therapy. I am an SLP and have worked in early intervention and now in preschool. Kids progress so much more quickly the younger you begin intervention. At 2 years children should be combining word into 2 word phrases and a vocabulary of at least 250 words. An evaluation will not hurt and it could give you some insight about what could help increase your children's speech. Even if the SLP determines that your child does not need therapy, she will give you things to work on and probably a different approach to help elicit more words. If you have specific questions, please feel free to send me a PM. I am really an advocate of early intervention and have seen so much success!

Thanks for the concern, I really do appreciate it! but I talked to his Dr. and she said that I really should'nt be too concerned until he is at least 3 because her son didd'nt talk until he was almost 4. Noah's talking is getting alot better, at least now I can understand what he wants, when before I was like "huh?" there are times when he will say 3 to 4 word sentences but there are other times where he wont even say something simple like milk. It's just all the comments and looks that I get that are really hurtful and annoying, especially by my In-laws!

 

[DisneyPhD]

My 2nd DD started walking a little after 17 months. We took a trip to WDW where she scooted all over the place. It seemed like the minute we got home she stood up and started walking. She had this very funny sidewinder walk, it was a site to see.

She did talk early. She was using 2 or 3 word sentences and signs before she was walking (more food please.) She just did her own thing for walking. She turns 3 next month. She is doing great.

I think it is more common then most people think. Her big sister started walking at 10 months.