[KMH]

Claire isn't walking...she's a week past her first birthday. She stands by herself all the time, jumps on the bed and on trampolines, and has great balance. I think she just doesn't want to walk yet...it is easier for her to crawl. I think when she's darn good and ready, she'll do it, and I'm not pushing her or stressing out about it. Her vocabulary is way ahead of most one year-olds and she's meeting all her milestones just fine, so it isn't like she's completely behind.

But then there is everyone else...when they see that she is not walking, they all freak out! They think there is something wrong with her and that I need to push her and "make" her walk because it is unhealthy that she still crawls.

Please tell me I'm right and that this is totally normal! My Mama instincts say she's a stubborn firecracker like her Daddy, and she won't do it until she decides she wants to.

[forest]

Totally 100% normal! I wouldn't worry for half a second about it. It is very normal for a baby to not be walking yet at 1.

[Missitta]

River turned one today and just started crawling like 3 weeks ago. She is no where close to walking. My doctor is not worried at all. My son didn't walk until almost 19 months which is very late but it wasn't that he couldn't it's that he didn't want to. My doctor even gave him an official "stubborn as a mule" diagnosis. They all do things when they are ready. These milestone things are pretty much only good for freaking us mommies out. They very rarely come into play unless a kid has a very obvious delay (such as not trying to communicate at all until they are 3 or walking until older than 18 months) or as markers for a more severe problem like Autism or a serious developmental delay which is not normally diagnosed until they are around 3. At least around my part of the country. (I am a Developmental Specialist and work with kids and adults with disabilities. Sounds like Claire is ahead in many respects. You have nothing to worry about. )

[krislati]

Tommy isn't anywhere near walking yet either, I always feel like he is behind. I think it is totally normal and we let other people get in our heads...lol. He is always being compared to his sister or his cousin both walked at 10 months, so my family expects him to do it too. On the other hand my bil son didn't walk until he was 1.5, he is completely normal. All babies do things a their own pace.

[Trish36]

I have a feeling Miranda won't be walking for a while yet. Sure she cruises around but crawling is faster and safer, and she is a cautious girl. So no worries at all. You aren't alone and Claire is perfectly fine. Tell everyone else to mind their own bees wax. Soon enough she'll be running marathons.

[KMH]

Thank you, ladies! I was so confident, but starting to doubt myself after everyone else was freaking out about it. You have made me feel much better

[M-n-MsMama0510]

Thanks for posting this. Mya also hasnt showed any interest in walking... She crawls super fast all the time. She will cruise furniture but no standing alone. Her vocab is also only Mama, Dada, Baba and Nana. And only mama n dada are when she wants us. They others she just says but doesnt know what they are for. Now im the worried mama lol

[Magicaledelishus]

I completely agree-- no cause for concern! She'll do it when she's ready

[noworries]

Totally normal. My daughter didn't start walking until she was almost 14 months old. No big deal.

[mrsjl]

totally normal! lots of kids are more than a year old before they walk. the majority, I would say. my friend was 18 months before she walked and she is in med school today, so I wouldn't worry

what sorts of things can Claire say? Nathan isn't really saying anything. he says the first "sound" of a few words, like ba = ball, ca= car or cat, ha = hair etc, but he isn't really saying anything like the way my DD did when she was his age.

[~*~AIMEE~*~]

They say if a baby is working on one thing he or she will put something else on the back burner, so if you say she is talking a bunch then walking has to wait a bit. No need to worry at all. I agree that those milestones are just to make us worry.

[mommydiva]

I say totally normal. I have seen many kids not start walking till 14+ months. Some are early and some are later. My theory is if they are meeting all other type of milestones then I don't see an issue.

[KMH]

Originally Posted by ~*~AIMEE~*~

They say if a baby is working on one thing he or she will put something else on the back burner, so if you say she is talking a bunch then walking has to wait a bit. .

That's what I was thinking, too...they can only do so much at once. She says these things on a regular basis: Mama, Dada, hat, kitty, beep, quack, beef (there's a story behind that one), tweet tweet, meow, shoes, toes, nose, eye, and she barks like a dog. She uses these words in the correct context, and also imitates sounds really well. She chomps her hands like an alligator, shows me how old she is with one finger, and identifies my noes, eyes, and ear. I tell her to laugh and she says "ha ha ha" with her hand over her mouth. She is a little communicator for sure!

[mshah]

HOLY COW that girl can communicate!! And I want to hear the beef story for sure, lol!

I can't even get Omair to call me anything yet, let alone say anything else.

[momma2princesses]

holy cow....Suzannah is like a 6mo old compared to these kiddos! lol I dont worry htough...they are still young

[Juliebird18]

Wow...Stevie isn't talking or walking yet. I figure soon enough he will be running around the house screaming his head off so I am enjoying my baby for now

[mrsjl]

way to go, Claire!!! such a big girl <3

[Irish_Wristwatch]

Ross isnt walking yet either, hes been pulling to stand and cruising since 9 months but i wont let go, I think hes just a cautious little guy. He doesnt say much either, just mama, dada, yes (his answer to everything!) and sometimes Hi (though not really at socially appropriate times)

[~*~AIMEE~*~]

Wow she does say a bunch! I agree let's hear the beef story.

[Trish36]

WOW!!! Way to go Claire! Miranda only says Mama and Dada...and she still can't walk. LOL