Your infant will pass through several developmental milestones during the first year of life. They will learn to hold their bottle, turn over, crawl, sit up, and eventually walk, just like any other baby.
So if your baby hasn’t started walking by the time they are expected to, you might already be concerned.
But is it always a sign of a problem? Let’s talk about delayed walking in babies and what it could mean.
What can you read in this article?
- When should I worry about my baby not walking
- Reasons for late walking in babies
- How to help baby walk independently
Delayed walking in babies
If your baby seems to have a delay in walking, evaluate if your baby's inability is a cause for alarm. Although your baby is unable to walk at 14 months, you may notice that they are capable of standing alone, pulling up on furniture, and bouncing up and down without difficulty.
Continue to keep a close eye on your child's development. All these signs indicate that your baby's motor skills are improving. If your child hasn't learned to walk by 18 months, you may ask for help and consult your doctor.
However, if your baby's motor skills are not developing typically, you have to speak with your doctor immediately.
Don't worry about your child's inability to walk if they were born prematurely. Use your child's adjusted age when recording developmental milestones. The adjusted age is determined by the due date of your child.
If you have a 14-month-old but gave birth three months early, your baby's adjusted age is 11 months. It's common for your baby to take another two to three months to learn to balance and walk in this situation.
When should I worry about my baby not walking
Here are early indicators of delayed walking in babies, as compiled by Medicine Net.
- By nine months: your baby is unable to sit without assistance.
- At 12 months: your baby is unable to stand without help.
- By 16 to 23 months: your baby is not walking steadily.
- Your infant is continually walking on his toes or tiptoes.
- Your child is constantly behind schedule in meeting developmental milestones like lifting one’s head, turning over, and sitting up.
- If a baby is not walking by the age of 16 to 23 months, a medical examination should assess muscular strength, range of motion, and joint flexibility. Delayed walking could be a sign of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or other hereditary conditions. Consult your physician immediately so they can rule out the aforementioned prevalent ailments.
According to Dr. Michiko Caruncho of Makati Medical Center, tummy time can help a baby’s developmental milestones, such as walking. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your child will learn to walk faster with consistent tummy time, but it will only ensure no delay.
“Tummy time is a special position that you put your babies in. In other words, nakadapa. Nakadapa si baby kaya tummy time.
So during the first few days, weeks and months importante ang tummy time. Because it strengthens the baby’s neck, the muscles in the arm, shoulder.
It gets the baby ready para ma support ang weight na reready na si baby when it’s time to crawl or roll over ganun klase ng mga motor development.
Hindi naman mapapabilis ang development. Hindi lang madedelay. We like to say 3 to 5 minutes and 2 to 3 times a day.”
According to Dr. Caruncho, babies who don't receive enough tummy time may have delays in head control.
“It has been shown na ang mga babies that don’t get consistent tummy time medyo sila delayed sa head control. Mga baby na 3 to 4 months, na dapat kaya na nila head nila pero hindi pa stable. It is really important that parents do the tummy time for babies. So ideally 3 to 4 months, They start achieving head control so nasusuport na nila ‘yong head. Pwede mo na sila ilagay sa lap mo, at makikita mo more stable na at this time.”
The development of babies will be from head to toe. It will start with neck control, arms reaching, rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking. However, Dr. Caruncho says that it is essential to note that babies develop differently.
“Ang child development is not really a specific age or specific month. Range talaga, may mga batang slow, may mga batang fast.
Kunyari sa sitting, may mga mabagal may mga mabibilis. More than 8 months, medyo malambot or stiff ayan ‘yong mga time na kailangan na natin magtanong sa mga pediatrician natin.”
Reasons for late walking in babies
Some say that baby boys and baby girls may have varying developmental milestones. Dr. Caruncho says that,
“Well, sa totoo may mga konting difference talaga. Pero sa totoo naman generally nandoon sa range na normal.
‘Yong mga baby na boys mas advance pero it doesn’t mean na delay si girl. And minsan, malalaki talaga sila.
They look sturdy sa kanilang built. Pag ganun mas stronger little bit, kay mas napapaaga. Hindi naglalayo.”
READ MORE:
Is baby ready to walk? 6 signs that your little one might be walking soon
Children walking on tiptoes: Causes, treatment and when to worry
4 Tips to get your toddler to walk more instead of asking to be carried
6 reasons for delayed walking in babies
There may also be other reasons why your baby could have a delay in walking. With this, you’ll need assistance and medical help from your doctor for more extensive information on your baby’s case.1. Infants with global developmental delays and specific genetic disorders impacting motor abilities may have trouble reaching motor milestones.
Delay in walking can be traced back to underlying coordination deficits caused by a specific ailment. Still, it can also be impacted by the motivation to move and explore, joint laxity (hypermobility), and muscular stiffness or weakness, usually related to joint laxity.
2. Pre-term infants often arrive at the sitting, standing, and walking milestones 1-2 months later than predicted, even when their age is corrected.
3. Infants with cerebral palsy and neonatal stroke are slow to learn to walk.
When possible, these children should be treated by a pediatric physical therapist.4. Standing, cruising, and independent walking milestones may take longer for infants with joint hypermobility, low muscle tone, and Down syndrome.
The delay is linked to a lack of willingness to exercise and muscle weakness and stiffness caused by joint hypermobility.5. Hip muscles of hypermobile and low-toned newborns are frequently weak and tight, limiting their capacity to pull themselves up to standing.
They frequently stand with their feet turned out and their legs spread wide apart. The ankle muscles of hypermobile newborns may be weak, especially if they stand with their feet turned out.6. Susceptible and cautious infants are sometimes afraid to try new things or leave their comfort zone.
They are less energetic and driven to pull themselves up to standing, grab for toys to challenge their balance, cruise across gaps, or let go of hand assistance while standing.Delayed walking in babies: How to help baby walk independently
“I would not recommend the baby na laging nasa crib lang si baby. In fact, pag may specific area sa bahay mo. 'Yong mga rubber mat, na pinagdugtong dugtong, mas maganda ‘yon for the baby. Alisin ang mga furniture maaaring sumangga, mauntog at makanto. Gamit ng mga walker. Hindi na ni recommend ‘yan. Marami din nadisgrasya. Hayaan gumapang gumabay sa mga furniture.”
Some parents assume that by putting shoes on their baby's feet, they would be able to walk faster. Shoes make it harder for babies to take their first steps.
Although shoes are suggested for outdoor walking, many babies learn to walk more quickly when permitted to wander around the house barefoot.
As a parent, you may feel obliged to hold or carry your child when you're at home. The more time your baby spends on the floor, though, the more likely they will become mobile and walk independently.
Make sure you establish a safe environment inside the house while you assist your baby in learning to walk. Remove any rugs that could trip your baby and cause injury. Installing safety gates near stairwells and removing tables or shelves with dangerous edges are also options.