United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My daughter Tabitha is 17 months and is still not walking and not even really trying to. She can get around on her bottom but can't crawl or walk. Does anyone have any suggestions and when did your child start to walk?
Thanks

My son was 14 months when he started to crawl and walk. We didn't see any improvement with him doing this on his own until we took him to a chiropractor. His balance was way off and his right hip, foot and knee were out of line. After a couple of adjustments you could see the difference.

Cindy

Our son did not walk until he was 18 months. He could not bear any weight on his arm so he needed the trunk strength to do it without pushing up with his arms. His physical therapist worked a lot with him to build strength on his whole injured side. Because of not using his arm he tended to ignore that whole side of his body. Talk to a physical therapist about it. Don't worry you're daughter will walk when she's ready. I always told my son that he could do whatever he wanted but it would just take him longer to do it sometimes. INcidentally he is seven now and plays soccer and T ball and is always running. He's not fast but is a valuable team member because he has a lot of hustle probably because he's used to working to improve his skills.

Hi,
My bpi son walked right around 12 months. My non-bpi son walked (on his own - no baby walker) around 17 months. I think kids just walk when they're ready. It may or may not be related to the bpi, but if you're worried, do have your therapist look into it.
Can she walk with a baby walker? Does she "cruise" furniture? Does she pull up to stand?
Good luck,
Jaime

I think all of our kids walk at different ages...but it does look like they share the "no crawling" characteristic. Brittany never did crawl; we worked with her to get her to pull up with her right arm [she has left obpi] and she was pretty stable by 14 months. Our worry was that she didn't talk until she was 22 months old--on the very day before our appointment with the audiologists/speech pathologists at Children's Mercy! She blurted out a 5-word sentence, proving that she was "normal."
Like most moms, I am just so happy that she is "normal" in so many ways. I know that others don't really see her obpi; she has adapted well and carries herself nicely, so that it is not apparent until she does something physical [carry something with both hands, raise her arms above her head, etc.].
It sounds like you are doing all you can.
Been there. Still doing that. Hang in there.

Cathy,
Are you from Kansas City?!
Jaime
I live in Stilwell

Our daughter never did crawl only slide around on her bottom. She did not walk until she was 2 years old. I was so worried. I asked everyone for help. She finally did it on her own and now at age 3.5 you would never know how late she started. She runs like the wind. I know how painful it is when everyday people say "Oh she will take off any day now" by age 24 months I could not stand to hear that phrase. Hang in there they all walk sooner or in our case later. For what it is worth one of those push toy walkers did seem to get her interest and helped a little.