18 month old not walking unaided

[Browneyed Girl]

My lo is 18 months and still not walking unaided. Until about 2 months ago he crawled everywhere and would drop to his knees if you stood him up (which is odd as from 5-10 months he refused tummy time and was on his feet constantly). The last 2 months he's wanted to walk everywhere but always holding someone's finger. He's actually quite fast and breaks into a run when playing games but I just can't get him to let go! If I try and force him to stand alone (with nothing to hold onto) or walk alone he cries and drops to the floor. He has taken a few steps and fallen over so it seems like it's a fear/confidence thing. Any ideas what I can do to help him?

Otherwise his development is good, his speech is coming on really fast and he's learning new words every day so I'm not worried about his development x

 

[cassi]

Try pairing it with something reinforcing, stand opposite him with something he loves (whilst doing this keep this thing only for walking) he takes a step he gets the nice thing (for this bits of favourite food are good as quick and not distracting). Build up to reinforcing 2 steps then 3 then 4 etc. Use differential reinforcement, i.e. the target is 1 step he does 2/3 give more than if he did 1 step.

 

[tinselcat]

The day I took my son to the local toy library (where he was for the first time surrounded by children age 1-5 all running around) was the day he first started walking unaided. I think he saw the other kids doing it and wanted to join in himself.

You may have already done this but thought I'd mention anyway!

 

[Aries29]

Use fun play activities such as painting at a low table ( his waist height ) he'll be so engrossed with the activity he won't hold on to the table and may realise he can stand unaided and then walk unaided. Has he gone through the furniture walking phase yet ? Babies normally walk between items they can hold before letting go eventually. Are the gaps between your furniture objectives too far ?

 

[Pumpkin9]

Have you tried putting something in one hand and then giving him something for the other? Worked for my son, he was happy to walk unaided thinking he was holding onto something when it was just a brush and a comb!

 

[monkey1988]

You can try holding a round "dolly" clothes peg in each hand and have him hold those while walking. You can then let go of your end of the peg and he will still be holding his. He will think he's still being supported.

 

[Browneyed Girl]

Thanks ladies, I'll try some of these. He doesn't seem bothered in the slightest that other children walk on their own! Fx he'll get there soon xx

 

[Rainbow1234]

My daughter is The same age and only started properly over the last few days. I stopped taking the pram out to try and show her walking is fun. She pushed her dolly round the park and loved it then yesterday I started in Tesco holding her hand, we went to toy section then she just refused to hold my hand after that and was walking everywhere. She's continued today. Maybe try and encourage it like that? She was in hospital for an unrelated thing in Dec and I asked about it, doctor said that around 17 months is when they'd start to look into it but the main things they look at are whether they can pull up, holdtheir own weight and cruise furniture x

 

[Browneyed Girl]

We take him out walking quite a lot, he walked for nearly 2 hours round a museum today and we often walk round the park or shops. He loves walking he just has a fear of letting go I think. He's been pulling himself up and walking round furniture since about 10 months. He can hold his own weight but he does lose his balance sometimes which I think knocks his confidence. There's nothing wrong with his hearing as his speech is really good. Fx he'll do it soon x