Moms like me tend to worry about everything when it comes to our children's development. This is especially true for those of us who have kids with special needs, or who simply follow out-of-the-ordinary bell curves when it comes to physical, emotional and social milestones. You may be worried if your baby is unable to walk at the same time as his same-age peers.
Should you worry if your baby can't walk by his first birthday? What about at 14 months? What about 16 months? As time rolls by, you may become more and more anxious that there could be something wrong with your sweet child.
Chances are good that you don't have any reason to worry about your baby's inability to walk. However, there are several red flags to look for when it comes to your baby's gross motor development. Talk to your baby's pediatrician if she shows any of these red flags, pointing to a possible underlying problem.
1. She can't walk independently by 18 months. If your baby is unable to walk at least a few steps, without help, by a year and a half of age, this may be a sign that she has a neurological or muscular problem preventing her from walking upright. In general, it's good to chat with a pediatrician if your baby can't walk by 16 months, but it isn't considered to be a serious developmental red flag until she has reached 18 months of age without hitting this milestone.
2. She walks "funny," at any age. If your baby is beginning to walk, but consistently favors one side of her body over another, walks on her toes, or has a pronounced limp, this could signal a neurological problem or an unidentified injury somewhere in her body. It's normal for toddlers to have an unusual gait from time to time, but if it is pronounced or she appears to be in pain, talk to her pediatrician.
3. She can't get around at all by 12 months. If, by your baby's first birthday, she is unable to move around in any capacity, she needs to be evaluated promptly. Many babies completely skip crawling or find other ways to move-- such as rolling, cruising, coasting or creeping. But if your baby reaches 12 months without finding any way to move around, it is a sign that she may have a medical problem requiring evaluation.
4. She can't stand with help by 12 months. By twelve months of age, most babies are able to stand with support, even if they are not yet walking. A baby who can't stand with support by her first birthday might need physical therapy, or an evaluation to rule out an underlying medical cause.
5. She feels limp or "floppy," at any age. If your baby feels like she has low muscle tone, or if she offers no resistance whatsoever when you try to place her on her feet, there could be a problem with her muscles or nerves. Your baby should be able to kick and move her arms with some strength at any age; she should not feel limp or ragdoll-like.
6. You're worried about her, at any age. Moms are the world's best identifiers of developmental red flags. Although many of us do worry unnecessarily, it's never a bad idea to call a pediatrician for advice if a gut-feeling tells us there there is a problem. Most likely, your baby is just fine and will develop normally, with or without help. But, if there is a problem, sooner is always better when it comes to identifying and addressing gross motor delays.
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