15 months and not walking or talking

maltaballa

Dr doesn't seem worried but he won't walk... I think he is just lazy cause he cruises on EVERYTHING possible and he understands everything we say to him but he won't say dada or mama... he used to say dada all day long till my husband came home and then ZIP!  now he laughs or grunts.

Anyone else have this? how do I get him to walk? going on a cruise in 3 weeks and was really hoping he would be walking for it...

ugh.

salt78

Honestly, you can't really force him into walking. He'll do it when he's ready. It sounds like he has his own way of getting around and that works for him. He might walk in three weeks, but if he doesn't I wouldn't let it ruin your trip.

As far as the talking, we have just gone through a little bit of a speech regression at our house. Maybe he's just focusing on learning other things right now. If he's communicating non-verbally I don't think you have anything to worry about.

HarperK

My DS didn't walk until almost 16 months. He did exactly what your little guy is doing -- he was a champion cruiser, but he just didn't want to let go and walk on his own. Don't worry, it'll happen! Some toddlers who cruise for a while instead of walking are very alert and cautious -- quite the opposite of lazy!

chicsahm

DS is almost 17 months and still not walking or talking. We did call infant toddler program per our Dr. (every Dr. will say something diff) and we started working with a speech therapist and PT. The ST said it is common they won't talk until they master the walking and gross motor skills.... then the speech will start to flow. We are working on signing to help ease frustration. As for walking, I am not worried. He always has met his milestones at the VERY end.... rolling over, sitting etc. He is progressing and that is what is good, one day (after trying to prompt him all the time) he decided he was ready for his walker toys, "HE" has to decide when he is ready.... (he has always been very alert, cautious, and observent) he cruises all over with them and even started moving/angling them exactly where he wants to go. The end of milestone for walking is 18 months, I am pretty confident he will use every last day of it, but will be walking soon. If your LO is progressing in 1 department I wouldn't worry. But I know, it is hard not to!!

michelle7482

15 months here and not walking either. She's been crusing and climbing steps since 13 months. She just started to take 1 or 2 independent steps last wk so I feel she will walk when ready. My pedi said since she's cruising there's nothing to worry about.

mben1119

kbruington:

Maybe I'm reading into this wrong but your child is not lazy. They don't think that way and he's isn't doing any of this on purpose. All kids do things when they are good and ready so all you can do is encourage learning and let him walk when he's ready.

Yeah, I think to call your Lo lazy is harsh.

HeidiP14

Try not to worry, all kids are different even though most walk around a year the normal is up until 18 months. Mine was the same way and then one day just let go and he was walking but it wasn't until 17 months. Mine is 20 months now and doesn't really say a lot of words but I'm not overly concerned and you shouldn't be unless he doesn't seem to understand you. 

ilanat

Based on everything you wrote, it sounds like he is listening and understanding and taking everything in, so that one day, he's just going to bust out talking a ton.  I have heard of that happening.  He is doing what he needs to do to learn to be a person and he's doing it on his own schedule.  So smart of him!  If he's cruising, he's on the cusp of walking; there's nothing to do, except enjoy this time in his life. 

Oh, one more thing... here's a list of kids who were late talkers, (from parenting.com): 

Gary Becker, Nobel Prize-winning economist
Albert Einstein
Julia Robinson, the first woman president of the American Mathematical Society
Arthur Rubinstein, piano virtuoso
Edward Teller, physicist and nuclear power pioneer