“Still not walking??” is the question I get weekly accompanied by the inevitable vague reassuring statement of  “He’s just a lazy boy” “It’s just because he’s big” “He’ll get there in his own time“.

The thing is, he isn’t lazy and isn’t so big. He’s got good balance and pulls himself up onto everything and furniture surfs at the speed of light but he has absolutely no interest in walking by himself. Having seen the progression with Poppy who was walking behind a walker at 12 months and was a confident walker by 16 months, I can’t help but worry.

I’ve also noticed that his left foot sticks out to the side at an almost 45 degree angle when he walks. Doing initial research I found out that this is quite common and should correct itself as he stands more and builds the strength in his limbs. Only thing is, it hasn’t corrected itself after over 6 months of standing and cruising.

After worrying terribly that his reason for not walking was due to pain in his ankle I took him to the Drs and was pleasantly surprised but also slightly terrified to be referred straight away to a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at hospital. 😱 surgery!!!! WTF OMG!!!!!!

Then I took a chill pill (yeah that phrase gives my age away doesn’t it? 😆). Hoping that a spell of physio would be prescribed we waited with baited breath to receive our appointment date only to receive a letter from the surgeon’s office to say that they actually wouldn’t need to see him. Phew!

So now we’re a month on and he still isn’t walking and still isn’t progressing.

My plan is to sit tight until the magic 18 months box is ticked for the NHS then I’ll start the whole process again. Whilst also keeping my fingers crossed that in the meantime he starts by himself.

Anyone else with a late walker or have a similar problem with ankles? Any tips on encouraging him? Advice would be greatly appreciated.

xx