BALANCING AND WALKING

DEAR DOCTOR,

MY SON IS NOW 18 MONTHS OLD - HE IS STILL NOT ABLE TO STAND ON HIS FEET FOR MORE THEN A MINUTE AND CAN NOT WALK ON HIS OWN. WITH SUPPORT OF ANY OBJECT HE WALK NORMALLY. HE STARTED CRAWLING AT 14 MONTH.

HIS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL GROWTH IS EXCELLENT(AS PER GROWTH CHART). HE IS 10.5 KGS IN WEIGHT AND 77 C.M TALL(AT TIME OF BIRTH 2.6 KGS AND 49 C.M). HE IS STILL 40% BREAST FEEDED AND BALANCE TAKING VEGETABLE, CEREAL & FRUIT JUICE, PEA NUT BUTTER (ALL FRESH NOT TIN PACKED) WE ARE VEGETARIAN -  INDIAN.

MY SON MENTAL GROWTH IS EXCELLENT - HE CAN SPEAK ABOUT 20-25 WORDS.CAN MAKE NOICE OF THE ANIMAL& BIRDS RECOGNISED MANY ANIMALS AND BIRDS. HE UNDERSTAND 3 LANGUAGES(ENGLISH THAI,GUJARATI). HIS MEMORY IS EXCELLENT.

WE ARE TRYING FROM LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT HE SHOULD  STAND AND WALK WITHOUT SUPPORT BUT WE HAVE NOT GOT MUCH SUCCESS. WE HAVE SHOWN TO HIS PEDIATRICIAN HE REFERED US TO  ORTHOPEDIC SURGEN - ACCORDING TO HIM EVERYTHING IS NORMAL - " SOME CHILD HAVE LATE WALKING PATTERN & OUR SON IS FALLING UNDER THAT CATEGORY."

WE APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR VALUABLE SUGESSION IN THIS MATTER. YOUR EARLY REPLY WILL BE APPRECIATED AND SOLICITED.

THANKING YOU

MAYUR SHAH
(BANGKOK /THAILAND)

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Mr. Shah,

While most children achieve the ability to walk without support between the ages of 12 and 16 months, some take a bit longer. The mastery of walking is accomplished in stages, and your son has achieved the ability to walk with support. The final phase, of course, is walking without support. Be patient - most children show some unevenness in their development. That is, they develop at different rates in the various spheres of development: growth, cognitive, social/emotional, etc.

You did the wise thing when you sought the consult with the specialist. He/she has reassured you that your son will be fine - he is simply at the late end of the spectrum re: walking.