[nikkianni]

OK, I've been waiting for this for MONTHS. You might even say 16 months.
Yesterday, out of nowhere, my child that flat out refused to even attempt to walk on her own took FOUR steps!!!!!
I'm so excited I can't even tell you. I seriously thought I'd be carrying this kid to her senior prom.

So here's my question. How do I get her to do it again? It was a total accident the first time. She was pulled up to the stand and wanted to get to the rocker. She leaned a little too far forward and started to fall. Normally she would just have dropped and crawled but instead she took four fast steps. The I-don't-want-to-fall-so-I'll-move-my-feet kind. Then she got to the rocker, stood there for a second and sat down.
She didn't even know what she'd done. DH and I sat there in shock.
But that does count right? Someone please tell me that counts.

[OakShannon]

Yeah, Eve!! Sure it counts! Maybe a couple of times doing it accidently will give her confidence to do it intentionally.

As far as getting her to try again - I would try holding a favorite toy just out of her reach or reaching for her while you're playing to see if she'll come to you. But, you know, then again, it seems like the surest way to make a kid NOT do something is to let them know we want them too! My almost-7-month-old has been able to sit unsupported since he was five months. He can stand at a table and play with toys. He can even squat down to pick up something he's dropped. But he doesn't roll over. He just doesn't. And sometimes I swear it's because he knows I'd really like him to!

[kelceesmom]

Yeah And boy does it count! Once Kelcee took her first steps I would just stand her up and let go to see what she would do. Some times she would take a few steps and some times just sit back down. She'll do it again.

[ourdreamcametru]

Way to go! You bet it counts and before long she will be running. Castle didn't take her first steps until she was 16 months but when she did that was it!



I used to work with a very old German lady who swore by giving the kids an empty paper towel tube to hold while they tried to walk. I can't tell you how many children started walking in the daycare because of her doing that. I guess it makes them think they are holding on to something stable so they just take off.

[thanksgivingmom]

It ABSOLUTELY counts!!!

Congratulations!!!!!

[feelingreyt]

That counts big time! Way to go EVE!!!

Before you know it she will be walking/running everywhere!

[Whirled_Peas]

Pretty exciting!!!

My son's first steps (four just like yours) were also accidental. I set him down (standing up) in front of our dog. He wanted to get to her. I don't know who was more shocked by his four steps, me or him.

That's about as many as he did for several weeks. Four here, 7 there, 1 here, 5 there. Then one day, when my parents were in town, he just walked. All day long. One day he was a dabbler in walking the next day he was a walker. I've heard other parents say that's how their kids did it too.

I've also heard that kids who start walking later also have a faster learning curve, so it may not be many weeks.

I don't think it really matters what we do to try and encourage them. When their bodies are ready they just do it.

[dawnrenee58]

YAY EVE! Timo didn't walk until 15 months, but once he figured it out, was unstoppable!

[finallyamom0310]

Congrats. There is nothing better than the first four steps.

When DD took her first 4 steps I was at work. When I got home she was so excited she actually wanted to show off for Mommy so kept going and hasn't stopped yet.

[mommy3]

What a great moment -- my two older children didn't walk by themselves officially until 15 and 16 mos. respectively -- very independent children, ha. I've learned the wisdom first-hand that THIS "accidental" learning is exactly how much childhood learning actually occurs. They "do" something and then, "hmmmm, how DID I do that?' Your dd might be cajoled into more performances, but she might not like the attention, either, as my son DIDN'T at all. Take a reading on how she responds to a little motivation and keep it up/back down depending on her response. She'll figure it out no matter what solely because she DOES plan on walking (and maybe even dancing) at her senior prom!

A long-time story paraphrased from advice from a parenting comedienne was that when we get all worried about our children's lack of interest in potty training, we gain perspective that by the time they are 15, potty training is really not an issue any longer, he he.

Enjoy every step! susan

[nikkianni]

Thanks everyone! DD was not in the toddling mood yesterday. She stood on her own for quite a while several times but no forward motion.
So we're just going to see how things go. Someone told me to get a hula hoop and hold on to one "side" while DD holds the other. I think it's the same theory as the empty paper towel roll.
I wasn't going to try it but suddenly DH is the walking expert, lol. By the time I'd gotten home last night he'd already gone out and gotten a hula hoop!
Crazy man.

[4everwaiting]

WOOO HOOO!!!

Yes Nikki, it counts intentional or by accident it still counts, SHE WALKED!!!

Go Eve Go!

Congratulations Nikki (and Eve)!

Before long, you will be begging her to sit down, and wondering what she will be into next... )

S

[Cjmeck]

Yes it counts! It means she CAN do it; but maybe she's just a cautious kid (not a bad thing) and she has chosen not to walk. You know how we got my son moving? He walked to my can of Coke! Seriously, it was a forbidden item (obviously) and one day he just walked to the Coke. So, we lured him with Coke cans for weeks to help him get his confidence up and then he was off and running in no time. Exciting stuff; enjoy it!

[portlowski]

I don't want to highjack your post but just to let you know you are NOT alone!! My 19 month old son is not walking yet. We have taken him to physical therapy and they have assured us he doesn't have any problems, he is just a VERY late walker. He's saying lots of words and crawling up and down on everything but I am getting so sick of other moms giving me that condescending look at the playground and saying "he's so big...and he's STILL not walking?" Ugh.

Your post gave me inspiration!

Oh by the way...the thing I HATE the most is when he is in his stroller on a walk in our city neighborhood where the sidewalk often has broken bottles etc on it and a stranger says, "he'll never walk if you always push him around." Huh? Am I supposed to let him crawl across a busy street? He has lots and lots of "free range" time at home and in the backyard but I have to put him in a stroller sometimes because he can't walk yet!!!

[sunflower1220]

how totally awesome Nikki!!!! I know how you have been waiting for this day for a long time. I am so excited for both you and eve!!! WOOT WOOT!!!