This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

I find myself using a Boba baby carrier a lot for our 15 month old.   Why?
My 15 month old isn’t walking.   She will be 16 months in a week and while she will walk with some help (holding our hands) she won’t take steps alone.  Some parents worry with this scenario, but to be honest, this is perfectly normal and still developmentally appropriate.

If she is 18 months and still not walking, I will have her evaluated (although I don’t see that happening).  18 months  is the age that she should be starting to walk, although I have worked with several little ones  (I am a play therapist) that didn’t walk until they were two and they do great now!
By the way, I was 16 months before I walked, too!  Like Mother, Like daughter? 

Here are some tips to help (if YOUR 12-18 month old isn’t walking yet)

  • Work with her daily, offering her enticing things (stuffed animals, snacks, toys, yourself with your arms outstretched) on the “other” end of the table, or the “other” side of the couch- if she tries to crawl, I just stand her up again and she cruises right along again.
  • Walk with her – holding her hands
  • Let her use her push toy (push walker, stroller, shopping cart)
  • Don’t put her in slippery shoes or socks.  I try to let our baby have bare foot at home, so that she won’t slip when she does try to take those first steps
  • Don’t use a walker (the one that looks like an exersaucer with wheels) – they aren’t good for your baby’s legs or hips, plus a LOT of babies end up in the ER from injuries using walkers near stairs.   It is dangerous.  We just never had them in our house.
  • Give her plenty ‘floor time’, letting her crawl and cruise around on her own, but…
  • Wear her in a carrier when you are out and about (I hate to have her crawling around, getting germs, but when she is in a baby carrier, she is content to be held.  When we are home, she is back to it…)

AB crawling

So, to make things easier when we are out and about (or even at home), I have been baby-wearing a lot.   I’ve ‘worn’ each of our children in a carrier at some point. I studied child development in college and learned about the importance of keeping your baby close when they are young.  Two of our kids were premature or had a very low birth weight, so I had them in baby carriers a LOT- close to my heart…

I felt like it was important for them to be with me (there are facts that prove that children do better when they are worn.  We practiced Kangaroo care with each of our babies, too ~ skin to skin.)

Other than the fact that it bonds you with your baby, I like to do this with our youngest baby because we have four young kids.  I need to have my hands free to help them.  Pushing a stroller or carrying her in my arms isn’t the easiest thing for me, but wearing her is a solution that we both love.

I recently came across the Boba baby carrier because all of my friends were using them.   I’m sure you have seen them around because they are very popular and for good reason…

Did you know that Boba is the only baby carrier company that exclusively sells baby carriers that keep baby facing inward?

my 15 month old isn't walking yet
Here are a few reasons why this is a benefit:

  • Research shows that carrying your baby facing inward helps your baby to attach, in a healthy way, to parents.
  • Having your baby facing inward also prevents hip dysplasia, allowing your sweet little one to stay safe and healthy, both physically and psychologically.
  • I found that when I carried our baby inward vs. outward, it helped my back immensely.   Carrying any of our four kids facing outward just hurt me physically.
  •  I faced them out because I thought that they would be ‘bored’ facing inward, but really, that is where they were most comfortable.  Facing them outward was over-stimulating, which would make them fussy.
  •  It’s much harder on your body and back to carry something that curves away from your body than something that is meant to be carried inward, to curve towards your body.
  • Another good point is that carrying your baby outward doesn’t support your baby’s legs.   Since your baby’s legs should be pulled up to at least hip level,  you need to find a carrier that has the fabric that covers the whole back of the thigh to the backside of the knee on your baby.  When facing outward and their legs are unsupported, his spine and hips are unsupported too.
  • Prevent hip dysplasia~  Check out this medical research by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute and the infant biomechanics of different types of baby carriers.  “A baby carrier that supports the upper legs encourages proper hip development.  Front facing carriers do not support little hips.”

I encourage you to give baby wearing with the Boba a try.  It is easier on YOU AND YOUR BABY (and better for both of you, in my opinion.)  I think you’ll love it.

When your 12-18 month old isn't walking

Here are some more great ideas about Baby Wearing on my Pinterest Safe Baby Wearing Board. 
Follow Becky @ Your Modern Family Baby wearing tips on Pinterest If you want to find out more about it, check out their website at  https://www.bobafamily.com/  To learn more and connect with Boba, “Like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Boba. The opinions and text are all mine.   What are your thoughts on safe babywearing? Comments submitted may be displayed on the Boba website, Facebook, or Twitter.

Hi there!

I’m Becky, a former elementary school teacher turned certified child development therapist and blogger. I work at home with my husband and together we are raising (and partially homeschooling) our four children in the Carolinas. I love diet coke, ice cream, and spending time with my family.

You May Also Like

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

27 Comments

  1. My oldest didn’t walk until she was 14 mo. So we started bribing her by holding toys out just out of her reach. The other two wanted to keep up so walked soon until our baby broke his leg. That stunted his walking and he was about 18 months before he could walk. We had to do a lot of practicing with him.

    I like baby carriers but I liked to push the kids to walk and get exercise.

  2. I know it is challenging when babies don’t walk early but I know many that didn’t start until they were 2. My kids both walked early but that is challenging as well. I love the new products that are available to “wear” your baby. I wish those were available when my children were smaller.

  3. My daughter was 16 months before she walked as well. Yet my son walked at 10 months. I think sometimes it’s just a case of them not being ready yet. 🙂

  4. My son was a little late on walking…he was 15 months. But he took his first step when he was 1 year old, guess he was a little afraid:)

  5. Great tips! My friend’s little one didn’t walk till 20 months , but once he started we couldn’t keep up 🙂

  6. I did NOT know that walkers were bad for babies hips and legs!!! Crap, I really loved using those for my children because they could move on their feet and were so much happier…figures that we learn later that they are not good.

  7. You already know from your profession that all children develop at different rates. Glad you have a great carrier to help carry her everywhere.

  8. My son didn’t start walking until sometimes after he turned one. I wanted him to but once he did he never stopped and I started to miss him crawling around and using his toys to walk. Just enjoy the cute moments now because once those legs start going they never stop.

  9. I love that you shared this information… I was a late walker, I wonder when I have kids when they will begin walking! 🙂

  10. My son had the most enormous belly and that poor little man just didn’t have the leg strength to hoist it up before 15-18 months.

  11. Great tips! Parenting is so hard without stressing about when your kids will hit their milestones!

  12. My daughter didn’t start walking until she was almost two. It’s not strange at all.