Answered by Linda Jonides R.N., C.P.N.P.
"I have worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner (P.N.P.) for over 30 years," says Linda Jonides. "I continue to thoroughly enjoy forming new relationships with parents and newborns and working with them through infancy, childhood, and adolescence."
Linda Jonides is a pediatric nurse practitioner in a private pediatric practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She received her Diploma in Nursing and Certificate as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is a past recipient of the Michigan PNP of the Year Award. She has a B.S. in Nursing from Eastern Michigan University. She has published articles and lectured on childhood obesity, infant colic, role of the P.N.P., growth and development issues, and infectious diseases. She was an author of "Clinical Insights Column," published biannually in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care for nine years. Jonides is past president of NAPNAP. Currently, she is a steering group work member of NAPNAP's HEAT (healthy eating and activity together) project. One outcome of this group's work is the clinical practice guideline, "Identifying and Preventing Overweight in Childhood," that was published as a supplement to the March/April '06 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.
Ms. Jonides has been married to John, a university professor, since 1971.
Question
I have a 25-pound 11-month-old son. He eats regular food such as rice, beans, chicken, and fruits. He hasn't started walking, and I think it's because he's a little on the heavy side. But my mother says he doesn't walk because I don't feed him properly (I don't make him homemade soups, juices, etc., like she does, because I work during the week). Should I worry?
Answer
The average age for walking alone is 12 to 14 months, so he's not even late for walking. Just from your brief description, it sounds as if you are giving him a variety of table foods, which is what he should be eating now. It's very hard for parents to listen to all the advice, often well-intentioned, they get about how to do the job better. But use your common sense, and if you have specific concerns, check with your health care provider. Good luck!
