To be worried that my Dtwins not walking or talking at almost 17 months

[doradaisy]

They smile, have v. good eye contact, and babble a bit, saying 'da da da' and 'oo oo' when they point at things.
They're very placid (compared to my DD age 4) and v easy babies - they smile when I talk to them but don't inititate conversations really.

I thought they were slower than her because a. they were a bit premature and twins 2. I didn't give them as much time, well I feel I haven't anyway, to read, etc, with them

Crawling for ages, cruising a bit but not walking yet.

17 months in end of November.

I'm usually not one for comparing children as they're all different, but are these red flag warning signs I should be worried about?

in advance as bit worried now after thinking about it

[doradaisy]

oh and sorry as probably should be on twins forum

[clare458]

I have id twin boys. They didn't walk until they were 19 months and my sisters singleton dd walked at 23 months. If they are cruising and crawling it could just be a matter of time.
My twins speech was slower too, in fact I was worried when they started school that they would struggle because their speech was so minimal.
They never struggled to form friendships and now aged 7 they have really started to blossom. Academically they are still behind slightly but it's not as obvious as it used to be.
I used to worry constantly and compare them and I always felt like their teachers, speech therapists etc were on my back.
If your concerned at all, maybe speak to your HV.

[whackamole]

Hi Dora!

I don't know if you have re-posted on twins but thought I would tell you my experiences as I have identical twin boys who are coming up for 3.

They were born at 36 weeks and had no problems at all, no special care, fed well etc etc.

They were crawling about 10-11 months, and cruising from the second they crawled. They didn't walk till about 15 months though.

They are not great talkers still, and are 2 years 10 months. I have spoken to HVs etc, and they have put them on the wait list for speech therapy (just in case, the wait is about 9 months!) but have iterated that they are not concerned. Twins often develop later than singletons, particularly in speech. This has also been stated by the nursery.

My boys can say a fair amount of words but aren't really stringing any sentences together, the most is 'juice please'. They didn't even really start saying anything till they were about 2.

Oh, my boys were very placid and easy-going as well (not so much now...) and babble a lot to each other. They still do it, talking in their own language.

If you are concerned, have a word with your HV, but I would say unless they are not moving a lot, and not making any sounds at all, then really there isn't a lot to be worried about.

HTH

[whackamole]

God that took me a long time to type!

[ouryve]

You need to express your concerns to your HV. It's hard to get anyone worried about lack of speech at this age, especially if other signs are good, but I found out when DS2 was almost 3 that the fact that he didn't walk until 20m should have been taken far more seriously at the time. Turned out he is hypermobile and he didn't really become stable on his feet until this was recognised (at almost 3) and given supportive boots and insoles and strengthening exercises.

DS2 makes brilliant eye contact, by the way, yet does have ASD. (Just as DS2 has a brilliant imagination but does have ASD - it's not all absolutely stereotypical textbook)

[buttonmoon78]

No experience of twins but is it possible that they have their own 'language'?

On the walking front, dds and ds1 walked at 18, 15 and 18m. All three are now lively, surefooted, normal and active children.

DC4 is enormous so I'm not expecting him to walk til he's about 18 years!

[doradaisy]

Thank you all!

Interesting info clare - great that boys doing well in school :)

Thanks whackamole for spending such a long time typing that!:) Your words are reassuring - in my heart, I feel there isn't a huge amount to worry about (maybe I've been too busy to think about it) but am comparing their development to DD1 who was talking in full sentences and had a huge vocab at 2 :)

I think with twins, it's very hard to get one to one time with them so I notice I don't speak as directly to them as I did DD.

I have a background in teaching/linguistics so will keep eyes open for any serious delays and will contact HV

Wondered about twins own language....I think it's more that the boys are happy to have someone understand them, so don't feel need to communicate as much, rather than specifically constructing own language?

[Nevertooearlyforcake]

My kids walked at 16 and 17 months respectively. They are fine. I don't remember either saying much at the age of your twins, definitely no more than babble, no discernable words. DD1 is now five and won't shut up, her little sister is 2.5 and has been able to hold full conversations for months. My friends DD crawled at 7 months but then wouldn't walk unsupported until she was 18 months

I don't have twins but thought I'd share my experience in case it's of any help. I wouldn't worry yet but if you feel you've had good advice from your HV in the past then having a word won't hurt (I was unconvinced by mine, I'm sure my bumshuffling DD1 wasn't doing it because we had wooden floorboards and crawling hurt her knees as was suggested!).

For what it's worth, DD1 has always been quite light (though tall) and I worried about her weight when she was a baby. I think that has meant I have a greater tendency to scrutinise her progress than DD2 who has always been more solid.

[faeriefruitcake]

prem twins develop later, usually, my Dt's developed at a slower pace than their older sister but they get there in the end.

[squeakytoy]

I know a few friends who have twins, and all say that they seem to pick things up later than average, as they seem to be happier copying each other, and have their own little way of communicating.

Once they get to the walking and talking stage fully though, they will soon catch up very quickly.

[manicbmc]

Twins here too. Though dd was walking and talking at 13 months, it took ds until 19 months to start toddling about.

They'll be off soon enough and you'll be wishing they were still crawling. Try not to worry too much.

[sunnydelight]

I wouldn't worry about it tbh, it's well within the "range of normal". None of my three walked before 18 months, latest was 20 months - could crawl at speed though so I reckon he didn't see the point.

[Melindaaa]

So they are actually only 16 months? You really have nothing to worry about, I wouldn't have thought. my twins are approaching 22 months and don't walk, and have a vocab that consists soley of DADADADADA at the tops of their lungs.

[LargeGlassofRed]

my twins speech if defiantly behind their singleton siblings I mentioned to hv at 2 and she said on average twins are 6 months behind with speech she also said being part of a large family can delay speech.

[jester68]

I don't have twins.
My eldest daughter was 16 months when she started to walk.

My youngest is 17 months and is just now toddling around. Seems to have happened real quick, first a couple of tiny steps then this last week is starting to walk around more and more.

I would not worry. I was 18 months old when I walked, my niece was around 16 months old.

[duvetdayplease]

Hello, I don't think 17 months is a red flag. You say they were a bit prem - is 17 months their corrected age? I thought if a baby was early the docs would use corrected age til around 2, so all the milestones get shunted back a bit. My son was in hosp for a month and he was therefore adjusted by one month at all his follow up appts.

If you are worried, call your HV or speak to your doctor, its ok to be worried and five minutes of someone's time might be all you need to reassure you.