14 month old DS no words or actions yet?

[RattleAndRoll]

Should I be worried?

DS is coming up to 14 months. He doesn't say any words yet. He babbles and makes lots of sounds. Sometimes he says sounds that would pass as mum or yes but they're never in context. So I don't think these are on purpose. He understands words like no(and stops what he's doing), kiss(leans in to kiss me), dummy(looks around for one), step(looks down and lifts foot). He understands that if I open the front door he's not allowed to go out, he puts his arms up to be picked up (we live in a flat so I carry him down the stairs). He understands if I have a plate of his that he is going to be eating and needs to go in his highchair, so goes to it.

He doesn't yet point, showing no signs of doing so anytime soon. He has recently started showing signs of waving/clapping ie sometimes, not often, you wave to him he'll raise a hand but not really do anything else. Sometimes when he's excited his hands go together but not in a rhythmic clapping way just random hits.

I wasn't at all worried until I just read on here that a baby the same age says lots of words and says poo poo when they need to poo. He's not even talking yet, let alone verging on potty training and understanding when he needs to go to the toilet. So now I am worried.

We didn't go to playgroups until the last couple of months so I'm wondering if this has slowed his development down as I wasn't singing nursery rhymes and actions with him, we just played. Then around 1 year I started with wind the bobbin and if you're happy and you know it etc. and then started going to groups (only 2 a week).

Should I be worried?

[Bejeena]

No he sounds perfectly normal to me, my 2 year old was same at that age.

[DimpleHands]

Don't worry at all about having no words at this age. The important thing is that he is beginning to understand what you are saying. Red flags are this age relate to non-verbal communication. Does he point at things? Does he look at something then look back at you to see if you have seen it? Does he following your point if you point at something? Is his eye contact OK? Does he turn around (most of the time) if you call his name? If he doesn't do these things, I still wouldn't start worrying at quite this point - I would give it another month or so. A month at this age is a long time.

[RattleAndRoll]

Thank you both for replying.
He does answer to his name most of the time, and about half the time will look at where i'm pointing. His eye contact is fine. Sometimes I'll feel eyes burning into the back of me and I'll look at him and he's staring at me and as soon as my eyes meet his he lights up and gives a massive smile. He also looks at me & what I'm holding/pointing to if I say 'what's this?' If I call him from another room he'll come find me. If I hide and call him he'll come find me. He plays peek a boo from behind a blanket. I really wasn't worried until I read that other post!

[YouBastardSockBalls]

My 14 month old is not talking (obvs, she's 14 months old!) but does do grabby hands and 'uh-uh-uh' when she wants something.
DS didn't really say anything until 2, he never shuts up now though

[DimpleHands]

I think that all sounds very positive!

Both zzzzz and I have children with autism so we sort of know the things to look for! My DS wasn't really doing any of the things you say your DS is at that age. I really don't think the lack of words is anything to worry about at this stage and the babbling is a very good sign.

Personally, based on your follow-up post, I wouldn't really be worried at this point BUT if he still isn't pointing, waving, copying actions like clapping, etc at 15 months I would go and see your GP as zzzzz suggests. If there IS a problem, the waiting lists to get any kind of help are very long so it's best to get into the queue as soon as possible (and then you can always pull him off the list later on if things improve).

So I think don't worry but keep and eye on things and review in a month or so.

[RattleAndRoll]

Thanks again.
No to animal noises.
He sometimes makes sounds that could be mama/mumma, but it doesn't ever seem to 'fit' ie he doesn't say it whilst next to me with his arms up wanting to be picked up. He'll say it whilst playing and not whilst looking at me or wanting me. Does that make sense? It just randomly comes out.
He doesn't tell me he wants anything like the grabby hands / uh-uh-uh. The only way I know he wants something is by whinging/moaning/then crying. For example if he sees a toy and I get it first he starts whinging/moaning almost like the start of a tantrum.

[notbread]

I approached my HV when DS was 15 months as he wasn't walking or talking. They sent him for a hearing test which was fine. I was told there wasn't any real help available until aged 2 but HV did visit when he was 18m and thought he was improving. Told me not to worry etc. He's 20m now and possibly has about 20-30 words that I understand. Doesn't say mum. It's so hard not to worry. His cousin's speech was so clear at the same age. I saw a post here about a 2 year old who was starting to read which just seems crazy.

[LillyBugg]

My 13 month old sounds like your DS. None of his words are in context. But he says mumma, dada and nana so frequently that they must be words. They are never in context. He does wave ish, will flap his whole arm if you're lucky. And doesn't point. I'm not worried just yet!

[RattleAndRoll]

And he hisses a lot? Is that normal? Like a tthssssss or hsssss sound.

[RattleAndRoll]

I just read on another post about dummies. He has them. He probably has them about half of his awake time. So I'll stop him using them in the day if that could help?
I think I'm going to spend a week really watching him and seeing if I'm missing any communication (verbal or gestures) from him and then go from there. I might give hv a call and see what they say too. I've looked through other threads on here and it seems he's not alone but that doesn't necessarily rule out a problem.
Thank you everyone.

[DimpleHands]

Not sure about the hissing although I do know a friend said her nephew (who is over two years old) doesn't have any words but does hiss a lot. He may just enjoy the noise? I wouldn't read anything into that one anyway.

[DimpleHands]

I remember posting on here about DS not pointing, clapping, waving at 15 months and remember getting a mixed bag of responses - many said their child was the same but by, say, 18 months their child was doing everything and was fine, others said these were the first signs they spotted of their child having autism/some kind of developmental delay. So it's really hard to say at this age. But you are right to be alert and to raise it with a GP if things are the same in a month's time. If there IS a problem, early intervention is absolutely key for outcomes. Good luck and all the best.

[DimpleHands]

Oh and I wouldn't place too much trust on HVs... If they say everything's fine but still no pointing etc in the next month, please don't take their word that everything is OK. The GP is the person to see if you do have worries.

Try maybe doing lots of over-exaggerated pointing over the next few weeks and see if he picks it up (lots of Look! A bird! Look! An aeroplane!) - get down on his level, point and make lots of eye contact.

[c4kedout]

I would be concerned about the lack of words and particularly the lack of communication/pointing too. My DC1 was similar at that age and now has a dx of autism. sometimes children just develop these skills a bit later but sometimes they are a red flag.

I would go to GP. get hearing test sorted (this is usually the quick and easy part) and self refer to Salt. I would not get the HV involved. I have yet to meet one who has even a basic understanding of disordered development in children.

[CultureSucksDownWords]

From a complete non expert pov, he sounds within the realms of normal development. These things can go in fits and starts, and in the course of a couple of weeks they can make huge progress.

I must admit I thought dummies did increase the risk of speech issues, and ideally should be used for sleep only, or not at all.

[RattleAndRoll]

I've got an appointment with his GP tomorrow morning so will see what he says.
I've been watching him this morning and he's following my point but if I sing and do actions he's not pointing/waving/clapping himself with me. He recognises the songs though as he always sways his head to them. I held toys out earlier one m each hand to see if he'd try to communicate he wanted one bit he just kept stretching to reach one, pulling my hand down to get it, rather than telling me in some way.
I've been reading up on autism and although he is really young there are things that I seem to relate to. For example how everyone saying what a good baby he is because he'll play on his own for ages, but that this can be a sign. So anyway doctors it is.
Thanks everyone.