Worried about 1 year old development

[Skidamarinkadinkadink]

I love my (just turned) 1 year old DS with all my heart, but I feel so worried about this development, he’s really quite far behind his other NCT friends.

reasons why I’m worried:

• no gestures, doesn’t point or wave, has clapped once two weeks ago and not again.
• doesn’t really follow a point
• very hit and miss with name recognition
• eye contact isn’t great
• has repetitive behaviours, spinning things and won’t push a toy car on the floor but will tip it over and spin the wheels.
• standing / cruising is often on tiptoes
• doesn’t copy

reasons why I’m not:

• babbles ba, ga and ma
• occasionally says mama (not necessarily to me but sometimes)
• is happy, smiley and cuddly
• will follow some basic instruction sometimes (though not sure if it’s a fluke) such as “come here”
• is crawling well and cruising, starting to stand unaided.
• eats and sleeps well.
• good with strangers

I am going to the GP to get his hearing checked, but I wonder if anyone could offer me any advice? Any next steps?

the anxiety over this is keeping me awake at night.

A happy baby! Anyway, do you have other reasons to be particularly concerned? Birth problems, development issues in relatives? Maybe he'll grow up to design/ build fairgrounds or fast cars (the focus/delight with things that spin).

A lot of things you mention as concerns are developmental normal at this age. Your baby will be due their one year check around now so I would ring your HV to chase it up for your peace of mind.

I just wanted to give a quick update on this (and look to it as kind of a diary).

So he’s had a health visitor appointment where they came out and did the asq for 12 months, and he got a similar score to what he got at 10 months. She’s referred us for SLT, I have an appointment with them soon, and also parents evening at his nursery so will discuss his development. Will be making an appointment for a hearing check soon.

things he’s improved:

• Has started to wave (only at DH so far), well we think it’s waving.
• Is saying mama directly to me
• I’m now more confident he understands “come here”
• better eye contact

Still no other gestures (apart from high five), no pointing, still very hit and miss with his name recognition, doesn’t really follow a point.

Just as an update, he’s making progress in some areas but not in others, my baby is no longer a baby and is now 15months. He’s toddling around really well and walks more than crawling now. he’s been diagnosed with glue ear.

Other improvements have been:

• Claps and waves. Claps along to “if you’re happy and you know it”.
• will pass me certain objects (eg if I ask him to pass me the duck).
• sometimes attempts words but really only saying mama and dada regularly and “go”

areas of concern:

• still no pointing
• repetitive behaviour (eg. some pacing)
• Very limited speech
• no pretend play
• eye contact not great.

Hey, any further update?

Hi @Sonorus hes improved in some areas but still way behind in others. He’s now 18.5 months.

pros -
he can say about 10-15 words including: apple, duck, ball, star etc.
he is the most loving little boy, always hounding me for kisses and cuddles
knows more actions to songs (eg open close them)

concerns
still no pointing
some repetitive behaviour, though this has reduced a bit. But still can wave hands/ look out the corner of his eyes etc.
doesnt tend to play with toys typically. Will either wave them around, or turn them over and spin the wheels.
has started hand leading.

Health visitor is aware, he has a follow up in July. A repeat hearing test in June and nursery are keeping a close eye on him. He’s also been referred to speech therapy

Hi,
how is he doing now?

Has he had his eyes checked? I'd look to get that done too.

Hi @Injackane

He’s doing so well. He’s nearly 2 and he can now say over 50 words, and can count to 10, sing songs and say the alphabet. He’s generally a pleasure to be around and I’m so proud of how far he’s come.

He’s stopped his repetitive behaviour, he does tend to get a bit fixated on other toys, but he plays with them quite typically now. He eats and sleeps well, and is starting to use a spoon / fork.

He goes to nursery, which he doesn’t particularly like at drop off, and he doesn’t like it when it gets too noisy. And he’s not that bothered about other kids.

he is on the wait list for an autism assessment, the paediatrician said he has a few read flags which he may or may not grow out of. The wait list is a year, so it gives him some time to develop and change and see if there’s still some concerns or not.

Pretty good chances, I would bet my Josie on it, that he will grow out of the few quirks he has. Or maybe they are just part of his character?

How’s your little boy doing now 😊

i can’t edit my comment. Meant to say “ I would bet my soul on it…”

Let us know how your boy is doing. He seems to be progressing well. Our speech therapist says that it is more important that the progress exist, than reaching the milestones.

hi @Skidamarinkadinkadink how are things now?