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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Worried about my 14 month old baby’s development

59 replies

MaryLouFreebush · 08/09/2018 21:05

Hi, I’m new to Mumsnet & this is my first post so I’m sorry if I’m putting this in the wrong place. Any help/advice/reassurance would be much appreciated!
I’m a first time mum to a 14 month old boy. He’s amazing, my absolute world, but I’m getting a bit concerned about his development & just curious to know what others think.
He isn’t walking yet & in my opinion he’s not going to master it any time soon. He doesn’t pull himself up on anything, the only time he’ll get up onto his feet is if I offer him my hands & then he’ll do it straight away. He tries to pull himself up in his cot but he can’t do it, although he will stand up happily in his cot or against the couch if I put him there, & he’s just started to cruise a bit now.
He can roll from front to back & back to front no problems. He can sit unaided very well, but he can’t get from sitting to lying down on his front or back, unless this is by accident i.e. falling. Similarly if he’s lying down he can’t get into a sitting position, like he wouldn’t roll onto his front & manoeuvre his legs to sitting up. He doesn’t crawl, he doesn’t really use his knees at all & if I try & put him on all fours he just laughs & sinks down onto the floor! He can get around by bum shuffling or he bounces around on his back. Or he can kind of push himself backwards if he’s on his tummy. But to be honest, he just doesn’t seem to have much interest in getting around! I’ve tried sitting him in the middle of the floor & putting toys out of reach, & he’ll try & reach them but he tends to get really frustrated & cry.
If I stand him up & take his hands & walk around the room with him he will walk but he’s very unsteady. He can’t stand unaided, he can hold on with just 1 hand but he’s a bit wobbly.
Also, various websites have said that in terms of milestones for his age he should be able to say a few words now, but he can’t. He’s very vocal & he babbles loads, but he doesn’t say any words. He does dadadadada & nanananana, we’ve had the occasional mamamamama - but he doesn’t say them in context.
I don’t know if I’m worrying unnecessarily & need to chill out & concentrate on just enjoying him, or if I’ve been too laid back & not tried to encourage him enough to do more.

OP posts:

BifsWif · 08/09/2018 21:07

Have you spoken to your health visitor about your concerns?

Some babies are just a lot slower than others but if you are concerned it might put your mind at ease if you have a word with them.

Confusedbeetle · 08/09/2018 21:08

Yes, you are worrying unnecessarily. Take him to see your health visitor for a developmental assessment. I bet your bottom dollar it will be fine

hidinginthenightgarden · 08/09/2018 21:11

I thought my DD wouldn't walk for ages. She was a bum shuffler and not interested. One day she just did it. She was 16 months.
If your gut is saying something is wrong, ask your HV. But 14 months and not getting around isn't too unusual.

Neverender · 08/09/2018 21:11

Please don't worry - just see what happens next. DD didn't walk until 17 months ish and then she was running around like a total nut job and I wished I'd enjoyed the bit when she couldn't walk! Let him develop for a little while and then see what he does next x

Neverender · 08/09/2018 21:12

She's trying to walk backwards and jump now 😮

Kohi36 · 08/09/2018 21:12

My eldest was having similar issues in that he couldn’t pull to stand or get from lying down position to sitting. I felt something was off with him so took him to an osteopath. Turned out his pelvis was out. Immediately after osteo season he pulled to standing and walked a few weeks later. Has he had any falls. I would definitely rule out possibility that it could be a physical issue. Best of luck

Bambamber · 08/09/2018 21:13

Did you have a 12 month check up with a health visitor? Some kids never even crawl and go straight to walking. My daughter didn't start walking until 16 months and wouldn't really stand unaided until then. If you have concerns I would start with your health visitor and go from there. Some kids can be a little slow in some areas, and other kids slower in other areas. The majority of the time it all balances out in the end, but do get concerns checked out

thisismadness77 · 08/09/2018 21:13

My DD was almost 19 months to walk. Lazy bones...

MatriarchalDreams · 08/09/2018 21:13

Did your LO hsve a 10-12 month development check with the health visitor (assuming you're in the UK)? I'd advise you get in touch with them as they can monitor, offer advice on anything else you could do to encourage him and ultimately refer on if it's necessary. They do all develop at different rates so it could be that he's just chilled out and taking it all in before he suddenly just 'gets' it but it's certainly worth voicing your concerns.

Figgygal · 08/09/2018 21:14

What does the hv say?
Or your gp?

There is a large range of normal so it might be nothing

Figgygal · 08/09/2018 21:15

To worry about

Llanali · 08/09/2018 21:15

I don’t know about the physical side as mine were early movers, but wrt the speech.... mine didn’t say a word until 20months, the only said one phrase “good pets name, and then at 26 months started with full sentences and hasn’t shut up since!

Wattonearth · 08/09/2018 21:15

Both my D.C were bum shufflers my DS didn’t walk until 18 months and was very similiar as to how you describe your DS and my DD walked at 16 months. Both are now developmentally on par with their peers. Try not to over worry. I know you’ll be comparing him to others his age but they find their own way in their own time.

Seniorschoolmum · 08/09/2018 21:16

Op, see your health visitor to reassure yourself, but I bet he’s ok.
My ds was early walking but didn’t say a single word - not mummy- nothing until he was 27 months. We haven’t be able to shut him up since.
They all do things at different rates. I bet your ds walks when he decides to.

PenApple · 08/09/2018 21:16

My DD didn’t bear any weight until she was over a year, bum shuffled at nearly 13mo and walked at 15mo. She never crawled and didn’t really cruise furniture either. I was panicking as he older brother was walking at 10mo. She’s 9 now and call do all those things 😬😬

I have a nearly 14mo just now and he can’t say much. Wow, no & bye are about it.

pilates · 08/09/2018 21:17

I’m sure it’s nothing but I would get him checked out for your peace of mind.

Avacadoandtoast · 08/09/2018 21:18

Don’t worry - but also be good to speak to your health Visitor so they can do double checks on anything, they should also help put your mind at rest! It’s so easy to compare your baby to others - but they all develop at different rates - he’s maybe just super chilled out ☺️

Badumdumdum · 08/09/2018 21:19

I would also suggest talking to your HV. It sounds like he can get around just doesn't want to without your help.
In regards to talking, my boy didn't stsrt ralking till 3 weeks before he was two. We had no mamamama or dadadadadabefore that either. 3 months later he was counting to 10 and a year later he speaks on a level with his peers. So i wouldn't worry about speech yet.

MissisBee · 08/09/2018 21:21

Sounds like what my son was like at 14 months (although he was born 6 weeks early). He mastered pulling to stand, crawling and getting from lying to sitting in the space of a week. He's just over 16 months now and is so very nearly walking. Doesn't say any words but makes lots of varied noises and seems to understand quite a lot. I'm not worried about his development, he does tend to do everything right at the late end of normal.
Your son sounds fine but speak to your HV if you're worried

gluteustothemaximus · 08/09/2018 21:21

DS2 walked at 18 months. Never really crawled or rolled over either.

He got his first tooth at 13 months.

Took a while for speech too. He's just 'slower' than average. And by slower, I mean normal

Dizzylin · 08/09/2018 21:25

My DS was 17mo before he walked. We were also worried about his speech to the point we were planning on getting advice, (even Nursery commented on his speech but said his communication was good) he didn't say much until he turned 2 now he talks all of the time and his speech has really come on in the last month or so.

Try not to worry but speak to your HV if you are really concerned.

anotherangel2 · 08/09/2018 21:28

Definitely ring your HV explain the issue and ask for appointment. This is big art of their role. Generally they don’t worry about walking until 18 months.

FermatsTheorem · 08/09/2018 21:43

No harm in asking your health visitor for reassurance - I'd say always check if your instincts tell you something's not right. But in the mean time, try not to worry: but as PP have said, it's within the realm of normal. (My DS didn't walk till about 16, 17 months - he is now one of the fastest runners in his year at school and ended up in the country cross-country championships! I think we can safely say that's not my genes at work.)

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 08/09/2018 21:44

To be honest, if you feel that there is a problem (is he in any pain do you think, that may be holding him back?) then I'd go straight to my doctor rather than a health visitor. But if you can't see any signs of pain or stiffness and he isn't falling over more that you'd expect, I wouldn't worry.

Original poster

MaryLouFreebush · 08/09/2018 21:45

Thanks for your replies & reassurances. The HV came to see him for a routine check up when he was about 10 months old, she said the only thing they needed to see that he could do by that stage was sit unaided, & he could so she seemed satisfied.
I’ll make an appointment for him to see her again, I’ve been putting it off for some reason but I think it’ll help put my mind at ease.
He’s a really chilled out baby so it’s probably just slight laziness! But I see so many others of his age doing so much more & instantly think oh god, he’s really behind!

OP posts:

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