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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

14 months doesn't respond to name

24 replies

M0m23 · 08/11/2021 22:03

Surely babies should know their name by 14 months.
He is completely oblivious when I call him, but if I say what's this? Or who's this...he will look

He also understand some words. Such as milk and dinner.
How can I get him to learn his name...without the obvious of saying it...which I do all the time anyway.
When I Google it just comes up at Autism.
Should I be worried?

OP posts:
ddl1 · 08/11/2021 22:08

I would consult the doctor about this. The first thing that occurs to me is that he might have a hearing problem. This would not preclude him noticing and hearing some words.

Nearlytheretrees · 08/11/2021 23:02

I would also get hearing checked. Ds had glue ear and struggled with certain sounds when he was little

PurpleMarie · 08/11/2021 23:13

Maybe you’re pronouncing it wrong?

goose1964 · 08/11/2021 23:17

My granddaughter doesn't respond to her name all the time, but she does respond to oi madam 😀 if he never responds I'd get it checked, if he does some of the time it might be selective hearing.

SirenSays · 08/11/2021 23:25

I looked after a young autistic boy and he didn't know his name. We spent weeks together sat looking in the mirror teaching him my name and his name. We'd point to what we could see in the mirror and name them. My name, his name, the table, the cat..
It took a while but he finally learned it. Then I taught him face and body parts and facial expressions. It was the key to putting together sentences for him I think.

One day I knew he'd got it when he banged his head and pointed to himself and said "Name*, hurty eyebrow, I'm sad!" I think the whole street heard me celebrating the achievement.

Babyfg · 08/11/2021 23:35

Don't worry until you have to, it's a waste of energy and mental health.
Speak to the hv and ask for a hearing test and to speak to someone from speech and language (my Borough has a Facebook page that you can ask advice to but that's probably not national. They'd have a hotline of some sort though).

Is he meeting other milestones age approximately? How did he do on his one year check?

Liverbird77 · 09/11/2021 06:10

By all means get checks, including audiology, but don't worry too much at this stage.

My son was very much like this and barely spoke until he was two. I was very worried because he was also showing other signs of autism.
He was assessed by speech therapy and a paediatrician as potentially having it.
Now he is almost three and he's like a different boy! We can't shut him up!

DBI78 · 09/11/2021 06:17

Definitely a good idea to get checked but don't worry yet. Is he babbling/saying words? Does he make eye contact? Is he walking? Does he notice and enjoy being around other children? Does he notice loud noises? Does he hug? Does he get excited by people/things? Does he have meltdowns? Does he sleep well? Best place to start is GP or health visitor just say your concerns and if they agree you will be referred to relevant services.

Original poster
M0m23 · 09/11/2021 07:31

Thanks for all the replies.
He is babbling, says some words, is trying to walk at the moment, notices loud noises, he sleeps well.
My health visitor isn't the best and rarely gets back to me when I call.
So I will see when they finally phone back.

OP posts:
Choice4567 · 09/11/2021 07:35

@PurpleMarie 😂

Hollywolly1 · 09/11/2021 07:42

Pronouncing his name wrong,I nearly spit out my coffee🤣🤣🤭

October2020 · 09/11/2021 07:54

Try lots of games including names and turn taking e.g.
Roll a ball and say 'Fred get it!' or 'Mummy get it!'
Put a cup on your head and say 'Hat for Mummy!', then on his and say 'Hat for Fred!'

And so on. The Speech Sisters on Instagram provide loads of great ideas. But definitely get his hearing checked as well.

Original poster
M0m23 · 09/11/2021 08:55

Haha...that one comment did make me laugh. I'm clearly pronouncing my own child's name wrong Hmm

OP posts:
StayOrGoOrWhat · 09/11/2021 09:03

@M0m23

Thanks for all the replies. He is babbling, says some words, is trying to walk at the moment, notices loud noises, he sleeps well. My health visitor isn't the best and rarely gets back to me when I call. So I will see when they finally phone back.
This is very very common (I work in this area). As long as he is responding to other sounds then I wouldn’t worry at all. Lots of babies are so used to hearing their name that it doesn’t interest them! He will start turning to it with time xx
Original poster
M0m23 · 12/11/2021 07:11

Thank you.
This is reassuring I just worry he is behind and should know his name by now and worry about his understanding too.

OP posts:
StayOrGoOrWhat · 12/11/2021 19:52

@M0m23

Thank you. This is reassuring I just worry he is behind and should know his name by now and worry about his understanding too.
If your parental instinct tells you something isn’t as it should be then please go with this. Not responding to his name isn’t a concern on its own but if you’re otherwise concerned then it won’t hurt to speak to your HV for further advice.
Original poster
M0m23 · 14/11/2021 21:04

Well I don't know whether I am just worrying too much...
But he rarely claps or waves, only done it a couple of times, he is very cuddly, he is obsessed with spinning things, he can point, he obviously doesn't respond to his name

OP posts:
Original poster
M0m23 · 14/11/2021 21:05

Isnt* very cuddly

OP posts:
hazelclin · 15/04/2022 17:09

@M0m23 how is ur baby now?

Original poster
M0m23 · 15/04/2022 18:12

He responds to his name now and has alot more understanding when we speak to him
It is crazy. Its like it literally happened over night

OP posts:
DixonD · 15/04/2022 18:14

Just one of many worries that children bring us! I’m glad all seems well now!

sha160528 · 26/03/2025 10:42

@M0m23how old was your baby when he started responding to his name? Glad it worked out for you :)

Nodddy · 26/03/2025 10:49

Have you tried a different name? Maybe he's Henry when you're calling him Graham?

CheyneC · 14/06/2025 07:27

Hey mumma I'm going through this now your post makes me worry less thankyou

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