AIBU please.
DS is 16 months. He was late preterm (36+ weeks), IUGR and very tiny at birth, so always a bit behind physically. He’s now happy, settled and clearly thriving, but development is uneven and I’m wondering if I’m worrying unnecessarily.
He:
- crawls well and pulls to stand
- bears weight but isn’t walking yet (no cruising)
- babbles a lot but has no clear words yet
- gets frustrated when he can’t do what he wants
On the plus side:
- very social (smiles, laughs, seeks comfort, plays peekaboo)
- good eye contact and interaction
- interested in people and other children
- eats well, sleeps reasonably, fine motor skills seem good
Paediatrician is starting to get a little touchy but wants to review again in a few months, mainly for gross motor skills. I know walking can be normal up to 18 months and speech can follow later, especially in smaller/preterm babies hence her giving more time.
So… AIBU to worry, or is this all well within normal toddler variation and I need to chill?
Would appreciate experiences from parents whose children walked/talked later and caught up. Thanks!