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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

16.5month has no f**ing idea where his body parts are....problem?

41 replies

likeisnotlike · 13/04/2012 09:24

I think my son is doing fine. Seems to understand stuff - no, come here, get your ball/cart/teddy -has a few words etc etc and generally has no problem making himself understood non-verbally. But he seems completely disinterested in knowing his body parts.

We got a book, we sing to him, but he's always far more interested in just rushing off to the next thing to explore. Once or twice he pointed at his head or nose but now it seems random.

I don't think he's the fastest developer but neither the slowest - my SIL however (hothouser alert) is quite appalled. She thinks he should know...

Hence the concern.

Any thoughts or tips appreciated.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Wallace · 14/04/2012 08:43

My 16 month old knows his ears, hair (even though he has hardly any..) willy and his tummy button.

He will point out my nose/eyes/ears. He is almost 17 months though and only just started to do this. If asked point out his own eyes/nose his finger will go straight in his mouth.

Grumpla · 14/04/2012 08:46

Sounds like your SIL doesn't know her arse from her elbow when it comes to child development.

Kids learn what they need / want to learn far earlier than stuff which whilst impressive for trained monkey purposes isn't that useful for everyday life. My DS is now 2.7 and has reliably started listing body parts but only in the context of "I hurted my..." - usually as a major play for attention due to his baby brother arriving on the scene!

BuckBuckMcFate · 14/04/2012 08:48

I have a just turned 18 month old. Only this week has he started to point to his nose, hair, eyes etc. He has known where his feet are for months though.

He doesn't say much either but he is great at anything physical, was walking at 10 months, is a complete speed demon on his scuttlebug, is very interested in opening things like boxes and screw on lids. He can make his toy cars race each other. He watches his older brothers and sister do breakdancing and had got some serious moves for a baby

So what I'm saying is "don't worry!" I'm sure your DS can do things my DS can't. Your DS sounds completely normal to me. Your, SIL however...She sounds like one of those weirdy mums who take it all just a bit too seriously. Does she think someone is going to come and do a review on her parenting skills? That raising a child is target driven?

DP has a family member who thinks being a mum is Serious. Her dc, older now, do lots of activities and she is very driven on their behalf but it is quite joyless speaking to her about it.

kalidasa · 14/04/2012 09:03

I have nothing to add, but I thought your title was funny.

SoupDragon · 14/04/2012 09:18

TBH, unless he is a surgeon, does it matter?

matana · 14/04/2012 10:18

Pleasantly - i don't think 16 month olds understand 'mine' and 'your'. You could try saying "where's [your DC's name's] nose?"

pleasantlyoutofdepth · 14/04/2012 13:30

Yes, I did give that a go... to be honest I'm not sure he knows his name either rocks in corner

pleasantlyoutofdepth · 14/04/2012 13:36

Oh dear, I appear to be rocking boldly in a corner... hmmm. Think I should be . Better.

Original poster

likeisnotlike · 14/04/2012 21:55

Thanks all for the input - makes me feel better. I totally get that babies develop at their own pace but it's easy to get sucked into SIL fears for The world of developing babies...

OP posts:

kickmewhenimdown · 14/04/2012 22:03

ds2 is 16 months and has no iota of body parts. nothing. unless you count his hands always finding his willy when his nappy is off! and can only say one word, and its not even mum! he'll learn in his own time.

5madthings · 14/04/2012 22:04

i think he is fine!

my dd is 16mths old, born the 5th dec 2011. she knows her hair and her toes and sometimes will point to her nose and tummy when i ask, but its very hit and miss. she is happy and babbly and says a few words like 'hiya' and mummy, daddy etc, she waves and claps and does high fives, and is interested in everything, she will get there in her own time as my other 4 did before her!

5madthings · 14/04/2012 22:06

btw my dd has only just started walking, which is fine she could crawl really fast and was cruising round the furniture etc for ages, my sil asked me if had taken her to the drs to get her checked out as she wasnt walkding my sil doesnt have any children, hence i ignored her and knew dd would walk when SHE was ready to!

gallicgirl · 14/04/2012 22:07

meh, competitive parenting is best avoided. perhaps try the approach needed for health visitors? Smile and nod then go home and do what's best for your family.

I wouldn't expect a 16MO to know body parts and can't think of any reason why they need to.

ipanicked · 14/04/2012 23:23

Really? I honestly wouldn't have thought a 16mo old could point to body parts. DS definitely didn't and if you ever want to feel better, come and compare your LO to my almost 16mo DD who can barely point let alone point to something! I'd love to know what floor time entails though. Seriously don't let her bug you. DS didn't say 1 word before 19mo, never clapped or waved etc. or did any of those mile-stoney things people bang on about but now is an unstoppable force who I swear I sometimes think is cleverer than me as he catches me out (and he's only just about to turn 3 )

NeedToSleepZZZ · 15/04/2012 09:39

my ds 14.5 months will point to just about everything now including parts of the body BUT, will he walk? NO. Will he talk? NO. Will he carry out simple instructions (ie, bring me the ball)? NO.

seriously, don't worry, they all develop in different areas at different ages. Tell your sil that you'd rather your son developed at his own speed as it encourages autonomy which is more beneficial in the long term

beautifulwho · 15/04/2012 11:52

This reminded me of my mum telling me at 6 months my DS should be learning his colours and shapes, I felt like such a failure . However, now I would tell her 'feck the feck off and stay there' thanks to mumsnet!

Don't worry, you know your child and sound like a lovely mum who knows best x

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