Can anyone tell what their 18month old can do please?

[Mama1980]

Hi I am asking on behalf of my sister whose boy has infantile spasms and brain damage. The drs are in the process of trying to anticipate what he might be able to do eventually, and figure out just how far behind he is. They are using the standard guidelines but my ds could do a lot more by then (no stealth boast just fact) and we were hoping you could help get us get a fuller picture of what on average a 18 month old can do. Many many thanks :)

Have a look at the developmental check lists in your red book. Those give an indication.

You can also google developmental checklists and you will get a good idea of typical development across a range of skills. If your nephew is anywhere near the averages that would be a very good sign - it doesnt really matter that others outperform the average at the same age, far more important that he is in the same ballpark.

If he is not meeting his milestones I would advise you wait for what the docs have to say about him. You will drive yourself crazy on google looking this up and its not fun - believe me - its really not fun (and most of it wont apply to your situation but you will freak yourself out over it nonetheless)

Hi thanks he definitely is not hitting milestones he can't sit up or roll over the brain damage is pretty extensive and he has lots of seizures. We have looked up the guidelines thank you for your suggestions though. Just trying to get a sense of what a number of children can do at that age. We have found it always good to speak to the drs with lists of questions having gained as much info as possible. Thanks again for replying

I don't really know what you want to acheive by this? Sorry if I'm being stupid.

Dd is 20 months. She can:
Feed herself but makes a mess
Talk a bit but not often in more than one word sentences
Run,climb, kind of jump etc
Pretend play
Take off trousers and socks etc and sometimes put them on

Don't know what else to tell you.

I take the milestones with a pinch of salt - my LO is miles ahead on some, and behind on others.
At 14 months he can
crawl
get up and down stairs
pull himself upright
stand for 2-3 sec unsupported
knows to come of sofa / bed etc backwards
knows where his socks go, and tries to put them on, but has no chance of suceeding
has just started mamamama. Had dada for a bit. Not directed at the right parent
build a tower of 5 blocks (shouldn't be able to do this)
rotate a shape for a shape sorter to get it in the hole if you show him the right hole
very messily get youhurt and cereal into his mouth using a spoon
drink from an open cup
can kiss and wave on demand if he feels like it
could clap, but doesn't seem to now.
roll a ball back to me
has pincer grasp

Officially should have a couple of words in acurate use - no way, and be taking steps - no way.

If he follows his big brother, he'll be advanced physically, but behind verbally for a bit (DS1 had 5 words at 2yr old)

HTH, I know he's a bit younger than you asked for.

My dd is 2 weeks off 18 months, she was prem baby!

She can talk very well, and point to what she wants!
She can, crawl,
Feed her self
Cruise furniture
Pull her self up
Understand instructions
Play peep po
Gives cuddles and kisses of asked.

She can't walk yet though!

I'm not sure if this helps but I have just had my ds 12 month check . He was prem so should be ten months . He has had some question marks over his development but has just started wearing glasses since seeing the ophthalmologist . At the check he had to grab blocks , pass them . Turn pages in a book . Babble . Sit up . Roll . Turn his head to a noise . There was also a game where you had to hide something under a muslin and see if he could fine it ( apparently they don't need to do this until 2.5) he did all the above . He doesn't crawl yet but had very bad reflux and obviously the eyesight on top has put him behind . I hope your sister is ok .

My DD is 19 months.
She can run, jump and climb
She can feed herself
She can talk very well... Sings happy birthday/head shoulders knees and toes etc.
She likes colouring
Can count to 14.
However, her peers are all at differing stages so it's difficult to say what's the norm.

IN a way the milestones are a general average of what NT children can do at a particualr age. Better than a mumsnet strawpoll.

If he is not meeting them I think you will need to wait for docs to explain what parts of his brain are damaged, whether it is repairing itself, whether he appears to be compensating and working around the damage or not etc. From the little I have gathered from meetings with neurologists it is very difficult to correlate brain damage and what children are able to do eventually. You might try posting this on the SN board as people there will ahve more knowledge and experience.

hi, my daughter has brain damage from her birth and i remember spending so much time doing this sort of thing when she ws a yr old-shes 3 now. it felt very important to identify how far behind normal development she was. she was and is very far behind average development but its no longer important in that way. the sn section on here or the forum special kids in the uk can offer alot of support in what can feel and can be a very isolating experience x

My dd is 20 months.

Feed herself using cutlery, but prefers to use her fingers (and makes a mess)
She sits at the table with us - ok on a bumper chair for want of a better phrase, but she uses our crockery - no plastic plates
She still takes a bottle (using a teat ) before naps
Walk, Run, Jump, Dance
Point to things, like ball, duck etc
Use crayons/pens etc
Hold a telephone to her ear and make conversational noises
Take our hands and lead us to whatever thing she wants to play with
She understands instructions

She has not yet said a word, just makes lots of grunty, singy, squealy type noises.

Oh she also brushes her own teeth, but doesn't spit - she lets everything dribble down her chin

Hi thank you for all your responses you've been very helpful just trying to find a broader picture really-The drs are making a big deal of trying to predict his development at the moment.