Concerns about my daughter.

[DontWannaBeObamasElf]

My daughter is 14.5 months old. She can walk unaided however she has no words, doesn't point or wave, she can clap but mostly it's arm flapping. She doesn't seem to respond to her name as well as before and when it comes to her toys she just hits them together then throws them.

She'll look and move an object in her hand and just stare at it.

She loves books but is more than happy to sit herself with them. She has good eye contact and will beam when I look at her, she likes to find me when I hide and laughs a lot when she does.

She does make a "mmmmmm" nose and she seems to say "goh" a lot.

I'm waiting for my HV to call back and arrange an appointment to see her.

Also if I point and look at something she doesn't pay attention.

She is also very affectionate and will kiss us without being prompted to.

I'd bypass the HV and go to the doctor. Not scaremongering, I don't know your daughter, but HVs are useless (at best).

Thank you, I'll try and get her an appointment with one of the better GPs.

Hope it's ok.

Me too, Wembley. I think I'm part of the problem with reading too much into "milestones" and comparing her with other babies her age. But I can't shake the gut feeling.

It's only natural. My grandson is 19 months and just didn't talk. Now he's chattering all the time in the last two weeks. We're all different.

I should also mention that I have anxiety. I just hope it's me being paranoid.

Ah well at least you know you do! That's surely a better thing than not realising. I honestly think everybody has doubts with their children at some time. You'd have to be blind or truly disinterested to not have any worry at anytime.

From your post I don't think you have any need to worry but as you are worried I would take her to see GP. Agree don't bother with HV.

Thank you, Wembley. If it wasn't for Google or Babycentre emails I wouldn't think there was anything "wrong" with her. (horrible use of the word 'wrong' but unsure how to articulate it.)

Thanks, Plasma. I'll ring once she's asleep.

I know what you mean. Stop googling!!!

Sounds like my DD. She is 16 months and has only just starting saying a few words. She has even lost the words she had a few weeks ago. I am not overly worried. Her brother (my DS) was walking and talking at 10 months and now - at aged 8 - is just average.

I just think some babies are more laidback than others. Funnily enough, "mmmm" was DD's first word. But then she loves her food!

Everyone here is so helpful and kind. I feel calmer now already.

My ds1 was nearly 2 before he talked.
wanders off muttering about how now he is 10 he won't shut up :)
Agree re: HV...they are crap.
I think any GP is happy to see a child if a parent is worried.
Good luck x

Good. Don't forget, we've all been there at some time, whatever age, whatever reason. You're completely normal (as much as anyone is).

I'm a foster carer of lots of babies and they really ARE all different! I've had several who didn't have any words until 15/16 months. Going off the Internet you'd swear that all children are child genius's who can recite Shakespeare by 2 years old, when in actual fact they are "goh"ing just as much as your LO, it's just that their mums hear "goh" as "can I have a banana please?"

I've managed to get an appointment next week with a really lovely GP. It's not so much lack of words that have me concerned, it's the seemingly lack of shared attention.

They don't always get into that until a bit later. Depends what's interesting to them.

Books and throwing things seem to be favourites. We let her watch a bit of Disney Junior before bathtime and she turns and smiles at us at bits she likes.

Sounds fine to me - in fact lovely. Stop torturing yourself. Honestly.

Having another wobble. She's not responding to her name and we watched a video of a study with NT and ASD 14 month olds. It was like watching her....

I would speak to your HV, and ask to be referred to a specialist HV, if there is one. These are very similar concerns that I had with ds2, especially the not taking any notice of his name and the flapping. He has high functioning autism, and he is nearly 7 Now and doing very well at school, but if it is the case, then I'm all for as early intervention as possible, as are most people who deal with these issues.
If it isn't the case, them you've lost nothing, but if it is, then you can access support

What scares me the most is that if it is Autism, she may regress and won't be my loving, cuddly little girl. I don't have much understanding of it but it terrifies me.

Agree with Branleuse - your first port of call should be your health visitor. Assessing development is exactly what they do and your GP may well refer you to the HV. Your GP is not a specialist in this area but your HV is. to everyone saying health visitors are useless.