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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 month not talking or walking

16 replies

clairethuis13 · 02/02/2015 22:40

Hi all,
Need some advice and hopefully reassurance! My daughter is almost 16 months and still not walking. She walks around furniture and holding me hand- loves to walk everywhere but now on her own. She has been like this since about 10 months.
She is also not talking. Says dada and mama occasionally not mostly makes sounds and animal noises- she does a good cat and dog impression!!
She seems to understand everything I say and can follow instructions but no words at all. She has her own language and likes to 'sing' changing the sound of her voice.
I am getting so distressed by this as she is the last one in my mummy friends group to do these (they have all been walking/talking since 12 months)
I am a stay at home mummy and feel like I am doing something wrong.
She is my first born and I am learning as I go - but feel I am failing her and not teaching her right :(
Any thoughts? Is this normal at 16 months? X

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anothernumberone · 02/02/2015 22:44

Sounds pretty normal but I would address concerns to HV because they see every age group day in, day out. DS is 3 and still only getting to grips with speech dd2 spoke almost fluently by 18 months DD1 was somewhere between the 2. They all walked at different ages too. They are all so different.

rootypig · 02/02/2015 22:45

Both totally and utterly normal. She is babbling, singing, she has comprehension, she has a strong enough back and legs to walk holding onto your hands. All good.

Please do not be distressed. She sounds lovely. Enjoy her! it's such a sweet age. especially if she's not careering round bouncing off things

rootypig · 02/02/2015 22:46

But yes, should also say if you're concerned to check in with your HV - internet reassurance should never be a substitute for that.

AnythingNotEverything · 02/02/2015 22:46

Sounds totally normal. DD is 15 months and has no real words but is clearly communicating and has a lot of understanding.

Our NCT group (small sample, I admit), is similar with talking but with a couple of walkers. She's cruising and obviously weight bearing so no issue there I would think.

Quinandthem · 02/02/2015 22:52

As I have to keep reminding myself - it doesn't go on their cv.

My dd is now 18months and only started walking by herself at late 15m, she'd walk with walker and furniture before but didn't like hands.

Someone told me letting go us a confidence thing.

She's also not really saying many words at all. Eg. Mumma, dadda, oh oh, all gone, but understands a lot and follows instructions.

My dd was at cm 9-16m and now at nursery which could be coincidence but she seems more confident.

She's babbling a lot so I just have to trust that she'll get there.

Although I've just bought some flash cards to go through with her.

In a few months she'll be running off and you won't get her to be quiet!

cT13 · 02/02/2015 22:56

Thank you all.

Some days I try not to worry but others when I am tired it is hard not to compare to others, which is silly as I know they are all different. I guess I am worried I am doing something wrong or if she is bored just me and her as not at nursery.
She is a little character and is so smiley and happy!
I do have a HV appoint for next week just to catch up and put my mind at rest.
Your comments have helped a lot x

NancyJones · 03/02/2015 11:33

It would be far more worrying if her receptive language was delayed. The fact that she understands you is crucial.

LadyDowagerHatt · 03/02/2015 20:40

My daughter is 19 months and not walking or talking either. She refuses to walk holding hands so is actually slightly behind your little girl. She has been seen by the HV and 2 GPs (I started to get a bit panicky!) and all said not to worry. They all get there at different rates - a friend of my son's didn't talk much at all until he was nearly 3 and now at just over 4 he is just as bright and chatty as the other children who had been talking at least a year more than him.

lotsofcheese · 03/02/2015 20:47

If it's any reassurance, my DD has just started walking properly at 20m. She took steps before Xmas but is only really walking the last couple of weeks.

At 18m I took her to the GP, who rightly concluded she was a "madam" & would just do it in her own time.the most concern came from nursery, who seemed to have an ulterior motive in getting her walking so they could move her out the baby room.

Please don't worry - she'll do it when she's ready.

cT13 · 03/02/2015 20:52

Thank you every one. I have a HV appointment next week just to chat to her bit I am sure all is fine . I am going to relax and let her do
It when she wants to xx

Anotheronesoon · 03/02/2015 20:57

Niece didn't walk until 19months and was wobbly for a long time - my so don't start talking until two and at two and a half most of the time I have no idea what he is saying! Try not to worry x

Christelle2207 · 03/02/2015 21:04

Mine walked at 12m, is now 18m yet has at least 2 friends who don't walk yet and I know 2 others that didn't walk till 20+ months. Mine doesn't speak either but his understanding is now really good so am trying not to worry too much. As long as she is coming on she'll be fine but worth asking the hv who will I'm sure reassure you.

Whatdoiknowanyway · 03/02/2015 21:10

A friend's daughter was 7 months older than mine but mine crawled and walked first. We all knew that babies developed at different rates and no one panicked or made comparisons, they were just 2 babies. Within a week of her first standing and taking a tentative step (about 19 months) she was running about. Twenty odd years later they are both lovely, capable young women.

Andcake · 03/02/2015 21:35

Ds only had a few words this time last year at 17 months and would barely walk. He preferred crawling and got v fast.
A year on he walks, runs, jumps and has so many words. He sings full songs and chats away.

Ferguson · 03/02/2015 23:42

This was my reply just now re a 19 month old not talking. Not ALL relevant to your situation, but I'll quote it anyway:

"I'd be more worried that he's being trained on an i-pad!!

Babies and toddlers are supposed to touch and play with REAL things - dolls, teddies, Duplo bricks, wooden spoons, safe kitchen implements.

What the HECK is he going to make of FARM ANIMALS on an i-pad?? Get him a Duplo farm set. Do you live in the country, where he can see a lot of REAL animals??

Do you have the radio/TV on a lot?? If you do, TURN IT OFF, and let his babbling and your talking/singing be the sounds he hears most!"

Yes. do RELAX, I'm sure she is totally fine, and in six months you'll wonder why you worried.

Butterflywings168 · 04/02/2015 00:18

Just to add to everyone saying she's fine. My DNiece2 was much the same at that age, would say a few words and only just tottering around - still liked to hold a hand sometimes. She's brighter than DN1 (beats her at hide and seek anyway ime ) who was more advanced at that age. Humans are all different.

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