Worried about 15 month old Son's development

[Littlemiss82]

Hi everyone,

I just have a few questions really and would value your thoughts and opinions, my HV is due to come out but not until the end of January. I'm a first time Mum who suffers from anxiety which has been made worse since the birth of my DS. My Son was born at 37 weeks and is due to turn 15 months next week, he is a big guy on the 95th percentile for both height and weight. I have concerns over the following things and any help would be great:

1. DS is not walking independently yet, has been pulling up since 8 months and cruising since 9 months. He crawls up the stairs. He walks great holding onto one finger but as soon as he lets go he just drops to floor and crawls (bum shuffles). Is this something to be worried about?
2. DS is not talking yet, sometimes we get the odd Mumum and Da dee but other than that there's just lots of babbling and squeals, grunts etc. Would this be classed as a delay? I'm so worried that he will never speak.
3. He started pointing to show last week but is using his whole hand, is this ok? and more to point if we ask where something is, does whole hand pointing precede index pointing.

4, He points using his index finger when looking at books and can point to lots of different pictures in books and knows items we are talking about.

1. Today he has starting picking up a brush and tries to brush my hair with it, is this normal or should he be trying to brush his own hair?
2. DS waves hi and bye bye but mainly if someone has waved at him first. He has only clapped properly once the rest of the time he claps one hand on the back of the other. He does bang two objects together.

I really just would like to know if you think this is normal behaviours or should I ask HV for a referral? I'm losing lots of sleep over this. He's a very smiley, happy, social baby.

He sounds absolutely grand! Honestly, I see nothing to be concerned about.

Thanks so much for your reply, I worry as the HV had spoken about referring him if he's not walking or talking by end of January and this then I've been worried sick. Especially as he didn't score great on the ASQ questionaire xx

Agree with bread. Sorry, number 5 made me laugh. I’d love you to find a baby of 15 months who could brush his own hair

Hmmm HVs do tend to panic people I find! Sounds like he'll be walking soon and many children don't start talking until nearer two or even a bit later.

None of mine walked until 18 months. One talked fluently from about 18 months, the others not until nearer 3. 15 months is very little indeed and he sounds absolutely fine. Did HV have a specific concern? Because everything you mention sounds totally normal to me, but I'm not an HCP - just a mum of 3.

sounds fine, 14 months is the average for walking

He sounds absolutely fine

Everyonetalk my DS was “brushing” his own hair at under 12 months!

But OP, your DS sounds perfect. My DS didn’t take any steps until 17 months and was almost 19 months by the time he stopped crawling and walked all the time. They will check if no independent steps are taken by 18 months but I was told by a physio that it’s very normal for babies to walk later than 18 months, especially boys.

At 15 months I think my DS probably had about 4-5 words, including mama, dada. He had over 50 before 18 months and now he’s just turned two and is speaking in sentences (albeit toddler speak!). The waving, pointing etc is all normal too!

He sounds absolutely fine. Please don’t panic. They all do things at their own pace.

My DS2 crawled at 7 months but didn’t walk independently until 18 months. He’s 20 months now- runs around like a maniac- once he found his feet he was off.

DS1 meanwhile said nothing at 15 months. At his 2 year check he had about 25 words. By 2 years 4 months he was speaking in full sentences. The key thing at your DS’ age is understanding. Does he understand what you’re saying? Can he follow simple instructions? Point to a dog/train/car (whatever he’s keen on) in a book? If the understanding is there the speech will come in time.

Hi everyone,

Thankyou so much for your comments, honestly I worry myself silly sometimes.
I think he is cutting his molars at the minute as well so not sure if that's maybe got something to do with it? I'm a FTM so not really sure what's the norm and what's not.

I tend to stay away from playgroups as I compare and end up getting myself into a right state.

FurryGiraffe he points to lots of things in books and even things around the house. He can point to my head such but absolutely refuses point blank to point at his own head etc and this worried me somewhat. He also doesn't clap but likes to clap my hands together. Again not sure if this is normal behaviour? I think he understands some things but other stuff like come and get your nappy changed etc he just smiles....

FurryGiraffe he points to lots of things in books and even things around the house. He can point to my head such but absolutely refuses point blank to point at his own head etc and this worried me somewhat. He also doesn't clap but likes to clap my hands together. Again not sure if this is normal behaviour? I think he understands some things but other stuff like come and get your nappy changed etc he just smiles....

Honestly everything you say sounds entirely within normal range to me. If he’s acquiring an understanding of language that’s the important thing. Instructions are terribly hit and miss with that age: it can be hard to tell when they’re not understanding and when they’re just ignoring you because they don’t fancy having their nappy changed, thank you very much! The range of normal language development is so large: I remember when DS1 was about your DS’s age, we visited a friend with a similarly aged DD and her speech was amazing- she had a huge vocabulary, knew basic colours. I panicked like mad that there was something wrong with DS1, who wasn’t saying anything much at all. Needless to say, DS1 was fine- he was just concentrating on other things.

15 months is still incredibly young and your son sounds fine. I took DD to see the health visitor at 18 months because she wasn’t walking nor talking. She told me they won’t refer for further tests until age two! She is 2 and a half now and doing fine! Well she’s still not talking much but she’s getting there x

My 19 month old doesn’t walk yet, and only started pulling up a couple of months ago. I really wouldn’t worry yet, they all get there in their own time. Speech wise at 15 months was saying the odd word and he’s suddenly exloded with words in the last month.

Oh and he hits himself on the head with a hairbrush.

He sounds fine, HV tend to be looking st box ticking and anything that doesn’t fit into that they look into. Please try not to worry, and if there is anything he needs help with then I’m sure you’ll find the right support he needs. You’re doing great.

I have a child with SN. Your DS sounds fine to me. not advanced - there are always some children who do things very early (don't compare) but he sounds is of he is working the normal parameters.

let HV come and check him over. Hopefully all will be reassuring.

I suppose he points to communicate (i.e. pointing at a toy or food he wants as opposed to pointing in books to the question 'where is X?')?

He understands you? can follow very basic commands? understanding always comes before talking.

Chicolateiamydrug: he mainly points to things in books or if I ask where things are around the house, he doesn't point to request a toy or food, is that something I should be worried about? He understands have a drink and come here and get mammys hand

xx

usually pointing used as communication. pointing at objects in books at my request was something DD (autism) did but she wouldn't point at an apple if she requested one. But she was nearer two.

see what the HV says. there is an Online M-Chat test (ASD screenings) which gives you a risk score (not a diagnosis!) but it is only from 16 months onwards. may be worth doing it when he is old enough.

m-chat.org/en-us/page/take-m-chat-test/online

We are currently wondering whether to go gfor diagnosis on our DD for Aspergers. She would point at things in books too but not at things she wanted. I agree with waiting until 18 months then doing the M-Char.

how old is your DD? Asperger's isn't even diagnosed anymore. it all falls under autism .but there is a lot more to asd than lack of pointing.

She’s ten and we’re nit thinking of going to the GP over pointing 🙂

the thing is,you cannot ask for a referral to get a diagnosis. you can only get referred to get her assessed. if she meets the diagnostic threshold, is a very different matter.

but if you have concerns and think she needs help,get her referred.even once referred, thinks will take years.

every sounds like you are seeking a dx as your now 10 year old did not point as a toddler? if so, can I tell you this is bonkers?nobody will take you seriously!

I think you have totally misjudged what I’ve said there miss.

Sorry Choc yes, I meant to get her assessed obviously although I’m pretty certain she may have ASD. Yeah DSis has recently been diagnosed and the more we read up on ASD and girls, the more we understand our lovely DD.