Really worried about development 15month DS

[Jannyb1978]

Hi everyone

I havent posted on here before, I’m getting myself so worried about my gorgeous boys development that it’s actually causing me anxiety. I wasn’t worried until a family member said why doesn’t he respond to his own name. Now I’ve started to really worry and look into it and not sure if I’m being ridiculous or not. He’s my only child so I have nothing to compare too. And my nieces and nephews are so much older now as my son is my miracle and I was 38 when I had him after being told I wouldn’t conceive so my family can’t even remember what their kids were doing at that age.

He is totally amazing, eats, sleeps brilliantly is generally very happy. Isn’t really interested in other kids at playgroup especially now he’s walking and running everywhere he seems like he is much more interested in doing his own exploring. So he used to wave, clap, kiss and all of that but he stopped I’m not sure if thats because I stopped?!! We also recently moved house a couple of months ago as we were living with family for 10 months where we were quite cramped up and he didn’t have much room so now I’m thinking that’s why he’s not doing all these things as he has so much room in our new place and is just running around constantly and chasing the dog to try and pull her tail. He plays with his toys sometimes but mostly interested in throwing everything in the bath or messing about with the washing machine.
So basically he’s not, pointing, clapping (although claps my hands for me) and loves it when I sing wind the bobbin up and eye contacts with me a lot but other times just seems disinterested in anything, doesn’t talk just babbles or shouts and says the occasional mummummummum and sometimes he just doesn’t even look at you. He absolutely loves my hair has stopped pulling but every time I hold him he grabs it for comfort and he was also biting when I picked him up but only with me when he got excited but that has stopped now too (fingers crossed) He will run at me with his arms up for a cuddle and things like that. He gets so excited with certain things on the telly pulling the maddest craziest faces and pants like a dog ha ha.
Sorry for blabbing on everyone I just am getting myself in a state here as a few people have said to me, yeah he should be pointing now and he should be saying a word or 2 and making eye contact more.
Any advice would be amazing thank you everyone as I’m thinking I should be doing so much more with him and it’s my fault, I read to him everyday and he points at things in the book (well touches) but he doesn’t know colours and stuff at all! like what some people have said on here. I’m not too fussed about the talking as a few of my friends said their boys were at least 2 its just the other stuff. Thanks again for reading my humongous message xxx

I don't know if your son has autism but what you mention sounds like pretty standard behaviour for that age. I have a 9 year old with autism and I also have a 16 month old baby who has no signs of autism.

Thank you AddictiveCereal I really appreciate you replying. You drive yourself mad with worry it’s awful. I wouldn’t have been worried if a family member hadn’t if said something to me then it starts you thinking a million things! I think I’ll just carry on doing what I’m doing and see where we are in a month of so and if I’ve noticed any improvement.
Thanks again xxx

I can understand how awful the worry is. If I were you I'd chat to the HV- it seems you're likely to worry if you leave it. If there is a problem it's always best to get the ball rolling early and if there's no problem your mind will be put at rest. Hope you're doing ok

Thank you so much. I went to the doctor today and they have referred my DS to paediatrics at the local hospital just to be on the safe side. The doctor I saw was a junior doctor and she was saying things like if you asked him to put something over there or ask him to do something would he do it, I was like no way he wouldn’t know what I was talking about. Thinking would a 15 month old know that??? She made me feel worse actually. And had to call in another doctor for another opinion. He’s a really happy boy and I’m just going to try not to stress to much and over analyse things which is what I’m doing constantly now thinking he should be doing this and that.... I was fine until someone said something to me. He’s such a big boy too he looks at least 2 so people naturally assume and look at him thinking he should be doing all this now. Thanks again I massively appreciate you both replying xxx

Sounds fairly standard. It’s common for them to stop doing something they could previously do (clapping) when going through big development steps like learning to walk.

Sounds standard to me. My 6&8 yr old DDs didn't know their colours till nursery at 3yr old, they are both very bright with no issues.
We were recently referred to a speech therapist for my 27month old who doesn't speak, they cleared him of any underlying behavioural issues but told us to stop speaking in sentences to him so instead of saying 'oh look at that car' we should just point and say 'car' etc to try and help him start to say words (we are however still waiting for a hearing check). Has your DS had a hearing check? It could be a simple as him having glue ear causing partial deafness, this doesn't get picked up at the newborn hearing check.

Any update please?!