Should I be worried that DS, 8 months, doesn't copy me?

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I try my hardest not to compare him to other babies of the same age, but every single baby I know his age is hand clapping, sticking out their tongue etc, mimicking their mums. As far as I can remember he has never copied me doing anything. Should I be worried?

have you spoken to your health visitor? it might be nothing to worry about, but it does sound a bit unusual to me, but im really no expert. cld it be a vision problem? remember that babies all develop differently, but it could be worth getting it checked out if only for peace of mind.

It is so hard not to compare isn't it? My DS2 is 4.5 months, my friends' DS is just 2 weeks older and is already turning, ds is not even trying, I was starting to get worried, but I can see that DS's general development is going fine so I'm going to try to be less paranoid.
I know an 8 months old baby and I have never seen him clapping.
How is your DS's general development? Does he smile at you, is he interested in toys, are his motor skills developing?

Does he smile at you when you smile at him? Try something simple like banging a spoon against a toy or beaker and see if he does it aslong as his genreal development is ok such as holding things, smiling, laughing i wouldn't be to worried but you can always ask you hv if you are concerned. My ds is coming up 8 months and he does some thing other babies dont but he cant do somethings other babies can if you get what i mean.

Thanks Maebee and Gracej. He does smile, and I can make him laugh fairly easily by making faces/funny noises etc. He can sit up, isn't crawling but is rolling around and dragging himself along s bit. I think I'm scared to talk to the HV in case I find out there really is somehting wrong with him!

Charlee, if I bang a wooden spoon on a saucepan then he might do the same but only sometimes. I also sit him at the piano and he presses the keys, usually the same ones that I have just played IYSWIM. So that might be copying? He started off as a quite early developer, eg able to sit up beofre 5 months etc. I thought he would always be a bit 'ahead'. It worries me that he obviously isn't in some respects.

Maebee, pretty sure he doesn't have a vision problem.

He sounds fine and yes that is copying anything he is learned from you is copying. I wouldn't worry

It didn't even occur to me to worry about my DD until I read this thread! She's almost 10 months and doesn't crawl although her 'friends' do. She does copy me occassionally but trying to hold her attention to mimic me is difficult as she's happier bashing stuff and making a racket than watching me make a fool of myself. Personally I really wouldn't worry unless you really think that he's a very long way behind. These milestones seem to happen over night and if they're happy and contented then that would be what I would consider normal. Apparently I walked at 9 months and DH was 14 months but today we both walk as well as one another

DS is 14 months.
He clapped his hands at 9 months
He didn't wave till 13 months after ages of trying to get him to copy. In fact before he waved he had about 10 words.

They all develop at their own pace!

Don't worry your DS will do it when he's ready.

And remember, put 5 children 2 years old in a room and you probably wont tell which one walked early, which one talked early and which one copied first.

My ds2 isn't hand-clapping, nor sticking out his tongue, nor mimicing me. Likewise AFAIR he doesn't copy me. But, OTOH, he's crawling, sitting, pulling up to standing, occasionally cruising, babbling, sociable, lifting up his arms to be held. So, no, I don't worry about the things that he isn't doing, because he's doing lots of other things.

I'd be far more worried if he wasn't interested in his environment and in people, no matter how it was expressed.

Ds2 is also 8m.

Thanks for your replies. I will try and stop comparing to other babies! It is hard though. I will rest a lot easier when he starts to copy me, but in meantime will try to br reasonable about it. Am quite nervy and paranoid anyway, and when he starts copying I'll probably find something new to worry abiout!

Thanks by the way, MN is always reassuring!

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Thanks Hedda, that is interesting. To be honest I'm surprised that he doesn't copy me as he seems very responsive generally. Maybe I am missing out on more subtle imitation as I sit there wildly clapping my hands and waving!