My 1 year old doesn't mix with other children - is this a problem???

[mum2aidan]

My son is coming up to being 13 months old and he doesn't mix with children his own age. We have a few older children (4 upwards) in our family which he occassionly meets at family do's. I'm just wondering if this is going to cause him any problems?

I have considered taking his to some kind of group but am abit worried how he will react to a whole group of new people especially as he tends to go very shy and won't leave my side when meeting new people. I am also quite shy myself and would also feel awkward in a room full of new people!!

Is anyone in the same situation as me or have any advice?!?

I think all 1 yos are fairly anti-social with other children of similar ages IIRC

I don't think it's a problem at this age, but I do think that over time it would be nice for him to meet other children his age. Why don't you do something like a music group or tumble tots, where you don't necessarily have to sit and make small talk, but your ds gets to mix with other children?

dd didn't socialise much at this age, still took her along to toddler groups even though she was fairly clingy, to get her used to being out of the house in social situations. she is now 3 and completely sociable and friendly. Taking your ds to toddler groups will get him used to having others around even if he doesn't really interact just yet. I would take him along, just be prepared to cope with a limpet for the first few times

I agree, 1yr olds aren't terribly social withother kids but its not a bad idea to start getting him used to mixing now. Some of the music classes are quite small and give you something to do rather than standing around like a spare part, just make sure you get one apporpriate for his age (our local mothercare advertises them).

Its not a problem if he is shy DS isn;t particularly shy and he alwasy spends to first visit or two clingin to my legs. perfectly normal and does make you feel needed

Thank you for your replies, I will look up music groups in my area now!

No it is not

Even the most social 1 year old only tends to play alongside another child rather than with them, iyswim. I wouldn't worry.

I agree it's a good idea to join some kind of group, not just for him but for you too. A good toddler group should have a committee where someone realises it's your first time and chats to you to make you feel welcome. These groups are always full of all different kids so anything goes - half of them go off and play and the other half sit on Mum's knee - it's all fine.

Sounds quite normal to me!

Tumble tots is brilliant imo (ds is 14 months) as he gets to tear around and mix as much as he likes with others and I just have to follow him with no expectation of embarrassing "mixing" with other parents. It isn't really like meeting new people as for him it'll just be like a new play ground.

I'm quite shy too and I find general mother and baby groups type quite daunting - I felt as though everyone knew each other already and found it difficult to approach people - so I prefer more organised activities, like music or Sing and Sign because its a structured class and you can either just get on with the class and leave afterwards or stay and chat at the end if you want to. Our Sing and Sign class only has about 6 or 7 of us plus babies so its a nice small group and easy to get chatting to people.

no, it can be completely normal. Some kids are really social, mine wasnt AT ALL until he was around 2. Now unless he's tired hes loves tearing around with other kids. At playcentre he used to only play with himself and pretty much ignore everyone else.