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Concerned about baby please help

14 replies

Babyjohnny · 25/11/2019 10:38

I’m concerned about my 12 month old baby. He walks, can feed himself, drinks from a cup smiles at others, plays excitedly with other children, babbles sometimes and giggles a lot when I play peek a boo. He reaches out to be picked up. He started pointing some time ago with his finger when he wasn’t walking but stopped doing that and now occasionally uses his hand to gesture when encouraged. He does respond to name but some days more than others. When playing with him he is inquisitive but doesn’t give much eye contact though he will look back over his shoulder now and then for reassurance. He will play with lots of toys but doesn’t seem interested much in sharing toys and will move on to something else quite quickly. I haven’t been able to get him to give a toy back willingly yet. When reading a book to him he has a short attention span and won’t point to things. He sometimes will follow my hand when I point to things but doesn’t look back at me once he has seen it instead just squirms to get to it when I’m holding him. He has copied sometimes e.g. clapping, putting out tongue, banging objects together. He doesn’t copy sounds directly. He will occasionally fetch a ball and throw it when asked and seems to understand no (though not all the time and he cries sometimes when I say no to something he knows he shouldn’t do). I’m worried about red flags here and asking you what you think....

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
surreygirl1987 · 25/11/2019 13:55

He sounds EXACTLY like my 13 month old except my boy isn't walking yet. What exactly are you worried is a red flag?

AladdinMum · 25/11/2019 14:19

He can do all that at 12M?? that is very advanced - much of what you have listed I would not expect until loser to 18M. Where exactly are the red flags? as I don't seem to see them from your description.

Babyjohnny · 25/11/2019 15:17

Thank you for your replies! He has done all that but somethings he hasn’t done in a few weeks e.g clap hands, copying tongue out. He responds to name probably half the time. It’s mainly that he doesn’t seem to copy things e.g. nod head, wave and often he’ll just avert his gaze or occasionally laugh when I try to get him to do this. Most of the time if I show him something he’ll just pick it up, throw it on the floor and scuttle off and play with another toy. Though I’ve tried he won’t share things yet and if I try to get something off him he’ll resist most of the time as a sort of game. I guess Im concerned he isn’t doing any sort of proper communication I.e to and froing

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Babyjohnny · 25/11/2019 15:24

he’s babbling but not not directly back - if I say mama he won’t copy but does say a lot of random babbling when sitting e.g nananana

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AladdinMum · 25/11/2019 16:49

Seriously, it all sounds very typical and advanced. It is not unusual that at this age toddlers will jump from skill to skill between weeks (so might take a pause practicing some skills just to return to them later on), specially if he walks, as he will be jumping between social and motor skills between weeks.

Babyjohnny · 27/11/2019 08:38

Thank you aladdinmum

In the last couple of days he is responding a lot less to his name (only responding occasionally) and is generally cranky and not looking at me as much. He had his mmr vaccine several days ago and is being fussy and sleeping less and not sure if related. Is this normal? Can anyone relate? I’m getting increasingly concerned with him

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Littlecaf · 27/11/2019 09:03

All sounds really normal. Maybe he’s just bored of sticking his tougue out/doesn’t want to right now say mama etc. One thing I remember at that age is they are developing personality, he decides when to do something! My mantra was “he’s not a robot” etc. Sounds like you have a perfectly normal baby.

Littlecaf · 27/11/2019 09:06

Ps it’s nothing to do with the MMR. Really, it isn’t. Totally understand your concern but it sounds like he’s fine. They go backwards and forewords at this age. If you are really concerned give your HVs or Doctors a call.

surreygirl1987 · 27/11/2019 23:00

No, seriously, he sounds exactly like my boy apart from the walking. My son is a right handful and throws tantrums whenever he doesn't get his own way, and I was a bot concerned about his physical motor skills, but less so now. What you are describing is totally normal as far as I know - and I do frequently look at the ASQs to check.

Babyjohnny · 28/11/2019 15:03

Thank you for your encouragement. Today and yesterday he hasn’t responded to his name hardly at all and seems to go between withdrawn or over active with very little eye contact to anyone. He isn’t sleeping well. He seems like he hasn’t got an attention span and is wriggling and squirming whenever I put him in his seat. Is this normal? Tired and anxious!

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crazychemist · 29/11/2019 17:18

Very normal. There’s a lot of development at this stage, and while they are working on new skills (usually language acquisition and/mobility) at this age they neglect ones they have already achieved. Once they have mastered whatever the new skill is, the old skills resurface too. Totally normal development.

Periods of short attention span and poor sleep also seem to correspond to developmental jumps.

I found DD would be out of sorts for a while, and then suddenly some new skill would emerge and I’d realise what all the fuss had been about,

Babyjohnny · 01/12/2019 16:49

Thank you so much for your posts! How long can I expect this to go on? The last couple of days my son has barely looked at me and I think once responded to his name. He seems like he is in his own world. Is this still normal?

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crazychemist · 05/12/2019 07:59

@Babyjohnny, it’s only been a few days. He could be feeling a little under the weather, or he could be focusing on a new skill. Either of those I’d expect this to continue a little longer (maybe a week?). If you’re worried, take him to see your health visitor at their drop in sessions.

In his own world is quite common if he’s concentrating on skill acquisition. Could be language or motor development. Think about what you’re like when you’ve got something on your mind that you just can’t stop thinking about, I bet you’d be distracted!

Sleeping badly could also cause a desire to be less interactive. Again, think how you feel after a bad night. Do you perform at your best? There are all sorts of things that cause bad sleep in babies that age. I take it he usually sleeps reasonably well?

Babyjohnny · 07/12/2019 09:26

Thanks! Have an appointment but weeks yet and just anxious. He’s mostly ignoring me plays mostly alone occasional checks to see I’m still there. Following my point has mostly gone he just kind of arches forward now when holding him in the direction he wants. Eating is difficult as he is scrieching and kicking and throwing most of fiod on the floor. He’s wipining his eyes quit a lot as if tired but he is getting more sleep now. Just looking for reassurance at present if others have gone through similar things

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