What’s normal for a 1 year old?

[Lunafortheloveogod]

Lesson 1 don’t read those bloody development emails..

But I digress Ds1 is 12months old and can pull to stand/sit/crawl/walk (very wobbly few steps) and pick up Cheerio sized objects all day. He absolutely loves jumping.. seriously if he can hold on to something he’ll jump up and down for ages.

But he doesn’t respond to his name, he can hear the duggee theme tune like a bloody falcon, doesn’t clap, doesn’t say anything more than dada or da (doesn’t seem to line up with his dad all the time either), he babbles and makes noises but mostly gugugu or Chchch randomly (I thought he was getting there looking for juice or the cat but nope), doesn’t want to be held or cuddled, doesn’t do cuddles or kisses, can’t say he follows a command ( if it wasn’t for the duggee theme I’d swear he couldn’t hear you).

Do I give the health visitor a call or do I mark those emails as spam and never open one again?

What’s actually normal?

Does he make eye contact? Does he engage with you if you play with him? Will he play peek-a-boo or something like that?

When you say he won't cuddle, is that because he's active and busy or because he is insular and doesn't seek comfort from other people? Would he want a cuddle/pick up if he hurt himself?

Eye contact rarely.. very much on his terms. Playing you’ve no chance he’d rather bomb about on his own, he’ll take things from you but no further interest in posting the blocks/what does this do. Peekaboo occasionally gets a laugh if you hide and jump up but he won’t attempt to hide/cover face himself. Just laughing at you re appearing.

I’m not sure if it’s a bit of both, if he’s tired he’ll lay with you, but today he took a proper tumble and wouldn’t stay up to be cuddled in/checked over just wriggled free and wanted down while still upset. He’ll put his hands up to get out of his high chair when he’s ready but wouldn’t crawl over and want up, he’d pull up and nibble your knee though.

Putting his arms up to be lifted up is a good sign because that's communication. Does he wave or point or do any other communicative behaviour?

If you smile at him will he smile back? Will he follow an item with his eyes, if you show him a ball and then move it side to side, does he follow it?

It's a tricky age, becuase you would expect eye contact and social behaviour at this point, but at the same time lack of it doesn't necessarily mean anything.

Nope he won’t look at something you point at either. I said I could walk around in a flashing led outfit and he’d still ignore me. He smiles but doesn’t smile back/copy us. He’ll follow something if he wants it.. but not a oh what’s that you’ve got for anything random, more like ah my dummy gimme it / ah my juice gimme it.

Newborns are so much easier.. does it eat? Does it poop? It’s pretty much ok . He’s probably just not there yet and those emails just like to give you something to worry about.

I think it's something to keep an eye on, but not worry about yet. Some children are just more independent than others, more active than social at this age.