13 month old communication - please help

[Sarahmc123]

Hi
I’m a first time mum and my little boy was 1 in October. He’ll be 14 months later this month and I’ve suddenly started panicking about his communication.
He babbles away and can understand certain things such as ‘no’ but rarely passes me something if I asked/answers to his name. He also doesn’t point or wave. He points to things in books but not objects or items and has never waved although I think he understands when I wave bye bye (he usually cry’s).
He’s not said a word yet but says the usual ‘mamamama’ ‘dadadadada’ but not in context.
I just wondered when everyone else’s little ones started talking/communicating?

Thanks for any advice x

There's a useful progress checker for 12 month olds here sarahmc.

I'd have a look and if you have any concerns, speak to your HV.

If you are concerned, once he's 16 months you could try the mchat test. I wouldn't do it earlier though as he's bound to fail it if he's too young

Thank you @JiltedJohnsJulie really appreciate that.
I’ve left a message with the Heath visitor to talk to but nothing was picked up at his 9-12 month review although she didn’t see him it was just a series of questions on the phone.
It’s difficult because particularly this year we haven’t been seeing anyone or leaving him so haven’t been doing the usual ‘wave bye-bye etc’.
Thank you though will take a look at the resource, I’m hoping he’s just slower developing his communication skills as everything else is there x

Hi there

I became really worried about my daughter around the same age. I didn't feel her understanding was brilliant (wouldn't pass me things or go her things etc) and she wasn't saying any words. In hindsight, I think I didn't give it long enough. She learned to walk around that time and I now feel she was just focusing on her motor skills.

I spent lots of time playing with her, stopped screen time and by a couple of months her understanding was brilliant. Maybe just a coincidence but lots of narrating and repeating has helped I think.

She had a few words over the next few months although mostly, she's a bit quiet. She's taken off a bit now though, started using 5 new words last week for example. Also has just started trying to copy what we say without any prompting.

She started pointing to show interests the day she turned 18 months. She only started waving about a month later although she could clap on demand from about 7 months. She now waves and shouts buh-bye!
She knows every animal sound possible! I'm no longer worried at all. She's 23 months.

Thank you @CP2701 he is very close to taking some steps I think, confidently cruising around furniture and can balance on his own for some time (until he realises he’s not holding on!) so maybe similar.
I’m going to reduce screen time and try to focus on encouraging communication. We’ve always read and sang to him he recognises songs etc but will do some more and hopefully like you we will see an improvement.
Thanks very much for your reply it is reassuring to hear others have had the same concerns and everything has been fine - I know they do develop at different rates but it’s just so hard not to compare them isn’t it! X