19 month old, speech and social delay?

[Pikaso]

19 month old girl. Absolutely beautiful and hilarious personality but I’m worried about her social skills. She only says the odd word here and there and will not play with or interact with other children. If another toddler goes near her she’ll retreat in panic. Took her to toddler dance and she just stood and stared at everyone, wouldn’t join in and eventually just wandered off on her own.

Autism in the family so I’m worrying (maybe unnecessarily?)

19 month olds shouldn't really play with other kids. My 3YO is highly social and imaginative but she didn't really become interested in playing with other kids til nearer 2.5. Does she socialise with you or copy any gestures such as waving/high five? Does she point or sign at all? Does she have any kind of imaginative play? She's very young yet and a lot can change in this first couple of years x

Yes she’s very imaginative and in some ways seems quite advanced for her age. She’ll put her dolls to bed, cover them up, give them bottles, rock them to sleep and try and sing to them etc, it’s adorable! She does copy off adults too (such as “if you’re happy and you know it … wheels on the bus etc) copying hands. But she won’t talk or interact with anyone she doesn’t know and if a child goes anywhere near her she’ll panic and cry

She honestly sounds lovely and fine and just possibly on the more introverted side. I would just gently encourage playing with other kids and remember that this is best done by mirroring eg be prepared to talk yourself to strangers in the park etc. I'm sure she'll come on leaps and bounds in the next few months xx