Worried about son’s development

[GoldenApple1]

Hi, my son is 14months old and I am concerned with his development. He is walking fine but he rarely responds to his name, doesn’t point, rarely waves and isn’t saying any words yet. Any activities such as playing with blocks or playing with rings is a real challenge as his concentration is poor. He loves playing with bouncy balls and loves throwing toys. He understands some things such as pat-a-cake/clapping and will do it when you ask him to. He eats really well and varied. Is anyone’s baby similar? Compared to other babies I know he seems really behind :(

Sounds like my son.
He is now 17 months, still doesn't respond to his name.
Eats well, is very active, sleeps well, enjoys throwing toys and knocking towers over, says some words and animal sounds.
Understand some simple instructions sometimes
Hope someone can help you xx

You think nothing would change but a lot can change within the next few months. They literally change overnight. Keep an eye on him and talk to him a lot and try to enjoy him.

Hi M0m23, when did your son start to say words?

At 14 months, I'd say not yet having any words and a short attention span (especially for adult-chosen activities) is fairly common. Pointing isn't late until 18 months, so you'd be looking to see that appear in the next couple of months – but a few months is a very long time in terms of baby/toddler development. If you point at something, does he look at the object (rather than at your hand)? The clapping, pat-a-cake, and waving (even if occasional) all sound good.

From what you say, he's perhaps slightly behind the average, but sounds well within the range of normal development. Are the other babies you know perhaps focusing on communication, whilst your son is going for physical skills first, throwing and so on?

Hi he does seem to follow my point and look at the object. It’s the not responding to his name which is my biggest worry. The other babies I know do seem advanced as they are doing both communication and physical skills well. I suppose it’s just a wait and see situation not that it will matter in the long run. He’s a lovely boy 🥰

I feel like you are literally writing about my little boy.
Maybe it's a boy thing.
Is your son always busy and very active?
My son is into everything x

Hey, everyone says to me that boys are different but I just don’t know. They do sounds similar, my son sleeps well too. He’s so active, he never stops all day lol. Non stop moving about, i try and show him things like his blocks but getting him to stay still is hard! He put a ring on his ring stack for the first time today, he was really watching me do it and he just did it straight after. I feel like he’s really capable but it’s getting him to focus 🤦🏻‍♀️ I haven’t really been around any other babies so going off the milestones list and that stresses me out!

My boy was like that and I probably have threads written when he was 14 months where he wasn't responding to his name. He started to respond to his name around 16 months but I did called his name less and less and he turned around to look the first time more frequently. He is still a busy bee and loves exploring at nearly 3 but understands and speaks. I think around 18 months it got better and then 2 and 2.5 where he is different little boy. I would say I still have concerns but more to do with speech as he is also bilingual and nursery is helping as well where he started recently.

@arcticgoose

My boy was like that and I probably have threads written when he was 14 months where he wasn't responding to his name. He started to respond to his name around 16 months but I did called his name less and less and he turned around to look the first time more frequently. He is still a busy bee and loves exploring at nearly 3 but understands and speaks. I think around 18 months it got better and then 2 and 2.5 where he is different little boy. I would say I still have concerns but more to do with speech as he is also bilingual and nursery is helping as well where he started recently.

This is very reassuring to hear. I hope my little boy is just a late developer and will come on like your son did xx

I mean I still have concerns in terms of speech as he hasn't got enough vocabulary to respond to simple questions I ask apart from no school or yes playground but what I was worried about at 14 months which was the same things as you, he completely changed when he reached 18 months. It's still a long time to go. You think he is doing the same stuff everyday and then someday he starts pointing, responding, has a longer attention span. At that age I was never able to play with him and felt like I was speaking to a brick wall but now over a year I can sit down and play with him and he engages a lot.

Also I've never had issues with his sleep as well. He would just wake up a couple of times in the night but still is asleep and wants to bf. His never been the one to get out of bed and think it's playtime at 4am. He is very very active but we haven't used a high chair for nearly a year now and he can sit down with us for a meal or he sometimes chills on the sofa but brings his toys. I never imagined this would happen at 14 months when I used to see my friends babies just chilling or happily playing with their toys. He was always on the go from one thing to another and really pro in his physical milestones. I always and still now have to keep an eye on him but a lot changed after 18 months. You would think everything is so slow paced in his development and suddenly it goes uphill and it becomes much more fun. I have more fun with him now as he is his own little person engaging with you but at 14 months it was so frustrating because not matter what I did, he just was so consumed with other things than play with me.

I think my problem is I am constantly comparing him to other children (friends kids) majority are girls and a couple of months older than him.
I feel like boys develop completely different and their minds are so different, they figure things out differently.
And like you say a couple of months is alot in baby/toddlers.
So those couple months they have on him, they will be more advanced.
I am trying to use his name less and less, but it is so difficult when he doesn't engage and respond to me.
Like you said...I feel like I am talking to a brick wall.

My son is 15 months now and apart from him improving slightly with his concentration (he’s now able to do simple puzzles and his ring stack) not much has changed. Still no words, no pointing, rarely waving and rarely responding to his name. I am so stressed out and my partner is not being supportive. I have called the health visitor and I have an appointment for him. I’m hoping they will be able to refer us or assist us in some way. Feel very lost atm :( xx

If you want to private message me I think we could help one another as we are going through similar things with our little ones x

Hello! My son was/is exactly the same! As he is now 20 months his attention has improved so much, more clapping, more interacting and a lot more babbling( going to speech therapy)! He plays with toys normally and still plays with toys how he wants, loves spinning wheels and doing all sorts of quirky stuff, he has started doing peek a boo to us, feeding us and including us more in his play - just recently he has started using a car/truck normally and balls are his favourite to just throw and bounce- it's fun for them.

My son doesn't have words but understands a hell of a lot! To be honest I used to worry about EVERYTHING but now that he is older he does so many great things that I don't worry anymore. He doesn't point and rarely waves but I'm sure that will come otherwise some kids just never feel the need to, my sons way of pointing is eye contact. Lots of little boys really boom after 2-3 years old.

I should also add that my son has a speech and social delay due to glue ear and also this delay is very common even without glue ear.

Once they learn how to communicate, the social gestures will follow (pointing, waving etc).

@GoldenApple1 i would love to hear how your son is doing now

@GoldenApple1 how is your lo now?

Hi, I thought I would update as I have been tagged twice to respond. My son is now 28 months and he has improved massively. He started saying words from 15 months and at 28 months can say his full name, uses pronouns and can say 4 or 5 word sentences. He knows his numbers up to 20 and can read numbers up to 10. He loves to sing and dance and regularly makes me and his dad dance with him. He started pointing at about 19 months which was a massive relief but I know that that is later than it should be. He started responding to his name properly at about 16 months and his name response is now very good. He does play blocks and things but if he is not interested he will not do it! Very strong willed! His role play skills I think are quite good, he loves playing with his teddies and figurines and makes them talk to each other. He can be very shy however with people he doesn’t know/know well but once he knows you, he’s a happy chatty friendly boy. I still worry sometimes as he can do some quirky things but I’m hoping that that is typical!