13 months and not using any gesture

[Kstar321]

Hi all,

I have a beautiful little boy who has just turned 13 months. He’s not yet doing any kind of spontaneous gesture. He doesn’t wave or clap, despite me doing this all the time with him. He watches with interest when I wave and clap, but doesn’t even try to imitate me. In fact, he doesn’t really imitate me at all even with peekaboo, or making sounds etc. He is babbling, most just ba ba ba, and general sounds. Not walking but not far off. He is a happy baby, smiles and laughs and seems to enjoy being around family and other babies, comes to me for comfort etc but I can’t help but be a bit concerned around his lack of gesture and general lack of imitation. Is he just a late developer do you think? I will speak to my HV, but wondered what everyone else’s experiences of this kind of this were. Thank you :)

Hello, nope absolutely no diagnoses and his nursery have no concerns about him 😊. At his 1 year health visitor he did score into the lowest zone on communication but by his one at 2 years 5 months he was up into the higher section and they were perfectly happy! Xx

Thanks I appreciate your response ♡

Hi how did your little one come along?

Hello. My LO is doing really well. He gestures a lot now, but it is not something that comes naturally to him. He is quite likely autistic, but his language is developing nicely and is a happy little boy so that’s all I can want for really!

Hi, thanks for replying!

glad he’s come on well, what makes you seem he may be autistic?

oh there is a long list! He’s on the waiting list for an assessment. He struggles massively with emotional regulation, has some sensory differences and finds socialising with children his own age a little tricky. He also is incredibly bright with things like letters and numbers. He has a reading age of about 8 years old (he’s 3…) which is fantastic, but not typical!

Hey @Kstar321

Just wondering how your LO is doing now communication wise. I have a 12 month old that isn’t gesturing at all. He reaches to be picked up and loves flipping through board books. Just want to know that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. My LO

@MDD hello. He’s now almost 4 and while his communication is behind that of his peers he’s doing well and with regards to his gestures these all came along with time :) try not to worry and just enjoy him for all the lovely things he is doing (I know that’s easier said than done!)

@Kstar321 Thanks a lot for your response. Glad to hear that your LO is doing well :)

Hi! Not sure if you ever check this thread, but I found it when doing some research about my son. He sounds EXACTLY like your son, he is 12 months now. I'm wondering how your son is doing now, as it looks like he seemed to be progressing well in your post history.

Hello. He’s doing well, starts school in September. He’s really bright but communication is still a bit behind other kids. We do think he’s heading for an autism diagnosis, but gesture wise there’s no concerns now x

Wow. Your first post was from 13 months and now he's starting school! I appreciate your follow on. I am going to pursue some support for my son now based on what I am seeing about the importance of gestures. My son is even taking my hands in his own and clapping them! I do find that his receptive language is very good. He can follow a few commands and knows the meaning of some words. So hopefully that is a positive sign for his development! Not sure if you can remember back to 12 months and your son's receptive language, but everything else you described about your son seems so similar to mine.

Hi @Kstar321 i have just come across all your posts regarding your son! Thank you for sharing all your updates!🙂
I have a 2 nearly 3 year old who had a massive regression at 13 months (lost all gestures, response to name, words, eye contact) he still hasn’t gained these back- he stims all day and is non verbal and struggles to control his emotions due to not being able to communicate. We are a year in on the wait list to be diagnosed. His pre school agree he’s autistic and got him a 1-1.

my youngest just turned 1 and I feel he’s always had slight sensory issues (screams like he’s being tortured everytime I change him or put him in his car seat, pram etc)
he’s saying a few words but isn’t gesturing so my concerns are he is also autistic (stressful!!)
im hoping he will catch up on gestures over the next couple of months but just wanted to thank you for the updates and glad your little boy is thriving!