Should I be worried?

[TheFamousMrEd]

I put this in the Parenting forum but thought this would be a better place for it.

There are a few things worrying me about my 15month old and wanted to get other’s opinions.

1. He’s not really babbling and doesn’t copy any noises we make. He mostly babbles Dadada or bababa. He was saying mama but has stopped this. We have booked a hearing test for him next week on the advice from the health visitor.
2. while he will walk holding our hands and will walk between people independently, he still can’t stand without holding on to something/someone and isn’t squatting- he always gets down onto his knees from standing.
3. he seems completely obsessed with balls/throwing things. For example, He doesn’t push cars along he just throws them.
4. he gets very nervous/clingy out and about. If we go to softplay, someone’s house etc. he just sits on me for a while at won’t stray far from me when he gets the confidence to get involved.

I see lots of other children his age doing all these things and being happy to explore out and about and I worry that he’s struggling.

Any thoughts/advice would be great!

1. How's his understanding? Does he understand a few instructions (easier to tell with ones he's likely to want to follow like 'get your shoes!' or 'time for a snack') and recognise the names of a few household objects (or foods!). No words is pretty common at this age, but usually you're starting to see some understanding. The hearing test is the first things to check here anyhow, so you've already got that sorted.
2. I don't think this is a concern at this age – he'll probably figure it out soon. Usually it's around 18 months that they'd start to look into not walking at all, so I doubt they'd be concerned about not standing up independently or squatting before them.
3. I'd guess this is probably just him, and he'll probably move onto a new interest soon enough.
4. Also very normal at this age, I think, and actually really good – he knows you're his safe space, and gradually explores out from that safety (checking in with you periodically whilst he explores is also normal).

His understanding is so/so. He’s very good at letting me know what he wants in terms of bringing me his shoes (he loves to wear them!) and pointing to things he wants. He’s not so good at doing what I ask unless I’m giving him a visual clue e.g tapping the hole on the toy you put the ball into. On the other hand if you’re having an adult conversation and you say something like it’s time to head off then he starts waving, so he must understand some things.

He’s had a lot of coughs/colds/congestion over the last 6 months so I’m hoping he just has a bit of glue ear or something.

It’s good to hear they wouldn’t be really worried about him not walking/standing etc. yet. Reading about milestones it says they should be able to stand independently without support by 15 months. If you let go of him he just fall face first like a felled tree. Doesn’t attempt to save himself, or sit down on his bum instead.

In terms of being out and about, I guess it’s not a bad thing! He just seems so sad away from home vs. Other children and so much less confident. We can be at softplay for a 90min session and he’ll spend 80mins of it clinging to me.

Bumping to get any other advice :)

His understanding seems ok, if he's picking up things you are saying to other people - then as you say he must understand a fair bit.

Your other worries sound perfectly normal to me. My DD was a limpet until well into being three, even now at four if it's a new house she will cling until she's feeling brave enough. Some children are just more shy and need more reassurance - that's not necessarily a bad thing as PP says it shows he knows where he is safe.