Is my 14 month olds development normal?

[Rololola]

Hi,
My beautiful DS has a routine developmental check up on Friday with the HV.
Unfortunately for me, this has caused my anxiety to peak. I worry a lot about everything.
My 14 month old is walking, dancing, smiling, laughing, clapping hands.
He can say 'uh oh' and 'ah ah' and 'bye bye' in the right contexts. He also asks to breastfeed by saying 'ba ba' (boobie)
He says Mama but I'm not convinced it's in the right context. To him, I think mama means 'I want'. Its by far his most frequently used word.
Today I feel like I'm going crazy because he is repeating it so much. Is it normal for a child his age to repeat the same word all day? I feel like at his age, my DD was talking in gibberish ramblings and not just saying an isolated word on repeat.
The other thing I am worried about is that he does a lot of hitting, and sometimes biting.
His first cousin has level 3 autism and I worry alot that my DS might have it. I am always watching for signs.

Thanks everyone

I have a 15 month old and a 4 year old. My 4 year old didn’t babble much at all and only used words he knew. By 2.5 he was chatting away and now has actually got very good language for a 4 year old. My 15 month old babbles all the time non stop and knows and uses about 10 actual words we can understand. Both very different but both seem normal and not concerned about either of them.

Not sure if that’s helpful but just my experience of children and learning language! :)

I should also add my first was such a biter and thankfully stopped it completely around 3 (we went through phases of biting and then not for months only to return!) 😬🙈

Thank you! That is helpful. Its hard not to worry. I wish I was more carefree. Hopefully this hitting phase will expire soon because we had a playdate this afternoon and it was stressful and embarrassing.

Hi, my two have been totally different in terms of language acquisition,first born seemed to be born chatting, second very slow to get going. I've been on ASD watch since my youngest was 1 and whilst I'm not an expert I really don't think the repeating words thing is something to be concerned about at this age. I too have a hitter/biter, mine's nearly two now. I have always linked it to a lack of language, they seem quite frustrated (as am I, have left many a playdate on verge of tears) so I don't have any advice because am currently in the thick of it but solidarity to you! X

Hi @Unhappymumunhappytoddler thanks for your reply. It has made me feel a lot better and the frustration from lack of language theory actually makes sense. Our playdate earlier was disastrous. He seemed to be the only child hitting. My daughter pulled hair a lot at a similar age and that did pass eventually.
ASD watch is tough. It is actually the reason we are not having more children. I couldn't do it to myself a third time.

Literally could have written that myself!? We always wanted three but decided now to stop at two, I wouldn't have the energy to be pregnant again running after my whirlwind second child and I think I would exist in such a heightened state of anxiety during that third pregnancy I think it would be awful for all involved. But yknow I have two lovely (mostly ha!), healthy children and am just going to do my absolute best by them. If my little one needs extra help then I want to make sure I can be there for them as much as I can and not be spread too thin. At the age your son is at it could be just a sensory thing (sensory with a small s, am not saying your child has any SEN!!), teething, tiredness, illness or the frustration that comes through lack of ability to articulate themselves. All very normal, albeit hard for us mums🙃

@Unhappymumunhappytoddler 2 is a lovely number. Manageable also. Sort of 🤣🤣
Thanks for your help. What is it about that second child, eh?

Haha they come to test you. Good luck on Friday it honestly sounds like your DS is doing great and am sure your HV will put your mind at rest x

@Unhappymumunhappytoddler thank you so much xxx