Hi Chzm, I'm sorry to hear you're having the same worries as i was (and still am to some degree). Feel free to add more detail and i'm sure others here will dib in with their thoughts too.
So my little one is nearly 14 months now... and it was interesting to re-read my comments... communications are still not quite his thing. Physical development is right on track, interaction with his environment is fantastic - he knows how EVERYTHING works haha..
But hes not talking yet (we're a bilingual household - maybe that's not helping).. he's still avoiding eye contact and cuddles as a rule.. but i have made some changes that are improving all that (slowly but surely)
I make sure i take time to play next to him, even if we're playing different games.. i've found that eventually he'll be interested in my game and we can play together. I consider it a success if i get even a very short amount of joint play or "reading".
I take time before each nap not to talk "at him" but i lay him on my chest and facing me and do whatever it takes to get him to look at me - that might be pulling my tongue out, a funny noise, a cloth on my head, whatever, but he's starting to engage really well during this part of our routine. In the beginning he was just a wiggly worm and wanted to find an object to interact with, but with persistence (and finding the things that entertain him specifically) it started to improve.
Getting on his level and discussing how much he wants the banana/biscuit/toy and holding out until he looks at me in the eyes is also starting to create a more consistent response to eye contact...
Peek a boo is helpful because he's looking for me...And i really make an effort to reply and be super interested every time he babbles and will even do something to make him laugh in response to anything at all that he says so that he has this reward for communicating. Hes started pointing recently (that was very late according to the holy book of mythical communication milestones) but again i'm using that pointing as a cue to be ridiculously enthusiastic about return communications.
I've talked to the doctor every visit about it - and doctor always just says that some babies are more independent - that hes too busy discovering his world to worry about having a chat and a cuddle...
Maybe hes right - if DS is unsure/hurt he comes straight to my arms. When i pick him up from his childminder i get a big grin, his "i'm happy" noise and he runs into my arms... its just the day to day routine stuff that i'm a bit surplus to requirements... so im trying to work on this (exhausting but effective) over enthusiastic response to everything resembling emotional communication.
I have no idea if its the right approach according to the textbooks but it seems to be making gradual progress for us.
Do let me know how you are getting on, and do chat to your doctor about it, it does help keep my panic in check being told monthly that "its ok" ;-)
Best wishes