18 month old development delay?

[4658Lou]

My just turned 18 month old who was 3 and half weeks early through a planned c section as I had preclampsia. I thought was doing things early like saying da da at 5/6 months, now baby has turned 18 months old and I’m concerned about a few things he is doing … for one he is only saying da da, mama and baba, he babbles and seems like think he is talking but not actual other words I have heard expert for those 3 words. He is not walking fully independent yet, but cruising and will walk with me with two hands and has taken a couple steps on his own into my arms, he climbs up the stairs and seems to climb on sofa very confidently i was abit concerned he was behind in walking thinking should he be actual walking now there’s a few little things he does when he is excited he stiffens up all excited and waves / moves his hands and make a little excited sound which I read was called ‘stimming’. Along we the not talking much I’m getting worried is there a delay or something like Autisim. But he is very loving will come to me for hugs and play seems to love playing blocks and his kitchen. But he is not pointing at things at all or responds to his name even though in the nhs guidelines it says it’s expected at 18 months I’m juts concerned and will be going to GPs regarding this but just wanted some advice on this or anyone going through or been through this with their baby?

sorry for some typos as I’m just abit worried writing this x

Don’t worry about the typos at all

There’s a really simple progress checker available from the charity Speech & Language UK.

If that says he needs some support then come back and we can tell you of some things that you might want to do next

@BunnyRuddington thank you 💐 I have completed the link it says From your answers, it may be that your child needs more support with understanding, talking, social communication.

my son will say mama dada and baba and some words that I can’t make out as words that I would describe as baby babble maybe he thinks he saying something he just talks alot but it’s babble with then mama dada baba words. He will look into my eyes and come for some loving and or play like he wants to say to me play with me or love me. I have tried to get hi mimic gestures so he will put his hand to his mouth if I do etc . I tried to learn him blow a kiss he laughs and seems to understand what I’m doing but won’t repeat it if I wave hello he knows form the look of it what it is but won’t wave back to me and say hello. He likes to clap at songs though and when playing. The above what I wrote about the stims he does when excited and just the general lack of pointing etc all these things that they say 18 months old should be doing x

You can talk to your health visitor if you are concerned but they often take a wait and see approach.

A lot of it just sounds like the slower end of normal. It sounds like they are very close to walking so I wouldn’t get too concerned there and speech often comes on a lot between 18 months and 2 years. My daughters did. How is his understanding generally? If you read books and ask him to point to something does he know the meaning of common words?

No he doesn’t point to things he will listen to a book and look at them but he won’t point. I’m seeing his cousins videos back from when they were 12-13 months them singing along with songs like ol Macdonald but my 18 month old is doing nothing like that. He’s just saying words mama baba dada and babble

When you say common words when I’m talking to him he seems to look at me and seems to understand and listen But he wouldn’t point to what I’m saying if that makes sense.

example in the morning he will have milk still and if I come in he gives me a verbal clue like looking and then come to me like saying where is the milk yet? But he isn’t asking for it or pointing - I hope this makes sense.

concerned mum after seeing what people’s other children are doing at 12/13 months singing nursery rhymes etc

I think if the Speech & Language UK’s progress checker says he needs some support then I would give your HV a call today and ask her to assess him. They are a very well respected charity so your HV should take the results seriously.

I would also fill in both of these assessments:

18 month Ages & Stages

and the 18 month Social & Emotional Ages & Stages.

You can score them yourself before the appointment with the HV if you want to or you can ask her to score them.

If you need any help interpreting the results, just let us know and there’s usually someone around who can help

As the PP says the HV might very well want to adopt the “wait and see” approach. If she does this then ask her to make a follow up appointment with you for 2 months time. If you don’t book an appointment there and then they she may forget or not see follow-up as important. From my own experience I wish I had pushed far more at this stage.

As a minimum from the first appointment with your HV I would want to be referred for a hearing test and some SaLT although this might just be a group session for DC who have some speech delay at this age. You can also ask for a referral to Portage

Thank you for this I will look at the questionnaires x

How do I put the answers on here?

You can photograph them and add them or just type out what they’ve scored in each section?

I have put first form here @BunnyRuddington
I’m not sure how to calculate it

I could be wrong with how I’ve scored this but I get his score to be over 100. The cut off point is 65, for any score over that then the HV should refer you to a Paediatrician.

Have you managed to get hold of the HV yet?

Hi. Thanks, what does that mean the results of this?
I spoke to the HV and they weee reluctant to refer him before 2 years old?- but then decided to do a 18 month review - refer to early learning they mentioned a playgroup is part of the referral and sent me loads of information via email to work on with what I can do with talking etc

Is it a specific Playgroup that she’s refereed you to and has DS started yet?

Has she also referred for a hearing test and SaLT?

Has the HV given a reason that she wants to wait until 2 years? It may be because referrals onto the ASD pathway aren’t accepted any younger in your area but I would ask her the question.

Has she referred you to Portage too?

And have a look at the SN Children section too. There are some really supportive MNers in there who can help you with resources, applying for an ECHP when the time is right and also DLA

@BunnyRuddington the Doctor was reluctant didn’t mention hearing test or Salt referral wanted my son to go to nursery and other interactive play for 6 months solid and then review with him being only just turned 18 months old. Doctor said the early intervention is the best thing right now and to await the referral - I’m waiting for the play group from the early intervention , and the 18 month review from the early intervention but they did not give me a time just that they will contact me with it.

I don’t even know what portage is? I had to google it. From the sounds off my doctor and the early intervention / health visitor they didn’t even consider or brought up potatoes

Sorry that was a auto correct spelling I meant Portage not potatoes 🙃

following this as he sounds a lot like mine, though he's 19 months. He's only just started walking, and doesn't really have any words either. He understands some things that I say, but either doesn't understand much or to be honest just doesn't seem interested in hearing me! He'll play with us and pretend play and sometimes I hear him singing (wordlessly) a tune. He doesn't point and doesn't try and tell me what he wants. I'm trying not to worry until closer to 2 but it's hard

Have you done the progress checkers further up in the thread and is the HV keeping an eye on him?

@teksab it hard isn’t it. I explained everything to Health visitor and from what I can understand is that everything like that can be normal in developing children , stims etc not much words but they give them time to develop with consistent language development so I’m focusing on all the things via email early learning / health visitor as sent awaiting the group play referral, they are wanting my 18 month to go nursery to get interactive play to copy other children etc. my son this morning literally started poiting with one finger at my husband who was in the garden waving and pointing through window. And it’s only the last few days I’ve been working on pointing by showing him and using books for him to point in x

its so hard not to worry. What is your little one saying in terms of words? X

@teksab snd what about pointing in books and or pointing out the window etc.

He scores well on everything on the ages and stages appart from communication to which every answer is 'no' 😣

he doesn't point at all really- or if he does it's very random, not to show me something or when I ask where something is. His words are 'daddy' (not always in context), bye, 'ta' and uh-oh (but not often). Anecdotally I know of a lot who said very little words til 3, but I can already tell he has a short temper when I'm trying to get him in the car seat or something and feel like he's going to get very frustrated with not being able to communicate soon

@teksab @4658Lou how are your LO's doing now? My daughter is 17months (nearly 18) and also not walking, or talking (can babble "mama" and "baba"). She's also not pointing. She has a health visitor as she is very small for her age (2nd centile) and they have said she is on the slower side for communication but can't refer her for not walking yet. It's so difficult when all of my friends children who are her age are so far ahead. I am hoping for some reassurance x

@DeeSantina my little one is now 19 months fully walking. Little one has started pointing but it isn’t all the time just like pointing through a window and or in a book to press a button etc. little one is now saying more words for example why, bang, again, bubble, no.
It is coming on more the talking I would say! I feel like that too but my little one was climbing stairs months ago whereas one of my friends babies only just started to climb stairs at 2 years old. They are all so different in everything