15mths not walking or talking

[UpsyOne]

My son will only walk if I hold his hand. He has walked a few steps on his own but has stopped doing this and gets cross if I try and encourage this.

He will babble a lot but hasn't said any words.

Despite this he does show a lot of intelligence, he understands a lot of what I say to him. For example from an 9mths he has been able to identify parts of his body such as his belly, legs, ear and head. He will follow requests such as shut the door, put it back and can I have a kiss etc.

Should I be concerned and speak to a HV or have other people experienced this, left their children to it andnow have eloquent children running around happily?

I didn't walk until 18 months. And most of DSs friends have only recently started saying a few words at 16-19 months.

I wouldn't worry, but speak to your hv to put your mind at rest if you're concerned.

Thank you, my instinct tells me he is fine and will do these things when he's ready.

But I can't help but notice all the younger children running around and talking and the mums raising and eyebrow when they realise my son can't do these things does unnerve me a little.

There is nothing to worry about. Those things should not concern you until age 2.

I look after a 16 month old and she doesn't walk - will walk holding your hand but only briefly! Has only started saying a couple of words in the last couple of weeks, but you wouldn't understand them unless you knew what they were iyswim.

My dd didn't walk until 20 months, by 23 months she looked the same as the others running about!

Dd2 didn't start walking untill 16 months. And she has only just started talking about a month ago. She is 2.6

thank you for sharing, it's very reassuring.

Please don't worry! My DS wouldn't even bear weight at that age and he didn't take his first unaided step until 20 months. He is now 2.1 years old and on his 2nd birthday he spent THREE hours walking around the zoo on his own! (ie not holding hands, obviously we were with him )

He also didn't say too much at 15 months but jibbers all the time now.

I remember the worry all too well though, I even discussed it with the HV who said not to worry. It was more other people who worried me when they said 'oh and you not worried that he isn't walking?'

He will be fine

DS2 didn't walk until the past month and he is 15 months. DS1 didn't talk much before he was 2.

Sounds normal to me - you should only worry about speech at that age if he shows no sign of understanding anything (unless you understand things you will not go on to acquire speech easily). DD1 didn't walk until 16 months and I was almost 2 (stubborn and lazy )

So don't worry!

Definately don't worry - as long as he is progressing with his developement then he will get there. Normal age for walking unaided is 12 - 24 months. For some reason everyone thinks children should be walking at a year, but most don't - so don't worry

DS2 did not walk until 17 months old.

DS3 walked at 12 months however still does not say any distinguishable words (apart from "mama" ) and something that can mean "shoes", "cheers" or "juice" depending on context. He is now 20 months.

DS1 was really fast with all his milestones.

What I am trying to demonstrate is that they do things in their own time.
If your DS has comprehension, babbles "tunefully" (lots of different sounds and long speeches that sound like language even if it is gobbledigook) and is otherwise interested in life around him, there is probably nothing to worry about !

Disclaimer: if in any doubt, see your friendly HCP !!

DD 15mo only started walking a month ago. She went from not wanting to walk to wanting to walk everywhere in the space of a week.