Could this be a sign of global development delay?

[CreativeNest]

I have a lovely 15 month old daughter. I have been trying to convince myself that every child has their own timeline and that she'll get there eventually but deep down a part of me is concerned. For example, for her gross motor skills she is only able to pull to stand at the moment. I know that they say it's normal if you're child does not walk under the age of 18 months and I know that there may be a lot of other toddlers out there who are the same. However I'm also concerned about her language. She is only saying two words which is 'mama' and 'dada'. She does not even try to mimic sounds. I go to a children centre for toddlers aged 12-24 months. They all walk and are able to play with the toys. For instance, they will not put the play dough in their mouths and can use a crayon to draw but my little one can't. I ask the mothers how old their little one is and I can't help but get concerned when they are younger than my daughter but are saying more words and stacking cups etc. I've tried to be so encouraging at home to help her development in these areas. I bought her lovery play kit for her age group but she did not know how to play with it. She also started teething later than average (13 months). Everything is just later than average since the beginning. She learned to roll at the end of 7 months. She did not sit for the longest time. I think she was 11-12 months when she sat independently. To me, when it's just us at home she seems like brightest cookie. She understands almost everything I say. She can point to her head and nose, she is very observing and is very social but I get caught worrying about her reaching these milestones because i know that's the way to determine if she's on track with her development. I wanted to know if anyone else has had this experience with their child where they were reaching milestones later than average and they were not diagnosed with anything. I really know I shouldn't compare or think too much into it but at the same time if my daughter does have a condition like global development delay is rather know sooner than later so I can get the right help for her.

Bless you.
I didn't want you to sit on 'unanswered threads' but I am a bit older now and can't remember when my various children reached the different milestones.

Hopefully this will bump your question for some others to help.

Though this bit made me smile
I go to a children centre for toddlers aged 12-24 months. They all walk and are able to play with the toys. For instance, they will not put the play dough in their mouths and can use a crayon to draw but my little one can't.

Trust me, that is not the case for most 15month olds.

I also know that most 15month olds don't have that many words.

If you go to a group at a children's centre, then can you not have a chat with whoever leads the group and tell them about your worries?

I'm not worried from what you say, but obviously they will see her in person.

I completely understand why you're worrying but honestly at 15 months most kids would absolutely eat play dough and wouldn't be arsed about drawing. You say she's only got two words, but my 3 year old has none yet though he walked stupidly early. All babies are so different and honestly you can drive yourself crazy if you constantly compare. Have you spoken to your HV about your concerns?

The safety advice for toys saying suitability for over 3s is because smaller kids normally mouth toys....playdo eating is normal, not holding a crayon is normal....we do tend to only see the ones who can rather than the ones who can't....talk to your health visitor

She sounds very much like my three children at the same age. 2 of them actually did not walk until just over 18 months. I found language came on much more quickly from around 2 years of age and very few words prior to that. Mama and Dada at 15 months sounds v typical. As does eating play dough and not wanting to draw.

If you are concerned she will still be under the health visitor, you could contact them to request an assessment I think?

I vividly remember my anxious catastrophising over the doomed future of my first baby who could not walk and had barely any words at 18 months either! I can remember one night struggling to sleep thinking what if he has some awful condition that means he will die young. It seems silly now but there is something scary at this age - you love them so strongly but they've got so much left to prove in terms of their health and development. A year later he had developed so much he was a completely different child. He's at primary now and not delayed, or doomed, in the slightest.