16 month old not walking or talking

[ImSoExhausted]

I've posted about my DS2 before, he didn't crawl until he was 12 months and was 10 months before he rolled over. He only pulled himself up on furniture at 14 months, doesn't cruise or stand independently at all.

I'm getting a bit concerned. DS1 is autistic, doesn't talk for communication purposes (Just says random words for fun) and didn't speak at all until 2 years 3 months. He also doesn't understand language when you speak to him, can't follow direction etc

DS2 used to babble and say 'Mamamama' and 'Dadadada' at about 10/11 months, but he's stopped that completely now. He still makes the occasional babbling sounds, but he shouts at us more if that makes sense?
I wasn't particularly worried about DS2 and his speech because he seems to understand more than DS1 ever did. So when asked to 'come here' he generally will, and seems to understand when you tell him 'no'.
But he isn't saying anything at all. No sounds for anything either. He also seems to have picked up his brothers habit of grabbing your hand and throwing it towards whatever he wants.
He's very demanding and will shout and scream until he gets what he wants, but he doesn't point at it. He waves and claps hands when asked and will occasionally give kisses.

As for his walking, he just doesn't. We hold his hands and try to get him to take steps, and he just leans forward, won't physically move his legs AT ALL. He'll pull himself up, but doesn't cruise or use a walker. He can crawl quite well.

Guess I'm just asking if anybody has experienced anything similar?

What does your HV say ?
Have you asked your GP for a referral ?
I'm aware that there are lots of dc that don't walk at 16months, but with the combination of concerns, plus family history, plus waiting lists, I'd be asking for a full Paediatric assessment, to reassure me if nothing else. Or they might say 'not worried about physical but we'll put you on a list for SaLT' or whatever. Youll know about waiting lists, so my advice would be to get on them sooner rather than later, and if it turns out he is fine, just a bit of a later developer, then all's well, but if there are issues, then you will get earlier intervention.

I think it's really important to see your GP about this if you haven't already. I would skip the HV to be honest, in my experience they can be unreliable. It may be that he will just hit most milestones late, and be nothing at all, however if the concerns carry on it might be easier for you to get referral for speech and language therapist assessment and physio. Does he go to a nursery? Have they mentioned any concerns?

I think you should print out your opening post and go and talk it over with your GP. In your position I'd be wanting a hearing test and a referral to a developmental paediatrian.

We saw a Paediatrician when he was 12 months and she did say there was some elements of Global Delay and to come back if he wasn't walking at 18 months. Since then his babbling has stopped and the only sounds he actually makes now is to shout at us or cry.

In all honesty, I'm feeling a bit devastated. I know something is not quite right, and as wonderful as DS1 is, him being autistic is so incredibly difficult. I'm not sure how we'd manage if DS2 was too 😔

I'm sorry, but I think you know that this is worrying. Not walking at 16 months? No big deal. Not walking at 16 months, having only been crawling since 12 months, and rolling since 10 months? Rather more worrying. Not having recognisable words at 16 months? May be okay. Having gone backwards? Rather more worrying. I wish we could suggest otherwise.

It sounds like your instincts are telling you that there is a problem. I think you're going to have to listen to them.

Sorry to say this OP but could this be regression? Only speaking from experience sadly 💕

I feel for you , my son has a genetic condition and was / is globally delayed . He didn't crawl until he was 12 months and walked at 2.11... I know something was amiss but the doctors kept saying wait and see etc.. best to face it head on but I know it's painful .

We saw our family GP on Tuesday, he's referred him over to Alder Hey. We're all not sure whether this is Autism or some other genetic condition. He'll be tested for Fragile X and to see if he was the same chromosome fault as his brother.
We're feeling a bit upset but we'll get through it. Been two years today since we took DS1 to the same family GP and he instantly referred him onto the ASD pathway

Did they suggest further children would / could be affected ? My son is my second child and my dd is Nt so it's not a factor wether I'll have more . We have had genetic testing to c form wether dd children could be affected although they think our son is de novo .

Similar kind of situation here. DS (aged six) has autism and we have DD - 2.5. DD is a completely different child to DS behaviour wise but she has a developmental delay. She didn’t walk until 21 months and is not really talking yet either. She has been seen by different professionals and she is not believed to have autism but a global developmental delay and a speech delay and is being monitored.

16 months is not all that late to walk either. I was told by HV that late walking isn’t looked into until age two these days (used to be 18 months!). In my area anyway..