16 month old - not even close to talking

[Mybobowler]

Just after a bit of reassurance really, or some advice! My 16 month old doesn't speak a single word - no Mama or Dada, absolutely nothing. She's just started doing a few animal noises with hand gestures, she'll babble a bit (repetitive sounds), but she doesn't try to imitate actual words and I can't imagine her ever talking. Should I be worried?

She loves books and we read to her all the time, I sing and talk to her constantly, I say the words for things she's looking or pointing at. Is there more I should do?

She's also not walking, although she seems a bit closer to that and I think she's just not quite brave enough to let go!

She seems a bright little thing - always observing and paying attention. She gets really absorbed in certain activities, especially going through repetitive actions (can't figure out what she's doing!). I'm just wondering if all of this points to a possible problem or if this is all pretty normal?

@surreygirl1987 oh wow, yes, they sound so similar! It would be great to chat a bit more about hypermobility, I can't find much about how it presents in toddlers/small children and how to manage it. I was told by a doctor a few years ago that I seemed a bit hypermobile, so it would make sense if my daughter is too! (You'd think that would have encouraged me to find out bit more about it, but I never did!)

I would really try not to worry too much at this stage. At 16 months, she isn't yet behind. The average age for walking is 15 months anyway (my youngest one didn't walk til 17 months and then was off running). My dh didn't talk or walk until he was 2.5. And then he was off running too and talking in complete sentences shortly thereafter (no issues at all, he's now a very bright and successful professional - just wasn't in a hurry). For what it's worth, I'm hypermobile and I was walking and talking before a year, so every child is different (I was completely bald until 2 though!).

Yes, sure! Basically, my son has hypermobile hips and ankles- it means that they are extra flexible and bendy. Hypermobility syndrome is a bit different and a little more tricky to deal with but hypermobility generally can get sorted out and lots of babies are hypermobile and it never even gets picked up on. As I said, my son was already seeing a physio got torticollis (neck injury from birth) and she noticed early on when he wasn't bearing weight or rolling that he was hypermobile. This wasn't a surprise to us as my husband was and also my mother in law - guess my son has their genes! The physio said hypermobility often means delayed walkers but also more likely to bumshuffle rather than crawl. She said tummy time was especially important to get to encourage crawling... but that bum shuffling won't do him any harm if he ends up doing that (my husband never crawled and was a bum shuffler until he finally walked at 18 months). As it happens, we did loads of tummy time and exercises and he did crawl in the end. She also said to sit him on our knees to encourage him to try to bear weight more easily... this worked well. She also said he should have sturdy, high-backed shoes when he started walking as his feet 'sunk inwards' on the edge. We got him some Geox ones which are much sturdier and less flexible than most of the Clarks first walkers we tried initially. He's still in physio now at 20 months but she's not worried about him and thinks he's coming along great although he does still walk a bit funny. As I say, many hypermobile kids never end up in physio anyway- it was just that he was already in the system. For more info, there's a Facebook group for hypermobile baby and toddler parents which I've found very helpful. Hope that helps but feel.free to pm me if you have any more questions.

@surreygirl1987 thanks so much, this is really helpful to know. Looking back, DD took forever to start moving at all - she didn't weight bear for a long time, didn't pull to standing until about 14 months and commando crawled (i.e. pulled herself along with her arms, rather than using her legs) for months before she started crawling properly at around 12 months. I'll speak to HV or GP and see what they suggest!

Oh great, so glad that's useful. That does sound a lot like my son. He first weight beared at his little pal's first birthday party... so he must have been 11 and a bit months. I was so relived! He probably pulled up to standing a month or so after that. Definitely worth talking to the HV and if you need anything else to try to push for a physio referral, you could print off the ASQs and show what your child isn't doing (mine was in the black for gross motor skills for a looooooong time!).

Hiya @Mybobowler - just wondering if you have an update on your LO’s progress?

At 21 months DD only said the word 'no' and she didn't seem to understand very well what we said, but she did understand the context (ie. when getting ready to go out, she would get her shoes if asked, but couldn't point to the shoes if we asked her without any context). Now at 2 years and 3 months she is one of the most advanced ones at nursery. Knows numbers up to 20 at least, the alphabet and can recognise all numbers and letters individually. She knows the lyrics of all nursery songs, etc. Don't worry just yet. Some delay is very normal and in most cases doesn't mean anything.

Hi OP. Just wondering how things progressed with your DD? I've got a DS (19 months) who doesn't really walk and barely says any words. Looking for some reassurance.

Hi @Mybobowler are you still there? Wondering how everything's worked out for you x

She sounds a lot like my DD did. At 16 months I had the same worries as you about her not talking, I couldnt imagine she’d ever start. By 18 months, she had a few words, now at 21 months she has loads and adds new ones every day. It’ll come OP. I wish I hadnt spent so much time worrying about it now. They really do change by the week at this age.

@Mybobowler Are you happy to share an update? Just a bit worried my own little one who isn’t saying much at the moment…

Hi! It's so strange to read this back - I'd actually forgotten how concerned I was!

My daughter has just turned five and she's an absolute chatterbox. She started reception in September and her phonics progress is already on track for Y1. She likes to memorise really long words, just to make people laugh ("bioluminescence" was a particularly memorable one). People warned me that once she started talking, she'd never stop - they were right!

She was a very shy, slow toddler - slow to talk, slow to walk. But just as so many people promised me, she caught up. We did get some good advice and reassurance from nursery and health visitors, but at this age, I wish I hadn't spent so much time fretting.

My second child has just turned two and is similarly "behind" on loads of milestones. I'm not stressing this time though, he'll get there!

Good luck x

Hello, I know this is old thread but what happened in the end. Has everything been ok? I was reading your post, it’s exactly how my son is at the moment. And I am a bit worried. Thank you!