What do you think of this checklist for 12 month olds?

[PapayaChutney]

This is from a SALT website. I've realised that it comes out with a "fail" even if all answers are "yes" apart from the 2 or 3 words one
DD isn't doing a couple of these, and I wasn't worried but now I am! Am I right in thinking the test is a bit over sensitive?

Here it is:

My baby can tell where a voice is coming from. For example, they turn to look towards someone who is talking on the other side of the room

My baby pays attention to different sounds that they hear, for example the phone ringing or the doorbell

My baby turns and looks at my face when I call their name

My baby looks across the room when I point to something and say, 'Look'

My baby understands words that I use a lot, for example 'up' and 'no', especially when I use an action as well

My baby recognises the names of familiar objects (for example 'Daddy', 'car', 'eyes', 'phone', 'key')

My baby understands simple instructions when I give clues like actions. For example, if I beckon when I say ‘come here’ or point when I say ‘find the ball’

My baby uses pointing to show me things

My baby gets my attention by making sounds and using actions like pointing and waving

My baby communicates with me using ‘babble’ and speech sounds, for example ‘na-na’ and ‘ga-ga’

My baby can say 2 or 3 single words (for example 'cup' or 'dog'), although they are not spoken very clearly

My baby enjoys action songs and rhymes that I sing with them. They smile and get excited when I sing

My baby enjoys playing social games (for example ‘Peekaboo’) and will let me know that they want to play again if I stop

My baby ‘takes turns’ in conversations where I talk and they babble back to me

I'm a mum of 3 and think quite a few of those should be written as "your baby may" rather than make it sound like "your baby should"

For example 2 out of 3 weren't saying 2-3 words and only 1 liked it when I did songs with actions. The other 2 were the types to mouth the songs in school plays so they didn't get into trouble.

My baby definitely wasn’t saying any words with meaning at 12m. She said mama and daddy but I wouldn’t say they necessarily meant anything at that stage. That checklist would have given me anxiety!

My baby did all of those at 1yr, except the words. She's 15m and still doesn't have any words. However, her understanding is excellent, she babbles nonstop, is social and engaged and has no problem communicating her needs. I am not at all worried, and nor are nursery.

Mine can do most of that at 8months old 😶

I would say most of those are pretty reasonable. The words possibly is over optimistic for some though.

I think to fail if you say no to the words question is wrong as there's a huge age range for what is considered normal. DC1 was on the later end of the scale, DC2/3 have been much earlier as I think copying from an elder sibling helps. That said they weren't really saying words at 12 months beyond mummy, daddy, nana and a baby version of grandad plus DC1s very easy name.

Ds had 25 words by 15 months and was very social. But at 12 months he liked to ignore me when I called his name and I couldn’t fully tell whether he knew the names of the objects I was referring to. I feel like a lot of babies this age can understand simple instructions, etc., they just choose not to listen so it’s hard to make a judgement.

If I recall, DS1 could do most of that at 12 months old, except the words. He didn’t really have any clear words that we were sure he was using consistently. He had a big language burst at 16 months and another at 20 months and suddenly had so so many words.

Mine also did all of those at 12 months.

First words were duck and quack at 10 months as well as the usually mummy daddy ect

But all children are different so I wouldn't get too hung up on it

Which website is it from? I'm surprised that a speech and language therapy site would say "fail" for that.

Babies can't read lists (although there will probably be someone along in a minute who says of course they should be, and their dc was already reading the Telegraph by 10 months).

The only ones to be slightly concerned about would be the ckecks about hearing. If they aren't paying any attention to sounds or have no idea where noises are coming from, then it would be worth mentioning it.

The rest of it - nah. Pay no attention.

My DS is about to turn 1 amd he definitely can’t say a word but he can do many of those things.

It’s perfectly normal to not do everything on the list.

Sorry, what I meant was that it expects a 12 month old to do all those things except having a couple of words. It seems to acknowledge that not all 12 month olds would be able to do that, but should definitely be doing the rest. It doesn't say "fail", it says something like "you answered no to some important questions" and advises you to speak to a SALT. DD doesn't point yet, and I'm not sure she understands the name of things, but does most of the rest. I thought she was probably about average, but the website suggests she should be doing more

@PapayaChutney

Sorry, what I meant was that it expects a 12 month old to do all those things except having a couple of words. It seems to acknowledge that not all 12 month olds would be able to do that, but should definitely be doing the rest. It doesn't say "fail", it says something like "you answered no to some important questions" and advises you to speak to a SALT. DD doesn't point yet, and I'm not sure she understands the name of things, but does most of the rest. I thought she was probably about average, but the website suggests she should be doing more

I wouldn’t worry about what the website says. Do you have your HV number? Contact them and say you want the 12 month review to go ahead because you have some concerns and I am sure they will reassure you that your baby is doing as expected.

If she is a little behind with some of the milestones it’s possible that a lack of interaction with other children due to the pandemic means she will catch up quickly once she realises what is expected of her.

My 13 month old doesn’t have any words yet.

With the understanding words part, how do you test that? I’ve got no idea which words she understands yet.

Which website is it? Is it a private provider that wants you to contact them??

I think babies just develop differently. If she’s just 1 I would be worried at all yet.

My slightly young baby for example if I said where’s the ball, he would look towards it or go and get it if he wanted it. But I don’t think he points at it. Doesn’t mean he didn’t understand the question.

DC1 could do all of those things and was having little conversations at 12 months.

DC2 did everything but speak.

Seems a very reasonable list.