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Original poster

14 month old not walking or talking

44 replies

Foreverbaffled · 14/01/2022 09:40

My baby is going to 14 months next week (although came 3 weeks early so closer to 13.5 months but I know you're not meant to correct age after 37 weeks).

I'm getting concerned that he's not walking or talking yet.

He was on the black section of the ASQ for gross motor at his 12 month review although has made some progress since. He just about cruises and will take steps if you hold his hands but nowhere near independent steps or steps with a walker. He crawls like a pro though and has been sitting unaided since 6 months. He was diagnosed with hypermobility at 4 months so maybe it's that.

In terms of communication he's been babbling since 8 months with a variety of sounds, has great joint attention, name response and adequate receptive language (knows the word for many many things and will look/point when asked where they are. He doesn't follow commands without a gesture though) and points to request and share interest, he also claps, waves and imitates gestures (and some sounds) well.

My health visitor said normally children are working on walking or talking at this age and the fact he isn't doing either is concerning. I'm really struggling with this.

Does anyone have any similar experiences? Thanks.

OP posts:

Vicky1989x · 14/01/2022 09:50

I wouldn’t worry yet. My DD didn’t crawl until almost 11 months, didn’t pull to stand and cruise until we’ll after her 1st birthday. She took her first steps out of the blue at 15 months and was fully walking a month later. She’s 20 months and no clear words either. Some babies just like to take their time!

busyeatingbiscuits · 14/01/2022 09:50

He sounds fine to me, a little on the later side but nothing too concerning.

I have 14 month on twins, one has been walking for about a month and probably says 5+ words/sounds (mama, dada, more, yum, woof, quack, hi).
The other is crawling (didn't start til around 12 months), pulling herself up/cruising a little and babbles but doesn't really have any recognisable words.

My elder 3 were all later talkers and didn't say anything til nearer 18 months, and walked at 10.5 months, 11 months and 12 months. So one twin is ahead on talking compared to the others, the other is behind on walking compared to the others. They're both absolutely fine though and I have no concerns about either.

Embracelife · 14/01/2022 09:53

My two dc with hypermobility walked age two.
In zny case 14 months is not an issue average is to 18 months
You can ask for physio referral.

At 14 months he won't be talking yet
But if concerns ask hv for review

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RedHot22 · 14/01/2022 09:54

I’m angry about your health visitors comments

Try not to worry OP. None of my 4 walked until 15 months or so and one hardly made a sound. They’re all absolutely fine.

WoolyMammoth55 · 14/01/2022 09:59

OP, don't worry unnecessarily. If the HVs are happy then please don't worry - there's a really broad range for "normal" in any childhood milestone.

My older DS is 4 now, very physical and able, doing well in Maths etc etc. He was a little immobile potato until 11 months, then crawled until 15 months, then literally started running :)

I vividly remember him on a playdate at 14months with a precocious tiny 10 month old walker - about half my DS's size! As my huge chubster crawled around the garden... I was super embarrassed at the comparison but we still know the family and they are both very healthy, average kids now. No biggie!

It's such an anxious time at the moment and having a kid is so stressful, my heart goes out to you. But honestly I wouldn't worry! x

ThirdElephant · 14/01/2022 10:02

I'm no expert but it sounds within the realms of normal to me. Particularly with pointing, shared attention, babbling etc. all being in place.

Try not to worry too much, go along with any appointments your health visitor suggests to you and see what happens. I find development is often in fits and starts at that age- they'll go ages with little development and then all of a sudden make bags of progress in the space of a couple of weeks. It may also be that you're just not recognising his words as words- from a speech development point of view, a 'word' is any sound used consistently to mean the same thing, whether or not it sounds like our word for that thing.

Mabelface · 14/01/2022 10:11

Very much in the range of normal! My kids walked at 12 months, 17 months and 18 months. Babbling is also very normal at this age.

Original poster

Foreverbaffled · 14/01/2022 15:08

Thank you all for the kind words and reassurance. I've struggled badly with PNA since DS2 was born so I find it hard to be rational. The Health Visitor did say that as he is delayed in two areas we need to be on the look out for 'Global Developmental Delay' which seems quite shocking given he's not even yet 14 months. But she's the professional I guess.

Hopefully things will seem clearer in a few months.

OP posts:

mynameiscalypso · 14/01/2022 15:12

Gosh, I'm surprised at the HV. That sounds extremely normal to me. DS walked at 15 months and probably didn't say his first proper word until 18 months. He's definitely at the later stages of doing things but not outside normal at all.

LaTomatina · 14/01/2022 15:20

My health visitor said normally children are working on walking or talking at this age and the fact he isn't doing either is concerning.

Very unhelpful comment. It's totally normal. I have 4 children, 2 of them could walk by this age, the other 2 didn't even start trying til 16/17 months. Only 1 of them was trying to talk at 14 months. They were all walking and talking by the time they were 2.

Goldilocks99 · 14/01/2022 15:29

Global developmental delay is meant to be across several areas, language and gross motor(based largely on walking) in my view, wouldn't qualify. I've no expertise other than my baby actually will meet the gdd requirements on his next check and hasn't caught up. In my case, other really concerning things like side preference and hypertonia influence the perception of gdd and the HV still err on the side of caution in our case so I'm surprised they made it a big deal, when it doesn't sound like you have any reason to be concerned.

Having said that, even though my ds probably has underlying problems, I found I was worried about his language for ages, then it all came at once, and from my research (yes lots of internet research) this is not uncommon.
In your case, late walking is commonplace, as is late talking. My friends perfectly healthy baby walked at about 16 months and our next door neighbour didn't walk till two. She's fine.

Chances are that your baby is fine, but speaking as someone who battled with post natal as well due to missing milestones, please chuck all the measurements away. They're pointless as worrying doesn't change anything and even if you do have an issue, for example language, the very earliest you'll get help is two. Try to enjoy your baby. I know I was/am so obsessed with milestones I missed the joy of him doing new things.

Write a list of all the things your baby can do if it helps.
My sympathies and sending positivity.

Sausagesausagesausage · 14/01/2022 15:54

Your HV sounds like a divvy. He's cruising - that's working towards walking. He's babbling - that's working towards talking. I'm normally pro HV but you sound like you've got a duff one.

Here they do the one year checks at 10 months so barely any children tick all the boxes on gross motor or communication. They say call at 18mo if not walking and 2yo if not talking!

Original poster

Foreverbaffled · 14/01/2022 20:59

Thank you again for all the comments, it really has helped. Feeling much calmer this evening.

@Goldilocks99 thank you for sharing your experiences. I hope you and your baby are doing okay. Wonderful about his language This is a terrible drip feed but my baby was born with ankle clonus and some intermittent high tone in his legs which fortunately has passed but I guess it's made me more cautious and certainly triggered the PNA. You're right about trying to enjoy my baby though. I hope you are enjoying yours.

OP posts:

Babiesandboardgames · 14/01/2022 21:25

Hi , my son is 2 months older than yous and doesn't say a single word and walked and crawled late.
But does he interact with you, does he appear to be happy, sleep reasonably?
Then you are doing a great job and your baby I fine xxx

Original poster

Foreverbaffled · 14/01/2022 21:35

@Babiesandboardgames Yes he's very interactive and a very happy baby. Sleeps terribly but so did my first Yes, that's all the matters really isn't it.

OP posts:

User0ne · 14/01/2022 21:37

Hmmm, not being funny but what do you/does she think babbling and walking/standing holding hands is if not "working on walking and talking".

3dc here, also run a playgroup so see loads of kids, and yours sounds well within the range of normal for their age. Try to enjoy them

Babiesandboardgames · 14/01/2022 21:39

It's natural to worry especially if it's your first.
Remember, our babies have been through lockdown and I think this has had an impact on early years development .
I'm just reassuring you that if your son seems like a happy boy, he is probably fine and there's nothing for you to worry about x

hemhem · 14/01/2022 21:45

Sounds totally normal to me for the age. I have 3DC, age 7, 4 and 16months. DC3 has 2 words which appeared this month and was pretty wobbly on his feet till just after Xmas. He's now zooming about and I can hardly keep up. DC1 and DC2 both babbled for about 4 months from age 1 and their language exploded around 18/19 months with a new word every day almost. Progress is not linear and your baby sounds lovely, as do you xx

rainbowplease · 14/01/2022 21:54

There's a massive range for what it normal, 14 months is still within that range. Babbling and cruising furniture is working towards those skills so I think your health visitor is being premature in bringing up global delay.

I do understand why you'd be anxious though. One of my DC had health issues queried and it plants a seed in your head. Do you get support for your anxiety?

ladygindiva · 14/01/2022 22:19

I'm pretty sure only one of my 3 dc was talking at 14 months, the other 2 were a fair bit later. And I know a huge number of kids who didn't walk until 16 - 18 months. I wouldn't worry yet.

Goldilocks99 · 15/01/2022 14:54

@Foreverbaffled

Thank you again for all the comments, it really has helped. Feeling much calmer this evening.

@Goldilocks99 thank you for sharing your experiences. I hope you and your baby are doing okay. Wonderful about his language This is a terrible drip feed but my baby was born with ankle clonus and some intermittent high tone in his legs which fortunately has passed but I guess it's made me more cautious and certainly triggered the PNA. You're right about trying to enjoy my baby though. I hope you are enjoying yours.

Ah yes I know that worry dance well. Try to focus on what he is doing beautifully. Happy to pm if you like.

ConsuelaHammock · 15/01/2022 15:58

My son was later than 14 months for walking and talking. He didn’t really talk until 3 ish. Then he just staring talking in sentences. He’s still only a baby so try not to worry

miltonj · 15/01/2022 16:42

@Foreverbaffled

Hopefully things will seem clearer in a few months.

You're health visitor is weird. 13.5 months is a perfectly normal age to not be walking and talking. Global development delay is such a huge leap to make. They often times have no idea what they're talking about.

My 16 month old isn't walking, she cruises very well and crawls amazingly. I have no concerns at all and neither should you. If it gets to around 18 months for walking and around 2.5 for talking then maybe get in touch with a gp, but even then, it's not always a cause for concern. Hope you can forget her comments and enjoy your perfect baby xx

Original poster

Foreverbaffled · 15/01/2022 20:37

I so appreciate all the responses on this thread, it's made a huge difference honestly. Thank you again everyone.

@hemhem That's so kind thank you xx

@rainbowplease You're absolutely right about a seed being planted and difficult to then shake. I'm not having any formal support for my anxiety. I work in our local community mental health service which makes things tricky due to confidentiality. I'm considering paying for some private counselling so I have a safe place to just say all this out loud. Thank you for asking though

@Goldilocks99 Always happy to PM too. The worry dance can be a lonely one. We have a neurology follow up appointment next month which I'm dreading to be honest. Thinking of you.

OP posts:

Fallible · 15/01/2022 20:52

My youngest has hyper mobility and didn't walk til 18 months. We got a physio referral from health visitor and it made a huge difference as we were given exercises to strengthen their legs.

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