Not responding to name, hand spinning at 14months.

[Mumofone89]

Hi all looking for some advice. My baby has just turned 4months. She is a little girl.
I feel her development is off.
things I am concerned about
-when excited hand and foot spins.
-frequently opening and closes hands or moves in a wave motion throughout the day.
-no words. Does not say mama, dada. Does not banks much, more says “aah ahh” repeatedly.
-no pointing or waving. Occasionally will clap when prompted. Example when singing if you’re happy and you know it she may join in.
-will seldom include me in play or bring me toys. Will roll bus back and forth with me and occasionally will bring me bus to do this.
-in crowds or out and about appears to “shit down” does not appear comfortable making eye contact with strangers or engaging with them. Zones out and looks around them.

Things that sue is doing well at.
-has been walking from 11months. Can run confidently and has recently began to look behind to make sure we are there, so safety awareness has got better.
-eye contact has improved dramatically. She will interact when she achieves something new like clombimg onto couch, she will look back and giggle.
-occasionally will copy me when banging bricks.
-will welcome me when I come home with hugs.
-when she sees a child her ages she is very curious. Will approach to touch.

I will mention that she began nursery in nov and has had sickness after sickness. She has currently taken tonsillitis and gastroenteritis and has been very tired and sick. Difficult to assess has her social skills improved.

we are awaiting assessment but any insight in the meantime will be appreciated.

Do you mean 14 months?

Yes she is 14months old

I'm really sorry I can't help but I can empathise, we're in a similar situation and while we wait I'm just endlessly analysing all of their behaviours and wondering what is typical and what is a red flag. A lot of what you've written sounds familiar - the rolling the bus back and forth, the zoning out, delayed pointing etc. I wish there was a quick and simple answer x

So sorry you’re going through this aswell. Some days I think I’m mad and others I convince myself something else is going on. She currently has tonsillitis and gastroenteritis, so it’s so hard to judge. Wishing you and your little one the best x

I don't know what 'hand spinning' is in relation to babies. I googled and all I got was information about weaving :). Do you mean 'arm flapping', which is perfectly normal, they all do that.

The fact that your little girl has been so very unwell recently may be relevant. Nobody behaves normally when sick.

If you really are worried speak to your doctor at the baby clinic. However she may well be quite different in a couple of months. Remember she is still very young.

Good luck.

I know what you mean by hand spinning.
The difficulty is that all of things are developmentally normal in most children at some stage, but over time they disappear. Later in some children than others. It really is a watch and wait situation and most places will not give a formal diagnosis at this age so assessment will only get you so far. X

Hi thanks for reply,
she spins hands, as in she turns her wrists in a circular motion when excited with mouth open when excited for instance when she’s watching her fav film.
she also holds her holds hands up straight and does a waving motion throughout the day. She seems to enjoy doing this.
she does this throughout the day and seems to do it more when sick or when she is distressed.
help is so limited it feels like.
I rang health visitor a few weeks ago and they offered no support for mums dealing with this worry. Hence the frantic post to mumsnet

Thank you, Mumofone, I 'get it' now. YomAsalYomBasal, post above yours, already understood, far more sensible than I :-). I also think her post is very sensible.

What you describe appears quite normal to me, for a fourteen month old. I recollect mine being similar at that age, many years ago but I do have a good memory of the baby time, and I certainly wasn't at all worried.

You say your health visitor was not helpful over the phone and that not much help is available for you with your worries. If she appeared to dismiss your concerns it's possible that she felt you had nothing to worry about and her wish was for you to be reassured. If you're not satisfied with that there is nothing to stop you going higher.

Fourteen month old babies vary tremendously, become stubbornly fixed on their own need at a particular time, oblivious to anything else, otherwise have short attention spans. I don't know for what you are hoping but it could be that you are expecting too much of the little one.

Please try to relax and just enjoy your daughter as she is now, she sounds great.

Good luck.

It all sounds pretty normal for 14m. If you are concerned about speech development you could go to gp and ask for a referral speech and language . Aside form helping with speech you then have a professional observing your child. So if there is any other concern it would get picked up.

Quite often kids who are early motor developers are a bit slower with language and social and vice versa. I’d not unduly worry for another few months, it’s likely there’s a jump in skills ahead. But no harm chatting to a GP, maybe take a video of concerning behaviours.

No words at 14m is a bit of a developmental red flag, have you had her hearing checked I would do this first and really push GP/ health visitor on this one.

You mention movies, in a child with some speech delay I would limit screen time and really make the effort to spend time interacting with her, books, puzzles etc. Is there something like "rhyme time" near you ?

www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/programmes-and-campaigns/bookstart/families/rhymetimes/

Excellent post.

I haven’t asked about a hearing test but I will today.
I must confess screentime has been more than probably would be considered good as she has been sick sometimes it’s the only thing that distracts her and makes her feel better for a while. I am conscious I don’t really read books with her.
I’m making a big effort for here on out. We would go to Jo jingles together which is a music group. But mostly my baby loves running about dancing and doesn’t really have much interest in the instruments. She wouldn’t bang a drum or shake a rattle for instance.
shes more concerned with being busy running about.
could you recommend any age appropriate puzzles? I have ordered a few stacking cups and rings for her to work on.
thank you for your reply

Thank you so much for your reply. Your advice is had been very helpful

Thank you so much for your reply.
I feel like I’m hyper vigilant now thst I have noticed a few things that she is delayed with. But perhaps, as you say, she will develop when she’s ready.
it’s reassuring to hear that your children did the same thing. Perhaps it’s her personality and a quirk she has

She sounds like she's doing developmentally appropriate things within the expected age range. She's learning how her body works. As a lay person, I don't see anything out of the ordinary.

Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated x

Something like this;
Check this out! https://amzn.eu/d/1Q6pJ2n

Thank you

Good afternoon,

Just wondering how's your little one now?-we're in similar boat (lots of movements same),keep chasing HV,GP,we have eyes and hearing tests upcoming to check properly,other wise been advised wait&see which is killing within every day.

All of this is very normal at 14 months, if you are worried about autism, they are only concerning signs if they continue past the point that they are developmentally appropriate.

18 months is considered the cut off for first word and babbling at 14 months is really positive.

I can see this thread has been bumped so your LO must be more like 19 months now and I hope your worries have alleviated somewhat :)

Hey how is your little one now? X

Hey how is your little one doing now please I have similar concerns x

Hi all.
My little girl is now 26months
She still is considerably behind in comparison to her peers with regards to following commands. She still does not point, except occasionally in books.
She has a big interest in farm animals and can name and say all animal sounds.
She's picking up words such as milk, juice, car, ball apple and many others.
Her eye contact is brilliant. Responds to her name no problem, when she feels like it.
Can wave bye, and hi.
Loves the park. Still remains curious with other children.
She has a cracking sense of humour. And often makes us laugh by being cheeky and boisterous.
She continues to have febrile seizures which I think has hindered her development. I hoping this resolves with time

Thank you for the update, Mumofone, which is generally quite positive. I hope the febrile seizures stop soon, I understand many little ones have them when their temperature goes high but they do pass.

I smiled at your description of your daughter with farm animals. She really does sound delightful.

It might help her to go to a nursery/playgroup for a couple of sessions a week.

All the best to you and her.