16 month old not walking and not talking

[Helena1993]

My little girl is 16 months old and doesn’t walk yet. I know she can walk but she doesn’t want to. I’ve seen it many times but she seems scared and rather clings to furniture.
She also doesn’t have any words yet. None at all. Not even Mama.
She just seems behind compared to other kids I see everywhere. It’s frustrating and l am starting to get worried. She can point to things but usually doesn’t do it to convey needs. She can clap but still can’t wave hello. I’ve tried everything but she just won’t catch up.
Is this still normal or should I see someone?

The walking is less concerning, my child could walk but would cling to furniture but then at 17 months did start walking no problem. There’s quite a big range for walking so don’t worry too much about that.
Keep an eye on the talking though, it could be an early indicator of autism. A friend of mine with two autistic children had speech delay with both (one didn’t start talking until started special school) and the other had speech therapy in nursery.

As PP I wouldn’t be too concerned about the walking in isolation however along with the other things you have mentioned it could be a concern. I would go to your health visitor as they are likely to offer advice and refer you on if needed.

I’m getting more and more worried 😧

My son didn't walk to nearly 16 months and was slow to talk so was referred to speech therapist prob seen around 2 and a half years old and they weren't overly concerned. Now 25 and a graduate so try not too worry too much, they all come on at different rates

If you have seen her walk, that is good! Some children are just naturally more cautious than others. Is she cautious about other things such as heights, being on the top of the slide, going high on the swings etc?

Maybe do the Ages and Stages questionnaire with her and see where she is for Fine Motor development/ Problem Solving/ Emotional development?

How is her understanding of language? If that is good, I’d keep a close eye but hopefully not be too worried, see what happens at 18 months. If her understanding is poor then I’d go to the GP/ Heath Visitor and ask for a hearing test as a first step to getting referrals for SALT/ OT/ physio.

Be prepared to be pushy, a lot of health visitors will try to fob you off until the 2 year check! Which often happens closer to 2 and a half.

If ypu worried ask to see hv
But not walking at 16 months is not a concern
Nor is not talking
But go see hv

Does she make any sounds? Most children by 18months can say at least 3 words. Have you had her hearing checked? Does she socialise with other children?

You should ask your GP or health visitor to carry out some checks if you are concerned. In the past I worked with a few non verbal children, ranging from autistic to deaf.

My niece didn't walk until 18 months. I spent one Christmas running round the house with her, she just needed some confidence!

It's really tricky isn't it, we all have our subjective views on this.

Anecdotally, my son was 16 months when he walked and pretty much non verbal at 2 but talking my 3. At 12, he literally never shuts up. Do you see other attempts from her to communicate?

She often understands me when I tell her to give me something. She feeds me when I tell her I’m hungry. She knows different words and has started to point to things but not to show me she wants something. Shows me toys and all kinds of things.
She babbles a lot. All the time. And different sounds that resemble speech more and more each day. She already copied some words like fork, leaf and body but never said the words again. Repeated body like 30 times after I told her and then never used the word again.
She already walked from one side of the room to the other. Many times already and I know she can stand up without support. Seen that a couple times too. She just seems like verrrrrryyy lazzzyyyy child. She slept 15 hours in a row and I had to wake her up or she would have slept even longer. Also very cautious.
Hearing is alright. I got it checked shortly after she was born.

My DS didn't walk until 18 months and didn't say his first word until 17 months. Now at 3 he never spots talking and won't sit still. I worried about it too so the HV came out to see him and told me it was completely normal. Is she a good crawler? Sometimes I think if they're really quick crawlers they're more likely to try and stick with what they're comfortable with and find easier rather than trying out and practicing a new skill. I think you should call your HV though as at the very least they will be able to put your mind to rest x

Many. All the time. Just in her own way. She pulls my hand over to a book to show me I should read to her. Shows me stuff. Looks at me and makes sounds hoping I would understand. Copies things I do like clapping, showing tongue, pointing finger at something.

That’s reassuring thank you. I will see a HV anyway. But it’s good to know I’m not alone

Sounds very positive, and similar to my son. Can you get advice for reassurance?

I didn’t walk til 18 months and went on to get a degree and do a 60 mile race so it didnt hold me back.

Definitely speak to your HV though, if just for reassurance / early monitoring to put your mind at ease.

My first walked at 15 months and talked non stop from about 18 months. My second walked at 18 months and now at 22 months is talking, but not as much as my first. They're all different. Have the health visitor check but I'm sure all is fine!

Honestly from your updates, she sounds fine. They develop at different rates. My DD is the same age and walks and says loads of words, even linking some together now. But, she has never slept more than 11 hours and hardly naps. Given that your DD is most likely fine, I feel like you have the better deal! (I suppose that my DD has had more time to practice…?)

Flag it up but don't worry too much.
My middle child walked at 13 or 14 months but didn't talk for ages. I can't remember when she started talking but it wasn't long before 2. She is 6 now and while her speech is a bit immature (lisp, pronunciation etc) she is incredibly expressive with a grear vocabulary, loves talking and just will not be quiet! Mention it to the health visitor but wait and see. These things often sort themselves out

It doesn’t mean anything that hearing was ok when she was born; one of the main causes of speech delays in toddler is glue ear which is a type of infection. So I would definitely get it checked again. I do know one child that was similar, a friend’s little boy. Late walker but no physical cause found, was a very efficient crawler so maybe not incentivised, eventually walked at 18 months. He did indeed have glue ear and came on phenomenally after the operation to fit grommets. From then on was hitting all milestones. Obviously this is all anecdotal so OP I would get advice from the Health Visitor and/or GP.

My son walked at 16 months and is now in two cricket teams, a football team and a rugby team. They get there in their own time.

My eldest DS didn’t walk till 17 months and hardly said anything until 2.5. We saw our health visitor about the speech and she referred us to group they ran to encourage speech. It was basically group speech and language therapy but run by health visitors and it really helped. By three and half he was speaking brilliantly and surpassed others his age. He just did it late. I would look into Makaton to help. We use it my DD because she has a learning disability but it really good for developing speech in typical children too. We did it at the group with my DS and it really helped him. It really spurs children on to talk.

My brother didn't talk until he was near three (one of my earliest memories is my mother crying about it.). He's a lecturer now!

From your other posts she sounds spot on, developing fine. The key thing for speech is showing the understanding and desire to communicate beforehand, which she is. It’s easy to get hung up on what your child isn’t doing yet, but when you sit back and think of all the things she can do - re-read your posts - it’s fab!

as an aside, if you can I would recommend watching an episode of the kids’ show Bluey (bbc or Disney+) called Baby Race. I really struggled with the same types of worries you’re having with both of my boys, comparing them to other babies’ development and wondering why they weren’t so the same things. This episode resonated with me SO HARD when I watched it. I think all new parents should watch it sometime between 9-18 months into parenthood, when the “big” milestones start kicking in.

At his 2 year check, my DS hardly had any words. Now at 5, he won't shut up 🤣

I appreciate all of your replies. It helps SO much. I’ll talk to the HV and then I’ll give you guys an update

It's not super late for either of those things. My friends son is the same age and not waking, only saying a couple of words. My daughter only really does animal/car noises and she's nearly 18 months but she understands everything and communicates very well so I'm not worried. They all find their own way, you can't really put them in a box and expect them to hit milestones at exactly the same time, she's still so young so just try to relax and enjoy her x