9 month old not babbling:crawling: pointing:copying or clapping

[Mumof3bb1]

Hi I am awash with worry; it's really starting to get to me!

My DD just turns 9 months old in a few days

he sits well unsupported and will reach for toys but HATES being on his tummy, he just pulls himself back into sitting.

he is not babbling like the other babies, makes occasional noises and screams but no babbles Ma, baba or dada.

His eye contact is fleeting, doesn’t copy us or clap, wave or point. Everything goes straight into his mouth, wants to lick and bite everything.

I feel like a terrible mother and im at the very end of the rope. We read together, sing, babble, all day long.

I give him plenty of floor time and encourage him with a wide range of toys but he seems stuck in this seated position.

if another baby is babbling or screeching he starts to cry.

I find he twirls his arms/feet occasionally and stares at the door handles and lamps A LOT.

I am at the end of my tether, HV seems to think I have health anxiety.

He has no separation anxiety and I feel he stares up a lot.

any help would be appreciated!

I do know putting everything in their mouth is normal development as is staring at lamps. My 4mo has been fixated by them for a while now.
Every baby is different - maybe he will just start walking without crawling or bumshuffling.
I dont know about the eye contact - did he do it more before getting too interested in the world?
Baby’s dont need to socialise at that age(although it may help him meet milestones by copying).
Also are you leaving him to play alone? No need to exhaust yourself with constant stimulation. As you’ve said, babies can get plenty of fun starting at one thing for ages.

If HV thinks its not an issue then I would try to relax.

It's tricky as they really do develop at their own pace.

If he hates tummy time, it makes sense he's not keen on crawling yet and it's good he can pull up into a sit.

My first wasn't much of a babbler by that age, though plenty of screams, moans and mmmmm noises.

I think any sort of repetitive movement or twirling would worry me a little, but equally, they're just discovering their bodies at this age and can go through phases of doing "new" things as they learn to control their movements.

Have you had him at any sensory classes or baby groups? It can be useful to see babies of the same age to compare, to see if you feel he's on track.