12 month old milestones

[Boobymonster]

My LO is nearly 12 months old and they’re still not meeting a few milestones. They were born early so we were told by the health visitor to add a month on as to when to expect them to do things, but they’re still ‘behind’ I would say.

I just want to know if we should be doing anything different/be worried? They still don’t do the following:

pull up to stand or cruise on furniture (they can pull up onto knees)

bend down to pick up toys whilst leaning on furniture

walk any steps if hands are held (can weight bear on both legs evenly)

attempt to say any words, but they babble a lot

point at things they want

clap properly (it’s like a handshake between their hands?)

they don’t know the words mama or dada. They do know their name and the name of the dog! And can often follow instructions such as ‘come over here’ without us gesturing.

They didn’t sit steadily until 8 months or crawl (it’s actually a bum shuffle) until nearly 11 months. I’m fine to accept they could just be a bit slow at doing things. I wasn’t worried until their key worker at nursery mentioned them seeming young for their age, and they’re in a group of similar aged babies who are all at least cruising around.

Overall they’re a content baby who interacts a lot, smiles readily and plays independently really well. I partly wonder if we’ve been a bit slack as they play on their own so well, any excuse to put our feet up for a bit!

Any suggestions for games to play/general tactics that could help them develop are welcome!

There are a few activities and games in this portage link.

Are you due to do the 12 month check with the HV anytime soon?

Sounds as though there are delays across a number of areas (motor skills, language etc) I think delays in some areas are fine but across as many areas as you describe is a concern. Have you spoken to your HV? At this point they’ll probably just advise re evaluating in a few months time

Have you had the 12 month check with the HV? That will bring up any concerns. It may just be a case of initiating until the 2 year check. Do you take them to groups or to see friends with similar age babies? How do you think they compare to the other babies their age that you see a lot of?

As for suggestions, soft play is a good one to develop gross motor skills like climbing and pulling up. Groups for interaction, speak to them a lot and let them watch you speak, flash cards, taking out and about and talking about surroundings, playing with them.

Ok so adjusted they’re just shy of 11 months? I would say they sound fine for now. They understand things, they babble, they can sit/crawl and sound appropriately sociable. With both of mine I found 13/14 months was a massive leap, first physically then in terms of language/communication. I predict your child will make a big jump forward when they’re around 14 months (13 adjusted). So in about 2 months time

To answer a few questions: they had their review with a health visitor at 10 months (so pre any crawling) and they were not concerned at all, said their communication was age appropriate and not to worry about crawling, it would come soon (which was true!).
I took them to 2/3 baby groups a week during mat leave and noticed their gross motor stuff seemed behind others of a similar age. Communication wise, aside from not pointing or saying words, they seem fairly similar to the other babies. Their fine motor skills and problem solving etc are good.
We still do a baby signing class now I’m back at work (i work part time) and have just started going to soft plays more often now they can crawl about. Typically they have some morning and evening playing time at home but the day times are spent out and about (or at nursery/with grandparents if I’m at work).

Thank you so much for this!

Your baby is still well within the reasons of normal development for their age. I had multiples 7 weeks early and they weren't near where your baby is now.

Crawling happened at 13 and 14 months. Cruising followed a couple of months later. Walking at 17 and 18 months.

1 month behind is just a guide. Mine were late doing all that you've mentioned, but caught up by the age of 2 and are now perfectly capable adults.

Baby signing is good, I found that helped a lot and you seem to be doing everything right.

Once they've reached 12 months, try this simple SLT progress checker, it will tell you if they need some support with their Speech & Language. Don't do it before 12 months though as they change so quickly at this age.

I'd have an internet search for gross motor skill activities for 12 months and have you tried swimming? I found that improved gross activity skills.

Thank you for this! I’ve done the checker for 12 months and it came back with they may need some support and then gave some resources. I’ll do it again when he’s 13 months to take into account the one month adjustment and if it still says that then I think I’ll contact the health visitor.

Sounds like a very sensible approach. If it still says that they need some support at 13 months I'd book a free appointment with one of their SLTs and ask your HV for a hearing test referral too.

You could do the ASQ for their age too. Don't worry if they aren't doing everything on each list, they aren't meant to be. Fill the scores in on the scoring sheet and see if they are in the shaded or coloured area and if so, speak to your health visitor.

It's fine to do this from 11 months so the age adjustment shouldn't matter.

https://portsmouth.tricare.mil/Portals/130/12%20month%20asq.pdf

Update! Since I made this post just 2.5 weeks ago he has started doing the following:
Pointing
Cruising the furniture if stood up by someone else, and is so close to pulling himself up! Asks all the time to be stood up.

Knows the words daddy, water and book without gesturing from us.
Attempts to copy short words, and babbles the melody to twinkle twinkle if you start the song.

We’ve made a bigger effort to encourage standing, and engaging in more play 1-1. But ultimately the change has obviously come from him when he was ready.

Ah great. They do seem to do things all at once!

That’s great OP! And a little quicker than my estimate!

And he can now as of today pull up to stand by himself at aged 13 months. Just updating as I know when I was searching threads for similar situations I really wanted to see how they got on. Hope this reassures anyone, he really is just doing it in his own time.