22 months not walking or talking

[NewMumOx]

Hello, first time mum starting to worry. My 22 month old isn’t yet walking independently or linking words / saying that many words.

Talking wise - she’s incredibly communicative (even made up her own sign language for things), visually expressive and opinionated! She has a good range of animal noises, plus ‘mama’ and random odd words like ‘babies’ and ‘purple’ but she’s not stringing anything together which I was recently told was a bit behind…

On walking, she can walk holding just your fingers, but she was late to do that (and 15 months when she started crawling). she can pull up on furniture and will cruise.

I’ve not worried about it all too much, as I’ve always felt she will get there, but I know it’s starting to get quite late now, and when people reassure you they always say ‘oh they either walk or talk’ - and she’s not doing either. She hasn’t started nursery yet because we’ve moved house a few times this year but she will start in September. She goes to a playgroup every week and we do lots of activities and she has lots of older relatives around. But I am hoping nursery will help.

I took her to GP about the walking a month ago. My DD is quite shy and sort of refused to even put her feet on the ground whilst there! So they referred us to the pediatric community team just in case, but they won’t get back to us for another month.

Anyway! I’m starting to worry a bit and wondered if anyone had been in a similar position and did anything help?

About the walking, my mum says the exact same thing (repeatedly) about me. Down to the walking holding fingers and not walking independently til I was 2. I was fine. About the talking, my brother and also my eldest, neither of them really talked in sentences til around 3. They're fine. So, you are wise to check with the professionals, but hopefully your wee one will get there in her own time too (normal covers a very wide range).

My son who is an incredibly bright 28 year old didn’t say a single intelligible word till the week after he was 2 and then instantly spoke in completely intelligent sentences within 2 weeks- it was most bizzare , I was about to call the health visitor -

Thank you both so much. It’s so comforting just to hear other stories!

Worth asking the GP for an audiology referral too. Check hearing (will affect speech) and any possible ear problems that could impact balance.

DD had grommets just after she turned 2. She couldn't speak before then because she couldn't hear us to copy!

@bluebluevalentine thank you, I will! My DD seems to hear fine, but has had several very bad ear infections, one of which caused bleeding… So will definitely ask for them to check.

You’re right to look into it OP but worrying is a bit of a pointless exercise in that it doesn’t change anything. People would voice all sorts of concerns they had about my children when younger and it used to really upset me. Now when I remind them they both turned out rather well considering (heavy on the sarcasm there) they proclaim they either never said that or it’s a huge exaggeration from my side.
Just keep encouraging your little one and hopefully they will get there in time.

Well it is on the late side but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong, all babies develop differently. You’re doing the right thing with the referral.

It does sound like she could have an inner ear issue - they can affect balance as well hearing and can cause them trouble be prone to frequent ear infections. They’re very treatable now though.

@Bloodycrossstitch So interesting... her dad actually has ENT issues, so this really could be possible. My mother also has quite pronounced hypermobility, which I know can cause a delay in walking. Poor DD, ENT from one side of the family, and hypermobility from the other!! Thank you all so much again.

Have you seen the GP yet? The advice in the UK is to see the GP if they’re not walking by 18 months.

As for the speech, I’d see the HV and ask for a hearing test to rule out Glue Ear and a referral to SaLT and physio.

It’s probably also worth doing both of these before you see your HV and seeing how she scores:

22 month Ages & Stages

and the 24 month Social & Emotional Ages & Stages.

With the first one, they’re not expected to score in the white in every section. Scoring in the grey on one or two areas is perfectly normal.

On the second one the score will let you know if they need some support

Sorry have just seen that you have taken her to the GP. Did they make any referrals?

In the same sentence that she wrote she had seen the GP, the OP wrote that they had been referred to the paediatric team.

Thank you so much for these @TinyMouseTheatre . She's white in Fine Motor, Problem Solving and Social, grey in Communication (because of the lack of much 'formal' speech) and then very firmly black in Gross Motor - because she can't yet walk! So a mixed bag. But a useful thing to look at - thank you again.

I think the advice to get an ear test is really helpful. Because she can clearly 'hear' I hadn't thought about it, but having read more - and knowing her dad's medical history with ENT issues - I wonder if there might be an inner ear issue... Anyway, like you all say, good to get it checked and know a little more in case. Thank you all SO much again.

Yes, that’s why I apologised. I’m not sure what your point is?

Hi OP, nursery staff and a speech therapist were adamant my 2 year old's hearing was fine and not the reason his speech was behind. Hearing test revealed moderate hearing loss. When he had his grommets operation the surgeon was shocked by how badly clogged his ears were. He's now making steady progress since the operation. I wouldn't rule it out.

Hello @NewMumOx . I'm in almost the exact same situation with my (almost) 21 month old. He was very late sitting up, crawling and now isn't walking (but like your DD will walk holding my hand or even just my finger, and he will walk a long way). He just will not do it unaided and he can't stand independently - he's always leaning onto furniture or holding onto something, and he's very happy cruising around. Our HV referred us to a community physio team (when he was about 12 months) and we've had a few appointments - they are not overly concerned because he's improved every time they have seen him. In the first appointment he wouldn't put his feet now, at the last one he was cruising all over the room, and walking holding my hand. He had a hip scan about a year ago (because he wouldn't weight bear.or put his feet down) and that found no clinical reason why he would be unable to walk. His Dad has got hyper mobility and my DS Is very tall for his age, physio has said both of these could be factors. When he's standing he also sort of curves his feet in so we got him shoes to encourage him to keep his feet flat. He is also behind with speech - says quite a few single words but doesn't link any. He has been assessed and he is on the 1st percentile for mobility (unsurprisingly) but on 50th (so average) for cognitive. He's ok with fine motor skills, can match up colours on puzzles etc, understands everything we say...just doesn't properly talk back!! It does get worrying, especially when you (and other people) compare him to his peers. We're seeing a paediatric this week to check for anything else underlying - but I don't think there is anything else, he's just behind but I feel he will get there. I'm sure your daughter is the same x
.

Thank you @Babymonkey24 ! I totally agree - they will get there. You just want to make sure you're helping, don't you? DD has also always been tall for her age.

Could I ask which shoes you bought for him?

She has been referred so keep following up for that appt
In meantime keep talking to her and encouraging walkingcwith your support

@NewMumOx last year the physio team measured him and ordered him some orthopedic support boots...they looked a bit like those Caterpillar boots. They were very heavy/chunky and he hated putting them on..I think because they were so heavy they were making it harder for him to crawl and practice pulling him. So we gave up on those. Physio said to try and sget some that gave as much ankle support as possible...but he's had his feet measured twice and both times they've only had 1 style in his size...they are just the Clarks/Start rite shoes with velcro straps. The actual proper shoes (not the pre walkers). I think they have helped as obviously he can't curve his feet in or scrunch his toes when he's got them on and he quite likes the design so will gladly put them on.

@NewMumOx just realised I can't count, my boy is actually 23 months!