Does anyone have any idea? NEED ADVICE

[jennaLKH]

Hi,
My son who is 11 and a half months recently had his 10-12 month and I had to fill out a routine questionaire, to which I couldnt answer yes to some, such as: Does he drop 2 small toys into a box/container one after the other! Anyway the health visitor came to visit us at home the day after as she was concerned what she had been told and wanted to see him for herself! She came and said she was a little happier! I have to see her again in January!
So here is where I am concerned:

My son never puts anything into his mouth no toys and definitely NO finger foods.. I give him different textures he just plays with them and whacks them off his tray onto tge floor! If any finger food or slightly lumpy food goes into his mouth he gags and vomits! At the minute he is only eating pureed stage 1 baby jars! He doesnt even try to put the food to his mouth, he does however put it to my mouth for me to eat it! ..secondly, he is such a quiet baby he only says da da da and sometimes babbles but most of tge time he wanders around quietly minding his own business! .. He doesnt clap or wave nor does he point! .. And hardly responds to his own name! I don't think tgere is a problem with his hearing as he rushes to the washing machine as soon as its switched on, and he responds to certain things we say like "im coming to get ya" in a playful voice! he seems in his own little world sometimes!

Anyone any idea normal or not I have 2 otger children 6 & 2 years and cant remember having any such problems

Thankyou

I don't think any of us here are expert enough to say if there is a problem here, but you are right to be alert to your concerns and follow them up over time.

From my point of view, I would try and find things that encourage him to use his mouth. I am not suggesting you fill him with sweets of course, but simple things like popping a lolly into his mouth for him to get something positive as an experience of using his mouth would be good. Also work on tactile things with his hands - let him play with playdough, cornflower in water, coloured water (add food colouring) maybe with a bit of soap in so you can blow some bubbles in there for him to see etc. Let him see you doing things with your mouth in terms of eating too as copying behaviours are common at this age.

If you continue to be worried ask for a referral to a developmental paediatrician to follow things up further.

My 19 month old is under peadiatric care for not doing thise things (except eating and eating non food stuff to - if can grab it - it goes in his mouth) at 18 months. I think your right to get it checked out but don't worry too much at this stage. My baby is only getting intervention as his big brother has dyspraxia and baby is also displaying symptoms. I would take note of all his milestones so you can refer back to them over the next 7 months.