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Does this sound normal for an 18 m/o?

3 replies

IHadATinyTurtle · 24/01/2014 18:30

DS is 18 months. He isn't walking, though will very uncoordinatedly holding hands or objects, flings legs out, tiptoes etc.
He doesn't seem to understand much of what I say, gets very easily frustrated and makes a 'uuuuh' noise waving arms or hitting things away with no purpose with both arms at the slightest thing, ie currently because the big stacking block won't fit in the small one, they've been hit across the room and he's thrown himself on the floor hitting arms out.
He will usually calm himself down quickly but it happens very regularly.
He isn't saying any words but makes different noises and 'chatters' to himself, animals (especially) or me, will freeze up around most other people.
Since newborn he screamed if anyone else held him, hysterically for hours on end, including DH. We had a phase where he cried if strangers looked at him but this seems to have mostly passed.
He was slow to wean, and a tricky sleeper.
He was impossible to put down until the past few months, would scream none stop until picked up, still does quite often. But while he is physically very clingy, he doesn't like me to do things, anything restraining him like nappy changes, highchair straps or carseat usually causes a meltdown, and he won't (and never has) accept food or drink being fed to him, he has to hold it.

But recently he will play a slight distance from me at groups after a while sitting still if he's the one to move away, and has let a few people hold him. He is also a very happy toddler when it's just me and him and he has my complete attention, and he will hand toys to me, other children and adults he knows well. He will also point at things, and make the same frustrated noise or other sounds, and shakes his head a lot (if he doesn't want food, but also if he does want things or is playing/I'm talking to him - it doesn't seem to just mean no)

The health visitor seemed unconcerned/uninterested, does this sound like just a clingy toddler or likely something more to it?

OP posts:
2boysnamedR · 24/01/2014 19:10

Could be normally, might be something to be concerned about as well. My toddler wasn't walking at 18 months and isn't talking at 22 months. I have a older son with dyspraxia so toddler is being investigated.

With my dyspraxic boy is started to be worried his delays at 18 months. He had funny walk to. I kept on going back to my hv who was never concerned but reluctantly reffered him at 2.

For now don't worry too much, but write down all your concerns. Bullet point and take to hv and if needs be your gp. Then in a while if your still concerned go back.

Then if ( I hope not!) your still concerned when he is nearer two you go back and say 'look here is a history of my concerns, things are still late please refer him to a peadiatrition / salt / physio'

I really hope that he has a leap of development and you don't need to. Which is all completely possible.

My only advice from my experience is listen to yourself, if your not happy with opinion - seek another and complain

Hope he is chatting non stop and running around ASAP

sammythemummy · 24/01/2014 19:12

I would say that nothing really jumps out at me, he is only 18months. But having said that, mums usually have a good inclination for when things are not quite right.

Keep an eye out in the coming months, if things don't improve go through your GP for a referral to the peaditrician.

Hopefully it's nothing to worry about and he is just a clingy baby.

sammythemummy · 24/01/2014 19:14

Sorry I somehow missed the not yet walking bit. The hv said nothing about that?

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