worried about 12 month old's babbling - also in behaviour/development

[deeeja]

Hi, I am becoming more and more worried about my 12onth old ds.
He used to make complex sounds while babbling ,but now only makes an 'aa' sound. He doesn't copy my facial expresions, still wakes in the night two or three times for a feed, and doesn't let me play with him. For example, if he is looking at a book, and I try to share with him, he gets very annoyed and screams at me and grabs the book away and turns his back on me. He used to be able to point, but now uses his whole hand.
He prefers to bottom-shuffle rather than crawl, is pulling himself up to stand, so not worried about that. He does however think he is more able than he is, and will try to balance and let go while standing, even though he is obviously still wobbly. I have to watch him like a hawk!
I am mainly worried about his communication skills and loss of babbling sounds, and the fact that he doesn't seem able to undestand me when I say simple things to him. He does look me in the eye, and seems quite a happy baby in other ways.
What do you think?

I personally think he sounds very normal. His turning a finger point into a hand point sounds like he has realised he can still point something out to you.

I would try not to worry, it sounds as if he's just trying out new sounds and ways of doing things, he's learning about what he can and can't do and how things work around him, I wouldn't be at all worried about the not sharing or listening to you, he's still too little to understand all that yet, obviously, if you're worried, have a chat with your health visitor.

I would voice you concerns to your health visitor. My son also used to not share a book with me when previously he used to love me reading them. Are you very worried because of your older son?

I do think he is still young to understand things. Are his motor skills ok? Are there any other concerns?

Do you not think that the not sharing a book issue is just to do with the fact that he becoming his own person and finding his independance? When previously he couldn't?

i think your ds is far to young to be worrying if by 2 he dont understand simple commands then take him to gp but babies always seem to take a step back as they are learning new things

12 mths is so young still he is learning how to do things for himself and how far he can push you be at ease around him if he sences your anxiety he may clam up just make things fun he will pick it up my ds didnt walk untill 14 half mths all children learn different things at different rates

my ds is now 2.6 is speech delayed but also a yr and half advanced on other stuff he has concentrated on other things first bless him

my ds would never pay attention to a book at that age taking it from me and chewing it or throwing it on the floor would have been about it enjoy your time with him now and worry later

as for understanding simple commands my ds was only doing this at around 20 mths which from what hv said was perfectly normal babies mimic you but understanding comes with age

I just wanted to relay an experience, a 9 month old had about 7 words she said regularly then around 12 months I realised she used only 2 words, it was not until 15 months she got her words back like cat dog hat etc and her general development is above average at 20 months, my point being even an 'advanced' child can forget things they had learnt for a good 4 months, its just their lttle brains have so many new experiences to process and remember, that different things take different priority at different times in their development.
Regards the gross motor skills, I do know that crawling helps build cognitve links in the brain that helps the thinking process develop in 3-7 year olds, SO IF you are concerned that your child may be missing out on something by not really rushing to crawl, just try to ensure you encourage activities often with music that use both sides of the body top and bottom alternately. like patting left hand on right knee as you lift it etc If you wonder how your child would manage these keep fit moves, you can do them a bit like baby massage yourself for your child, or at bathtime, swimming also can get these body skills moving, I hope some of this makes sense. I guess also that if your child is not rushing to walk that its good to allow the crawling stage to develop first if they wish as walking can always come later.