Is my 13 month old delayed?
6 answers /
Last post: 17/04/2023 at 6:14 pm
Hi everyone,
I’m a FTM to a wonderful little girl, I’m just on here looking for so advice or reassurance.
I’m worried my daughter is delayed in some areas, I know you shouldn’t compare children and I try not to but my friends children of a similar age seem to be ahead of her.
Things I’m a bit concerned about:
- she hasn’t said a word yet, sometimes random ‘bababa’ or ‘mamama’, she will also shout ‘Aaaah’ to get our attention.
- standing up against furniture but not much cruising yet or standing unaided
- she was waving but seems to have stopped this over the last month
- doesn’t nod or shake head
- doesn’t blow kisses
- she is extremely clingy to me, always has to holding my hand or climbing on me - cries as soon as I leave the room. She’s always been a mummies girl but it’s more intense since turning one. She won’t go to her Dad much.
Things she does well:
- has great understanding of what I’m saying, follows simple instructions
- pretends to give her toy doll a dummy or a bottle
- points at things she wants
- makes great eye contact, but not when held
- crawls and pulls up on everything
- claps hands
- knows how to use a spoon
- eats really well, likes all foods
- smiles when I smile most of the time
- sleeps reasonably well
- recognises caregivers
- can scribble on a page with a pen
Am I worrying for no reason? We had her one year check with HV, she wasn’t too concerned she just stand she’ll check in again in a few months as she was slightly delayed with dad her gross motor skills as she isn’t able to stand totally unaided.
Shes my first so I don’t know if I’m worrying too much for nothing.
Many thanks,
Jen
Hi Jenny,
We've moved your thread into our drop-in clinic - baby and child health board, so you can get the advice and support you need
Hello Jenny
Its very normal as a parent to worry about your LO's development.
You have had her 12 month review with your HV which is really encouraging. Its sounds like you have a routine follow up planned to check that all remains well. This is a very common and normal outcome of such assessments, and nothing to cause alarm at all.
From what you have told us here, your LO sounds absolutely wonderful.
Keep in touch with your HV and use the time you have secured with them to complete the follow up to share any concerns you have, if they remain at that moment.
Best wishes
Tracey HV
My 3rd son didn't walk til 16 months and speech was delayed but hes 17 now and ok!! The clinginess could just be an age thing and because your her main carer do any if your friends kids go to nursery etc do you take her to play groups and things like that? Every child is different I swear my 3rd only didn't walk cause he could get round quicker crawling xx
I wouldn't be concerned
If you want to work on speech, signing then saying and singing is great for that
Infants learn signs super quick it also helps with frustration
Walking wise you can hold them up and help them walk and turn it into a game, help them stand and sing a song
Take them to soft play they will love pulling themselves up on things
We didn't encourage walking and crawling it happened naturally as they wanted to play and do things our 3 all walke early the first because he wants to be on the go all the time our middle and youngest because they wanted to play with their siblings so quickly picked it up to catch-up and play 😆
You find the siblings steam roll through the milestones in. Blink of a eye because they copy 😆
My kids have always had trouble with their eating and sleeping so kids develop in different areas at their own pace
Can I just say wow!!
mines 15 months nearly and yours dies more than mine. Yes she was walking by 11 months, cruising at 10 months, she basically picked up walking in 2 weeks, and she says mama, but that’s about it. She Carrie’s teddies round and will out a ball on the table and knock it off, but she’s only just learning to use a spoon, probably because I do a lot of finger foods, but no waving no giving dummies to dolls or anything like that. So if you feel your little one is slow then mine must be quite a bit behind.
mice got to say though I’m not worried because she will pick it up when she’s good and ready. My partner and myself are both full time workers so probably doesn’t spend as much time with me as I’d like, but she’s happy so I’m happy. Good luck and don’t worry yourself.
