Do you ever worry about your child being "behind"?

Question

I know all children are different and everything will happen when they are ready...but I still think sometimes that my son is "behind". I'm not panicking or stressed out about it, it just crosses my mind sometimes. Does anyone else feel like this?

My son is 12 1/2 months old and says "DaDa", "MaMa", and "YumYum". He can walk holding onto the furniture and your fingers. He can stand by himself, but not walk on his own.

Answer 1

It sounds like your son is right on track. In fact, he sounds a lot like my older daughter was at that age. She was close to walking, but wasn't doing it yet, and she only said a couple words. I used to worry that she was behind, too, since so many other babies that we knew were walking and saying more words by then.

She started walking at 13.5 months, and it was at that point that she really started talking, too. And once she started talking, I realized all the things she'd been absorbing, but hadn't been able to show me. She's a "soak it all in before I try it" kind of girl, so she's been a bit late to do things for the first time, but once she's got it, she moves forward quickly. She's now 3 years old and speaks very well with a large vocabulary (literally talks almost every waking minute - LOL!). She's still not a very physical child, but she has kept up with every milestone. Her greatest strengths are academic, and I think she spent her first year of life just absorbing all that knowledge.

Just wanted to share my experience b/c it's possible that your son has a similar personality to my daughter. Hope that helps a bit!

Answer 2

Yes my oldest is 7.5 years old and I still worry about her ... she has always lacked a little in her motor skills... alhtought she did walk before 11 months, she had trouble maniplulating things with her hands and such and she is very shy and likes to be a loner. She also didn't talk until she was nearly 3. She said some things but not sentences or hardly any phrases.

I think it is very natural that you are concerned and it is great that parents like you notice things and can pick up things early if there were something wrong but your child sounds like he is doing just fine. I had a friend whose son didn't walk alone til he was 16 months old! He is now 7 and does stuff kids his age do..

I have included a link for red flags to look for...

Answer 3

I never do. The longer they take to crawl or walk, the less time I have to spend chasing after them. We all have moments when we can't wait for them to talk. End up with a constant talker and you're suddenly wishing for the simple days of dada and mama again. He sounds like he's doing just fine. Boys sometimes take a little longer. You must be a very good mum.

Answer 4

It sounds like your son is right where he's supposed to be to me. My nephew didn't walk or talk until he was maybe 16 months old.

I'm sure every parent has worried at some point. I was worried at 4 months when my daughter wouldn't roll. I was confused when she rolled back to belly before learning to roll belly to back. It wasn't long before she was rolling all over the place!

There are some things she's way ahead on, and some things she hasn't quite figured out yet. Unless she's more than a month behind I don't really worry.

Answer 5

Your son is doing fine, if your worried about him not walking yet. Go to Target, and get him a walker it's just a little think that he walks around the house with, it's blue, and then later on it will turn into a car for him to ride. But he does sound fine mine didn't start walking till he was 14 months.

Answer 6

Yes I worried, he was an average baby. In preschool others were reading before him. In kindergarten again average. At the end of first grade he was on one of the highest reading levels in his class. He was tested for the gifted class which he is now in. On Friday we are attending the all A's breakfast at our school for last years students. This will be his 3rd year as an all A student. So an average child has room to grow when you least expect it and he will. Read to him. Play games with him. Don't worry about it now. Enjoy his life.

Answer 7

My daughter is about 13 months and will NOT walk but a few steps on her own! You sound like me! But when talking to my daughters doctor she said as long as she is cruising and trying and eating and saying little words then your baby is fine. Its NO actual age that kids are suppose to walk but I guess you have to just keep working with your son! At all times make him walk (or attempt). Tell him "NO-NO" when he trys to set to crawl and remember to be patient and congratulate every step he takes! It will be any day now!!

-From one mom to another..GOOD LUCK

Answer 8

yes, as a first-time mother, i'm constantly worried that my daughter is not reaching developmental milestones "on time," despite the reassurance from others that it's perfectly okay as each child is different. for instance, my daughter didn't learn to roll-over until very recently 7-8 months. at 8 months, she hasn't crawled. she doesn't eat with her fingers yet, even though i try hard to get her to do so. but truly, we must respect our kids' differences while providing them with as much stimulation/activity, etc. as we can as parents. the rest is up to them...

i think your son is doing fine. verbally he's probably even ahead of his peers. good luck!

Answer 9

Parents worry all of the time at every stage/age of their child's life. It's our job to keep on top of anything that may be of concern and contact the right source for help.

mb

Answer 10

He sounds fine to me.
If he is cruising it probably won't be long until he is walking.