Is it normal for a 17 month old to not walk and to only say 3 or so words?

Question

My friend has a 17 month old boy and he is just now starting to stand on his own. He will not walk. He takes one step and falls. I have an 18 month old and she was walking at 10 months. So I compare them and I am concerned he is "slow". My daughter can say about 20 words and runs and climbs. Her son just sits there and I have only heard him say 3 words. She does not have insurance so she will not take him to the doctor to make sure he is ok. It bothers me that he is a bump on a log and my daughter is advanced compared to him and they are only a month apart in age.

Answer 1

his not being able to walk by now is concerning, he should be walking, she need to take him to the Dr, why don't she have some form of insurance like healthy families low cost insurance, but personally i would have him checked out for developmental delays. could be autism and sooner the better and if her child does have developmental delays then she could get some form of social security and they give you medical insurance

Answer 2

Children progress at different ages. The walking I would have checked out maybe he is not slow but lazy. Still I would want to know and a doctors visit would be the best thing. The talking doesn't seem unnormal. My daughter was carrying on conversations at 15 months but my son said very little until over 2 years of age. My husband drove me crazy worrying about it. Then one day he started talking and he hasn't stopped yet he's 18 now. I guess when your friends son decides he has something to say he will. And in my opinion i think girls develope a little faster than boys.

Answer 3

Its normal that he doesn't say much. Many babies say very little, and then when they get around two begin to talk as if they're thirty years old. I would be kind of concerned about the walking, but, particularly if, by any chance, he was a premie, there's a chance he's just late in this area of development. I do think she should at least call a pediatrician and ask if she should be concerned

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T107100.asp

The above link is to an very enlightening article about babies who walk early versus later. Before you form opinions of the baby you have deemed as a "bump on a log" read that article. Its brief.

Some babies develop with an emphasis on one area of development more than another. Eventually they even out. While reaching milestones later could be a sign of delayed development it could also be a sign that this baby has developed more in the intellectual area first; while yours may have developed earlier in the physical area. Babies with early motor skills development sometimes lag a little in "emotional maturity" (not to be confused with intellectual ability by any means).

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with your friends child I have 5 children and my fourth child is just starting to take a few steps now she is 14 months My eldest started walking at 9 and a half months and the other two were 12 months and 16 months old. Every baby is different.

Answer 5

All babies do things at different ages my son walked at 12 months, but even now at 20months he says very few words more babbles than anything else.

If he has started to stand and taking 1 step i dont see a problem i had a friend who son was 18 months before he started walking, these things just take time

Answer 6

My 22 month old daughter falls all the time. A day doesn't go by without her falling or tripping. I do wonder sometimes if there's something wrong with her equilibrium too, she used to have persistent ear infections until she got tubes put in but I don't know if having constant ear infections when she was young has effected her equilibrium. But for now, I am chalking it up to plain old clumsiness. But since your other people have noticed how much your son falls it's probably a good idea to have him checked out.

Answer 7

She should be taking him to a Dr not just for those reasons but the first 2 yrs they need to go get alot plus for thier shots. I would be alittle troublesome with the no walking yet. I do have a friend that baby was preme and is just about to turn a yr and doesnt even crawl yet. The Dr did tell her it is normal in those conditions . As for talking . My son is 17 months and only says 2 words. Thanks and DADA. I have expressed to the Dr on every visit that i am worried about it . He said it was normal for 2nd children and boys. He tries to talk but just mumbles. I work with his everyday . I wish I had better advice

Answer 8

Insurance is not an excuse, she can get the child to the doctors by going through the state.

The child is behind in development, it could have hearing problems, or some other type of problem that is going to destroy the child's life if she doesnt get him/her to the doctor.

Is this parent a total moron?

She sounds like she needs a serious evaluation in her judgement skills.

Answer 9

why is she not on some kind of assistance...there has to be clinics or something where you live.. there just has to be something..
not necessarily is there something wrong he just reall maybe be slow...and she may not pay enough attention to the baby..who knows... i would wait to see what he is like when he is 2 and /or 2.5 if there is no progress at that point theres a problem..sometimes boys just arent as fast movers as girls...my cousins baby is the same he is one month younger then my baby and he just started walking mine was walking at 10months and he has been picking up words here like crazy..and her baby hasnt said anything that is understandable lots of jibbers..but not anything even mumma..soo.. her dr did say if he is not talkng by 17 months at least sayn a few words he will have to have speach therapy

Answer 10

NO he should be walking by now. That is very slow. Sometimes they are slower too if the mom spoils them and does everything for them. I have a friend that her child doesnt say any words either because she doesnt want to teach him and answers for him. Then she wonders why he is slow. But she always picked him up too so he was slow on walking. Either there is something wrong with her child or she just doesnt care... and is spoiling him so he is slow too. Hope that helps!