Paranoid About Milestones..

mama&baby

Yeah so DH called me on being a worry wart, which made me feel worse. :-/

LO seemed to be ahead of the game before and now I know that kids develop differently.... but as far as speaking now LO says mama,dada (and not always directed at us), baba, rara and he babbles. He has taken 4 steps on his own but isn't walking. He claps things together but not his hands.. he doesn't point and he "waves" once in a blue moon when he is excited. We are still working on getting him to take a sippy cup for formula/milk (takes it fine for water) I just feel so behind and that I'm doing something wrong. I know I probably shouldn't be worrying myself but I can't help it. LO's first bday is tomorrow and 1 year appointment is on Wednesday (which of course I can't attend, boo) so hopefully the doc will put my mind at ease. I know I need to find a way to stop comparing LO to other kids... who have crazy vocabularies and are running by now. DH said it seemed like I was disappointed in LO and I'm not at all-- I am proud of what he has accomplished so far. I guess I just needed a vent and to see if anyone feels similar to me....

JamiesWife2010

I worry about milestones.

I worry that he doesn't eat enough "real" food. I worry that he isn't talking much at all. DS isn't clapping his hands together(he looks like he's wringing his hands when he tries), he does clap toys together. DS doesn't "dance", wave, or point yet.

I think it's normal to worry, especially as a FTM. I try to focus on the stuff that DS is doing & realize that all kids develop on their own terms. As long as your pedi isn't concerned, I wouldn't dwell on it.

We have our 1 year checkup tomorrow. I know that I will feel better afterwards.

LittleMommaBlueHen

It is pretty normal to worry about milestones.  DD just figured out how to consistently chew and swallow solid food last week (before she spit out 80-90% of everything she ate).  It had me really nervous that something was wrong, but it turns out she just needed time.  It was a good reminder to me that children develop at their own rates. 

 I think it is really easy to worry when we compare our children to other kids of the same age.  It gets hard to focus on all the amazing things LO is already doing instead of wondering whether something is wrong because someone else's LO is so far ahead for one milestone or another.

Natty13umppo

I hear you.  But I think what helps is that I try to remind myself is we hear here more what kids ARE doing....not AREN'T doing.  That's why I asked that poll....I wanted to find out who else wasn't doing stuff.   

My DD isn't walking or talking either.  I think she's close to walking (she stands/squats on her own and cruises like crazy), but seems to have no interest in talking at all.  She FINALLY babbled "mama" (not to me, just the sound) around 10 months.  In fact, since she wasn't really babbling at her 9 month appt, the pedi referred me to our early education outreach here.  So now DD is in "therapy" for communication.  Half the time I think:  "This is silly.  I'm sure DD is just on her own pace."  But then the other half, I think:  "Well....if something IS wrong, if she DOESN'T progress, I'm glad I'm in the system now." 

And her babbling has definitely slowed down while she has been progressing with her walking.  So.......I try not to freak out about it....I'm certainly glad to see there are other babies that aren't walking and/or talking yet. 

I wouldn't worry about the walking AT ALL.  As I said, I think I read that about 50% of kids walk by 1....so not walking by 1 is NBD.  I'm sure your pedi will tell you that. 

As far as talking?  I'm less sure about that just because of my own situation.  But my speech therapist assured me that more than a word or two is the exception and far from the norm.  The therapist is actually more interested in seeing DD mimic more than she is concerned about her lack of words.  DD has started clapping in the last month or so (but won't clap things together - ha!), she sporadically waves, but she has never had any interest in mimic-ing much else. 

So....I know I've rambled.....but I guess my point is, if your pedi isn't concerned, you probably shouldn't be either.  If your pedi is concerned (like mine was), she will probably refer you to available services (mine, btw, is on a sliding scale and completely free for certain income levels, so hopefully your state has something similar).

And finally.....my DH is like your DH.    Whenever I get down and say "oh, DD isn't doing this so much" DH is like "what are you talking about??  she does this and this and this..." 

jasnem

I wouldn't worry about it too much. (I know easier said than done). Try to enjoy your LO at whatever stage he is at. They only get to be at this point once in their lives. Baby girl isn't interested in walking, but I'm not really surprised. She is more cautious by nature, so I'm just enjoying her as my little baby still! She doesn't talk much either besides mama, dada, and babbling. We just talk to her as much as we can, hold her hands and encourage her to walk with us, and otherwise just enjoy this time before she turns into a big girl! I feel like everything is already happening too fast for me, so I'm perfectly fine if she wants to take her time!

Jenny952

My DH said the same thing tonight too!  He asked if we should be worried that she doesn't really talk yet.  I was a little confused because she talks all the time... she just doesn't have any words yet.  She says dada, nana, baba but it's not directed towards anyone or anything, and she's very good at saying Ah and then just yelling, lol!  But she can understand simple commands and knows a few body parts.  She also only still has 2 bottom teeth and just recently started eating more solid meals.  I think it's very easy to compare your kid or worry if he/she isn't doing something another child is doing... but I try to remember that she'll hit her milestones in her own time!

smilelari

Sounds pretty darn normal to me.  DD hasn't even crawled yet and probably never will.  She scoots pretty darn well but didn't start that until a couple months ago.  She doesn't pull to stand.  She'll only stand if you put her there.  She certainly hasn't taken any steps.  She does have probably 6-7 words.  And eats like a champ. Definitely has a good pincer grasp!  And she waves and claps.

Anyways, if it's any help, DS didn't walk or talk really until about 14 months.  And he's a perfectly normal,  maybe even advanced 3 year old.

smwiggle

It is hard to worry about what your kid is doing compared to others, but I have to tell myself that each child goes at their own pace.  DS cruises great, has taken a step or two, and can stand on his own for a few seconds.  He is a huge babbler, but only says mama and dada on occasion, and then normally only when he is whining because he wants something.  I cannot for the life of me get him to sign, even though he understands sign.  He does clap, waves on very rarely, but does not point.  I think what makes it hard is when you get on the boards and see people posting what their kid has done and it makes you wonder why hasn't my child done that yet?  

mama&baby

Thanks ladies! Made me feel much better-- I know I can be a bit paranoid sometimes. But then I see his smiling  face and all is better :-)

maedamalu

I guess we all worry! I try not too, but you end up comparing to other kids. My DD claps, waves, crawls, pulls up and cruises. She only says mama, almost says bye bye and babbles a lot. When we ask where is something she opens her arms like "I don't know" .She eats well on her own (with her hands). She doesn't walk and I don't think she is even close to walking. She doesn't point or mimic either. We have our one year app on Saturday. Curious to know what the pedi thinks, but I guess she is doing great.

Nwlywed07

I agree that we read a lot of what other babies are doing but we don't really ever talk about what they are not doing.

DS refuses to use any form of sign language. I've been working with him since he was 5 months old and still to the this day he refuses to sign anything back. He also doesn't wave, except maybe a handful of times. He has a handful of words that he will use on a regular basis but nothing too fancy. Just the usual stuff. Half the time we can't tell if he means what he says (like momma, dadda, etc.) He's advanced for his gross motor skills (the kid does run and climb) but I think we are struggling a little bit with talking and our fine motor skills.

jb2rn

your baby sounds fine!

my son cruises on furniture but not walking, which is totally normal at this age.

he says "ba, mama, dada" but not towards us. Doesn't wave bye bye or anything like that. I am not worried, he communiates with us, but through body language and other ways. He is engaged, happy, active..really don't worry!