WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

Was wondering what you ladies think.
My nephew is 14.5 months. He is not walking or talking. Just pulled himself up to stand yesterday for the first time. He doesn't even put one foot in front of the other if you hold his hands. He does crawl, started right before his first bday.

He doesn't say any words. Not even momma and dadda. He does babble.

My BIL/SIL don't really seem concerned. Her answer is that she is so glad he isn't walking, because she will be in trouble that he is all over. I feel like they don't encourage him to try to walk or talk.

I am so sad for him and just hope this isn't a sign that something is wrong.

Anyone else's kids walk and talk late like this?
TIA!

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

DS just started walking yesterday (at 15 3/4 months) and he really took off! Today he is taking about 30 steps without falling. We weren't that concerned but the ped suggested we set up an EI eval after we had our 15 month appt, just to be proactive. He had the eval last week. The evaluator pretty much said that if they aren't walking at 15 months they will usually qualify for services. Now we won't need them though. I think they all progress at their own rate. I'm sure if they really needed to be worried their ped would suggest EI. Since he was a late crawler, he will probably be a late walker.

Message edited 1/2/2011 11:24:58 AM.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

It's tough position to be in. The only thing you can do is mention your concerns about your nephew's development and let them know that early intervention services are free (in NY). Stress to them that is NOT their fault that his milestones are coming in slowly, but at this point they can get him evaluated to see if he might qualify for services such as speech and physical therapy. There is no harm in getting evaluated, but delaying needed services can negitaively impact a child. I'm an pediatric OT and my sister is a pediatric speech therapist. We've had to have this conversation with family/friends. It seems like it takes a while for many parents to accept a delay in developmental skills. Either people become defensive or they think there is a stigma attached to receiving services (special ed) and that it will "follow" the child for the rest of his/her life. I've had many parents refuse OT services for this reason.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

My DS is 14.5 months old is not talking yet. He babbles a LOT and will "mimic" words we say, but he does not say mama and dada to us at all. He might say "uh oh" and that's about it. I wouldn't worry too much. I'm sure the ped will evaluate both speech and gross motor skills and make recommendations as needed at the 15 month appt.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

Thanks so much. It is good to know that by 15 months he qualifies for EI. Problem is they are in NJ. So not sure how that works.

The biggest problem is like what iluvmynutty said. They are really in denial about their being a problem. I am sure it is a coping mechanism but they really don't think he is developing slow. I think their pediatrician tries not to act concerned and tells them as long as he is moving in the right direction that is all he wants to see.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

I think its still early to be concerned. My nephew did not talk until he turned 2... and now he is almost 4 and perfectly fine. As time goes on and if he does not progress the pediatirican will tell your bil/sil when its a problem.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

I think it's fairly common for boys to reach certain milestones, like talking, on the later side. If the parents aren't concerned, I really don't think you should get involved. Their pediatrician will likely ask questions about walking and talking at the next well visit.

FWIW, DS didn't walk until 15 months. He started walking halfway across the room and was walking FT within 10 days. He had a handful of words around then, but he didn't have a word explosion until several months later. My pediatrician just wanted to see 5 words by 18 months.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

Some Drs. are more concerned about development than others. Some are very proactive and others might take the "wait and see" approach. There is an age range for developmental milestones to appear, usually a 3 month span. Some kids do acheive their milestones a little later than usual, with no impact on future skill development. But only a professional in the area of developmental concern can distinguish between a child who is just a little slow to develop but otherwise typical and a child who mmight have a significant developmental delay and might need professional intervention inorder to master skills.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

all babies are different!

Its not healthy. IMO, to push them, or "encourage" them to do things they aren't ready for this early in life.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

I wouldn't worry yet. For one, boys talk a lot later than girls in general. Secondly, some kids are just late walkers. I think it's a little early to stress about it. Kids will do things in their own time. They all catch up in the end.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

thanks again. I am so happy to read all of your stories. I agree, it isn't my place to say anything to them at this point. I wouldn't. I will let the ped make any recommendations.
I am glad to see that many of you have had the same experience with your DC's walking and talking a litle later and all is fine with them.

Message edited 1/2/2011 12:12:41 PM.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

I agree with others that all babies/children are different. DS wasn't walking at 14.5 months old. At our 15 month appt, I discussed my concerns which were more than just not walking (not pulling up and not going from laying down to sitting) with my ped and they suggested we contact EI. I did and DS now gets PT and has since Nov 1. He has made great progress and even at almost 19 months still has a ways to go.

On the other hand, he is quite verbal. SO it is hard not to compare but you really can't.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

Personally, I don't see any reason to be concerned at this point.

I know many babies that did not start walking until late and my own DS didn't start really talking until after 17 months.

If he were 3 I think it would be a different story, but he is only 14 months. Still very young to be concerned IMO.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

Being the loon that I am, at Riley's 12 month appt I asked questions about speech (I was worried that she wasn't saying enough words for her age ). The ped said that most important thing to look for is not the amount of words they say, but what they understand.

6 months later she doesn't shut up

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

I don't think he will qualify at 15 months just cause he is not walking, since he is already crawling and getting around. I think it is more likely a problem closer to 18 months. 12 months is the average and learning to walk by 15 months is still within normal range.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

I don't think it is a problem....my twins are 15 mnths...they don't talk at all ( and my son was in EI and has speech delay so I know what to look for)....none of my friends kids at this age etalk..some bable..a few say a few words but its random. And my one DD just started walking like 2 -3 weeks ago...my son started walking at 14.5 mnths and he still had more then 5 of his friends not walking yet.

I would probably be a bit concerned with the not pulling up to stand. That is a milestonre usually achieved by 9-11 months (even much younger)....

I think you could probably bring it up again but in the end...while sad...what can you do? Each parent will do what they think is bext for their own children.

I called EI about my son at 18 months regarding his speech and everyone thought I was nuts....so there's two ends of the spectrum...I don't think his delays if any are that significant that they need to be adressed asap if the parents aren't comfortable with it.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

I would be less concerned with the talking than with the walking...my boys started talking around that age but walking slightly before. I would just suggest they ask their Dr

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

My DS did not walk until he was 15 months old. He was also a late crawler (around 9-10 months old).

At that age, he also babbled, but did not talk at all.

Now, at almost 3, he talks a lot and has a big vocabulary. He runs everywhere and his motor skills are fine.

Ped said many toddlers do not walk until they are on the older side.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

At 15 months, my DD wasn't talking. The ped wasn't concerned. I think she may have been saying "hi" but that was about it.

She also didn't start walking until she was 17.5 months old.

My Ped was not concerned with either.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

DD walked at 15 months and DS at 16 months. They didn't really start saying any words till around 18 months or so, and then it exploded.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

DS just turned 17 months. If he says 5 words its a lot. He does understand things though. I def feel that all kids do things at their own pace.

Re: WWYD-14.5 month old nephew not walking and talking.

My DD#1 rolled over very late (like 11 months), never crawled (she rolled everywhere!) and pulled to stand around 13 months. She didn't start walking until 17 months. For talking, she babbled alot in baby Japanese (I used to call her Morimoto) and did not really start putting clear words together until she was just under 2 years old. Now, at 27 months she: runs, jumps, climbs, hops, dances and knows how to count, say her abc's, recognizes her name and a million other things that are early for her age. I would not worry about your nephew (I know, easier said than done) unless his ped is concerned.