My 18-month old daughter still doesn't walk and is barely speaking?

Question

My 18-month-old daughter still doesn't walk unassisted.
She will walk and run while pushing a walker or holding someone's hands and has been cruising around furniture etc. since before her first birthday, but she seems not to be progressing at all as far as I can tell.

Also she speaks very few clear words and doesn't seem to be where she should be mentally - she says "mumma", "dadda", "pussycat" and occasionally sounds like she says a word but I feel like it's just coincidental babbling.
She also doesn't point out her body parts when I name them and every site I can find says that she should have been doing that and saying up to 20 words by 16 months.

I'm devastated even thinking that there is something wrong with my daughter and I don't know how I'll cope if she turns out to have some form of disability.

Answer 1

Hi, I had to answer your question because my 2 year old son was just like your child at 18 months! Almost identical. I spent many sleepless nights reading autism scared that he was or that there was something else wrong with him! He couldn't point out body parts, and said 3 words (ma ma da da, and ah oh) and then my pediatrician said that "ma ma and da da" didn't really count as words. We had him hearing tested in fear he was deaf. He passed with flying colors. He also did not walk until he was 21 months old! (He did like yours would walk forever with assistance but would panic as soon as we let go and fall down). He scooted and never crawled which I think slowed his walking. Long story short, he now runs, climbs and literally ran the day he walked without us after walking holding on since he was 16 months old then at 21 walked!



He now says 150 words that I know of, 3-7 word sentences, counts to 16, knows all Abc's and their sounds and all body parts on face etc and today held his feet up and said "1 foot 2 foot, my feet!" It seems like when he started walking he bloomed!



What I did to help... read him books and talked to him all day pointing out items and repeating words. For walking... we held his hand and walked him everywhere as much as he would tolerate. He was absorbing it like a sponge apparently! My pediatrician said the main thing is: Does he make good eye contact?, Does he play and giggle when you play with him? (This was when I was frantic and worried sick.) Hang in there and keep practicing walking and talking. I talked my poor son's ear off so bad I am surprised he didn't say "Shut up mom!"



Also I was told that if he could say ma ma, da da, and kitty that he had the ability to talk but may wasn't ready. I think a couple of days after he walked he started saying several new words a day from that point on and then full sentences. Now he negotiates to try to get out of bedtime!



Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Some kids aren't particularly verbal until 2 or even 3, so unless you think she has a problem with her hearing then there may be absolutely nothing wrong there. 18 months is getting to the end of the "normal" window for independent walking, though. I'd discuss it with her pediatrician. I know a couple whose daughter wasn't walking independently by that age yet, and they got her some special shoes to help place her feet the right way for walking and balancing. She's 2 1/2 and has been a normal walker for a while now.

Answer 3

Try not to worry about walking she might just have a fear of falling so let her hold your hand and practice walking. You on one side and her other parent on the other she will be confident, go for long walks. As for words make sure she has many hours a day of personal attention, someone talking to her asking her questions like do you want juice or milk? Then when she points say use your words and show her milk and juice and the words only words get you want you want not pointing. So if she wants up and puts her hands up ask if she wants up, then ask her to say up if she wants up.

Have her hearing tested not just a doctor talking to see if she can hear. My oldest great nephew didn't talk and it turned out he couldn't hear in the high range so could hear his dad not his mom so wasn't hearing the words. He is in the National Guard now and almost 25, buying his first house hearing seems fine but as a toddler he was slow to learn speaking.

Answer 4

My niece barely started walking at 18 months. Every baby is different. Doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong or she's not smart.

Answer 5

First of all, remember that any consonant-vowel combination that your daughter says with meaning, counts as a word, even if no one else would understand it. If she says "da" for dog, for example, that is a word for her. As long as she says something consistently with meaning, it counts. Most 18 month olds will also gesture - point to something of interest, wave, etc. Here is a good resource for determining when to be concerned about speech and language development: http://www.asha.org/public/Early-Detection-of-Speech-Language-and-Hearing-Disorders/



In terms of her other development milestones, here is a good resource: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-18mo.html



If you have any concerns, you should always bring them to the attention of the pediatrician. Part of the purpose of well visits is to determine whether baby is following a pretty normal developmental curve, and whether there are any problems that need to be addressed. In the US, you would qualify for early intervention services if baby is showing developmental delay, and earlier treatment is better than later. So make an appointment to get into the pediatrician to discuss your concerns. If your baby is a bit behind, then she may benefit from some therapy.



Lots of babies receive EI services and children receive therapy services in school. Don't be afraid of what you don't know yet. Not all kids who are a bit behind have a "disability" - there are many things that can affect her development and some can be easily corrected. Knowing whether there is a real issue and what the issue is can help you take appropriate steps to help your daughter. Good luck.

Answer 6

Please, please talk to your pediatrician and have your daughter evaluated by first steps or your state's early intervention service. They could tell you it's nothing, or they could recommend therapy (physical, occupational, speech, and/or developmental) at a low or no cost. Either way, if she's behind now the earlier you start working on things, the less likely it is to be a lifelong problem. Babies mature rapidly and there is a sensitive period between birth and 3-5 years of age. If you wait to intervene after that, the child's potential is likely to be unrealized. You'll never forgive yourself if you do.

Answer 7

Just wanted to add that I was nonverbal for the first 2-3 years of my life and I am a functioning adult now. My sister spoke for me; why I didn't want to speak, I don't know. I read a lot and kept to myself, and I took a while to potty train.



Just my experience. I'd ask your pediatrician to be safe.

Answer 8

My daughter walk and spoken late she's now 10 A honor roll student. I mean very brilliant girl. So don't worry

Answer 9

I agree that she needs a checkup, just to be on the safe side. If the doctor suspects gross motor delay, he will prescribe Physical and/or Occupational Therapy. As for the talking, often times, those who are quiet sit back and take it all in, then suddenly you find them talking in complete sentences much more quickly. (My first was saying several words by 12 months, but my second did not and was "the quiet one". Just in the last month she has developed impressive communication skills. )



Mum of a 20 month old, 4 year old, 37 weeks with #3 and a PT

Answer 10

Lots of toddlers don't walk until they're two, and that's perfectly normal--she has taken the first steps toward walking, so she should be fine. I could say the same with her talking--children progress at different rates, depending on their personalities, exposure to different people, etc. It's said that the genius Einstein didn't talk until he was 3.



I do have one suggestion that might help. Have her hearing checked by her pediatrician. Learning to speak involves imitating what we hear, and you should make sure she is hearing things clearly.

Answer 11

My pediatrician said that they should have 4 "words" at around that age. A word counts as anything they say repeatedly for the same thing. If dablah, is what she says for milk, then it's still a word. As for walking, that's fine. She'll get there.

Answer 12

"Up to 20 words" means just that. Does she appear to understand simple sentences such as, "where is your blankie?" If she has good receptive language, in time she will begin expressive language. Any noise she consistently makes counts as a word. "Ba" for blankie. "Mo" for more, etc



The best things you can do for her language are to read to her every day, at least two books like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom or Go Dog, Go! or anything else you like, and talk to her. Put down your phone, turn off the TV, put away your computer and focus on her as you go around the house doing things. While doing laundry, ask her to hand you the socks. Ask her to find the white shirt. There, she just heard and practiced sock, white, and shirt.



Make sense?

Answer 13

What has the doctor had to say at her regular check-ups? These milestones are a bit behind the 'average', and could, but don't necessarily suggest a medical or developmental problem.

Answer 14

I think what they mean by 20 words is that she could say a few real words, but also a whole lot of "words" that she made up to express things. My son calls diapers "dahs"...everytime he sees one he says "dah...duh..dah" but his Dada's (for dad) are a lot more pronounced and longer with the vowels. He calls teddy bears "dadoos" and he has all these different words for things. He knows what they are and has words for them, but his own words lol.



He calls any type of food "num nums". He calls me "mum". He can also say "halloo!" for hello. It can be hard to figure out what he means at first, but then your like "oohh that's what he means". As for walking, I read sometimes if you show them toddlers who are walking, they might realize they can and try it. It has to be in real life though not on a video. Hope this helps!

Answer 15

Do they have an older sibling? Because that can effect them learning how to talk since they can normally understand them or do it for them, anyone can really. The walking thing will come over time, it just takes different people longer :) she will get there

Answer 16

Take her to a pediatrician. There are many issues that can be helped with early intervention, and with that extra help, the kids end up being completely normal.

Answer 17

Okay first of all those are Guidlines, not all babies fit into those catagories.



If you feel concerned bring it up to her ped next time you have an appointment.

Answer 18

patience. you're hoping she'll display 24 month old behaviors. you need to give her those added months

Answer 19

You need to talk to your pediatrician and get referred somewhere. Could be a million different things.

Answer 20

Not normal check with pediatrician..

Answer 21

most kids don;t say much before age 2

Answer 22

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