is my son slow?

Lauren - posted on 04/05/2011

How is your son now, almost a year later?

Rowan - posted on 04/25/2010

I was also starting to worry but my son has started clapping this week! We have to try and not compare babies too much, as we keep reading on here- ALL BABIES ARE DIFFERENT! LOL. xxxx

Jovan - posted on 04/24/2010

I feel the same way sometimes but it is normal. Like a good friend of mine had once said to me "a good mom worries that's what makes us a good mom; a bad mom just doesn't care." But your baby is fine. You shouldn't worry about that unless your doctor has any worries about their development. Or if you are still concerned I would ask them at your next appointment.

My son is 10 mos corrected 8 mos and isn't doing those things but he is doing great in other things. Each child is different in their personalities and areas they in which they advance in first.

Sarah - posted on 04/24/2010

Grace is a little over 10 months she can wave and clap hands but doesnt crawl or pull herself up yet...my friends little boys is exactly 5 weeks older than her and is very close to walking, he can also clap hands etc and is a very confident mover...it just goes to show how different 2 children can be!

Zakia - posted on 04/23/2010

my baby gona be 10 month next week ,,, but he doesn't crawl ... actuality he dose backward ,,, but he say bye and wave his hand ,,, but he dosen't have any teeth yet ... and he's small compeer to the other in his age ... his doctor say we have to take him to therapy ... should i ... plz help im lost ,,, this is my first ...

Josslyn - posted on 04/22/2010

Slow??? NO!!! And the best advice out there is to never compare your baby with another. Every baby does things on his/her own time and that is great. He is taking things slow for you so you have more time to enjoy him :) Do just that...enjoy the time you have with him at the age he is at and with what he can do. He'll get there when it's his turn.

Sabra - posted on 04/22/2010

no, he is not slow;) baby's have to go through steps while growing, some baby's accomplish steps faster than other babys but that does not mean that your son is slow. Just like adults are all different, babies are too;)

Megan - posted on 04/20/2010

I wouldn't worry at all. Babies should grow at their own pace, not by a certain age. Obviously if it's something extreme - like not babbling at all by one, etc I would talk to a doctor. But don't worry too much about that either! I didn't babble at all as a baby, and one day I started talking. Every single baby is different and they will learn things on their own. He is just taking everything in around him, and he will show you what he knows when he is good and ready. Some babies don't learn through trial and error, some just take everything in and learn in their heads and don't show it off until they know they've got it down. My son is like this. He never started babbling until one morning I heard him in his room babbling away at his crib. He also took a long time to sit up on his own- but when he does try something, it usually only takes 1-3 tries before he gets it. He is not clapping or waving yet, but I am not worried. He is content with where he is at, so I am too.

Laura - posted on 04/20/2010

my son is 10 months old and doesnt even sit up by himself yet...but he has had weight issues!!
dont worry then will do it when they want!!x

Billie - posted on 04/19/2010

I think that hes not slow like everyone else said they go at their own pace. You can try getting him to practice these things by doing it while playing maybe if he grabs onto your fingers try clapping then. My daughter started like that she just started waiving. I am sure that most babies are crawling but my daughter isn't. Its not that she is slow just moving at her own pace. That is the beauty of all children.

Lydia - posted on 04/19/2010

Don't worry! At 10 months is when they START doing those things, and the "regular" baby can start doing this anytime between 10 to 15 months, but this is just a guideline. My baby was 10 months on Apr 5 and just about a week ago started waving bye-bye and is still not clapping her hands, but she says 12 words and pionts at everything!

Terri - posted on 04/19/2010

I love all the responses to this question. My son is also not clapping his hands or holding his bottle. I try not to compare him with others which can get hard. He will get around to things when he is good and ready.

Debbie - posted on 04/19/2010

My 10 month old waves but his 20 month old brother has never waved. As everyone will tell you all children are different. good luck

KIRRILY - posted on 04/18/2010

my son is 10 months old he does not clap or wave bye or hold his own bottle or cup but i know he will get the my daughter who is now five did not do any of thouse thing till she was over one and then not prop because of her disabilty but thats a nother thing it ok your son will get there just give him time :)

Rachael - posted on 04/18/2010

no clapping or waving here. no holding the bottle or spoon. no walking either.

Cassandra - posted on 04/18/2010

Your son will progress on his how at his own rate...he will be just fine. not all kids do everything at the same time that everyone says that they should.Just keep practiceing with him and hell learn it soon enough

Julia Kat - posted on 04/18/2010

Your son isn't slow, and he shouldn't be clapping and doing tricks and walking and this or that or anything else until HE is ready to do so.

That sounds silly, sure but listen... All kids grow and learn at their own pace. My boy is 10 months old, he JUST got his first tooth a day ago. He doesn't clap, he doesn't wave, and he refuses to do more than chew on a sippy cup. Yet, he is walking already. He rolled over by 3 months both back and front. He showed stranger anxiety by 4 months, crawled by the time he was 5 months. He has been throwing temper tantrums since he was 6 months old. All of these things are extremely ahead of his time. But can I get him to roll a ball back and forth between him and I? Heck no! He'd rather roll it away from himself in the opposite direction that I am in then chase after it. And at 10 months old he is just NOW saying all different types of sounds. It used to only be "da da" but finally it's "Ba ba bo bo ma ma no no"

I don't worry at all. Neither should you.

Plus, if you're taking him to the doctor for all his wellness checkups, they are probably having you feel out a survey before/during each visit which asks for various skills and functions your child performs or is at least able to do. It's based on a point system. When they add it all up it should be above a certain percentage. For example, if you were to say he couldn't do 60% of the things on the survey, they would worry... but if he can do 92% and he just cannot clap or wave, they will assure you that there is nothing wrong... He just isn't ready or perhaps even, does not want to do it.

Don't try to force him if he shows obvious dislike in doing it, but if you worry, clap a lot and while you do it make silly sounds and funny faces to show him how fun clapping can be while telling him "Clap!" With my son, we've been trying to get him to wave hello or bye bye for a long time. We have two different waves, when we leave the room we always wave one way and say "Bye bye!" and when we enter a room we wave a different way and say "Hello!" Normally the biggest response we get from him is laughing though!

Nathalie - posted on 04/18/2010

Hi, my soon 10 month old daughter claps her hands (I showed her how the first times by taking her hands) but she doesn't wave or crawl yet, neither does she have any teeth. These things don't really worry me since I hav a son that is three and he developed exactly the same way. He started crawling around 11 months and tried to stand right away, I ratered he was to "chubby" to crawl as my friend with a skinny baby crawled at 6 months!! But then my son walked 4 days before his first birthday whereas my friends kid only walked at 16 months. He got his first tooth at 11 months too son I guess my daughter is just the same even though my sisters kids had 5 teeth at 5 months! At least I was able to breastfeed longer due to the lack of theet :)) They all develop at different rates with different skills, just like we adults, some run faster or have better communication skills than others, that doesn't make anyone else "slow".

Danielle - posted on 04/17/2010

my daughter will be 10 months on the 26th and she doesnt clap or wave either...I just figure she will learn eventually, she is pretty much up to speed with everything else

Aliesha - posted on 04/17/2010

my son is 10months old and he waves to everything lol but he does a really random clap that isn't really a clap. i think all babys work at different stages and times but do eventually even out. my son is quite skilled at talking and moving but he only has 2 teeth and only got his 1st at 8months. every one is different

Jessica - posted on 04/17/2010

My son is almost ten months and he is beginning to walk and he was crawling around 6 months. My son however does not wave and he claps but only by accident really. My doctor saws my son is ahead of his time and clapping and waving are not really an accurate measure of your sons developement.

Ai - posted on 04/17/2010

my 10 old month daughter can waving but she still doesn't clapping...but do not worry,they're normal,,just let them go with the flow...

WENDY - posted on 04/17/2010

Jasmine's just over 10 months we're working on clapping and waving she's not quite there yet either. we started playing patty cake and i'm making sure we wave goodby when we leave places.

Hannah - posted on 04/17/2010

thanks sooo much guys

Laura - posted on 04/16/2010

My 10 month old daughter just learned to clap. My first two learned way before this one, however, ALL children learn at their own pace. Just keep flapping your arms and clapping your hands and he will do it with you when he is good and ready. It does not mean that he is slow.

Kosoma - posted on 04/16/2010

he is not slow at all,my son who is going to be 10 months on the 18th,he waves bye,and when he says hi he opens and close his hand,but he doesn't clap yet,when he does try he takes my hand and make me clap,and he is now trying to walk,he stands on his own,

Rhonda - posted on 04/16/2010

I definitely agree what others are saying about babies developing at their own pace But babies DO have the cpacity, and Im sure if you were to just work with him on it he will be doing it in NO TIME! I had a simlar experience with my Nurse from the NFP program in WIC, and we usually do a monthly ASQ (skills development quiz) and there are a few that I was unaware that she could do until we worked on it for a few minutes. In fact, we actually taught her to wave "bye bye" in a few minutes! Just work with him on it and encourage him to do it and give him lots of praise (and claps) when he does it and he'll be doing it in no time flat!

Tania - posted on 04/16/2010

My son is almost 10 months, he claps when you say Yay, but he isn't waving. He also just learned to crawl the other day and isn't even attempting to pull himself up yet. He only holds his bottle sometimes. However, verbally he is very good. He says BaBa wen he's hungry and says Mama and Dada. Every child hits different milestones at different times. There is nothing to worry about. He doesn't need to catch up because he's not behind. He will get there. If you are really concerned you can talk to his pediatrician but I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Joannetimms - posted on 04/15/2010

all my children have been different stages at different times .....he is doin just fine , he cud be doin things other 10mths old babies are not doin ...dont worry

Saralexis - posted on 04/15/2010

Babies just develop at different levels. If youre really concerned about it theres a program called "Early Intervention" It's a group of people that come and evaluate your baby and will tell you if things are normal or not, if they are slow, and things like that. Its free of charge too, every town has one. They come see my daughter weekly.

Laurie - posted on 04/15/2010

I thought my daughter was "slow" when the pedi asked at her 9 mth checkup if she was clapping, waving etc. I felt horrible and really began to wonder if she was not picking up what she was supposed to at the right time. WIthin 3 weeks of that visit, she started doing everything - so all children develop in their own time. Just keep working with him and he will decide when he wants to start clapping! Good Luck!

Tracy - posted on 04/15/2010

Every baby gets to the milestones at their own sweet pace! My daughter will be 10 months old next weekend and was waving at 6-7 months, but has no clue about clapping! But my older daughter was clapping way early and waved backwards forever! He'll get there, no worries:)

Elizabeth - posted on 04/15/2010

Oh, no big deal. It's not like he's 18mo old or anything. Some kids will pick up a skill faster because they find it interesting or people always do that around them. My daughter doesn't actually wave- just reaches her hand out when someone waves to her. She doesn't clap either, but my husband & I never clap much. We'll usually praise her with words & kisses & stuff like that. She sometimes gives kisses tho.

Rozess - posted on 04/15/2010

he is not slow, all kids are different and learn to do things when they are ready, my son can't walk,crawl,wave but he will do it when he thinks it is right, not all kids are they same

Tania - posted on 04/15/2010

Every baby is different. I go to mums group and see other babies younger than mine doing things that mine is not, for example one girl was crawling at 4 months and now walks at 7 months. My Charlette has absolutely no intentions of crawling yet. (I don't mind at least I still know where she is ;o) ) However Charlette was clapping her hands at 41/2 months but that was only because I always sang Pat a cake Pat a cake to her and clapped along so she learnt that real quick. You could try singing nursery rhymes to him and clapping along it would be a fun way to get him started. Being a first time mum I used to worry but I've now learnt that you could put 10 babies in a room and they will all be doing different things. I'm sure you are doing a great job :o)

Natasha - posted on 04/15/2010

OMG No he isn't every baby is different and develops at there own pace.

Krista - posted on 04/15/2010

My daughter will be 10 months old at the end of this month, and she waves (only when she wants to), but does not clap. I don't think she's slow, every kid developes at different rates. If you are really concerned about it, talk to your doctor, but they'll probably tell you that there is nothing to worry about!

Juleen - posted on 04/15/2010

All babies are different. He is definately not slow. My little girl is 10 months tomorrow and she's not doing any of that either but I'm not worried. She'll do it all in her own time just like your son will :)

Elise - posted on 04/14/2010

My son will be 10 months onthe 24th, and he claps his hands sometimes, is not waving or sitting up yet. Some babies mature at different rates than others, but if you are really concerned ask your pediatrition.

Cathy - posted on 04/14/2010

my little girl is almost 10 mths and only just started clapping but its when it suits her and she doesnt wave either dont worry about what anyone says they should and shouldnt be doing we are all individual and progress at different rates im sure your little boy will do it when he is ready, my daughter still dosent crawl yet but she has six teeth, they are all very different! good luck and be patient before you know it they will be in high school :)

Tanja - posted on 04/14/2010

Every baby goes at their own rate. My son is crazy with milestones. He already say 6 words and walks but refuses to hold his own bottle, wave or clap on his own

Melissa - posted on 04/14/2010

My little man isn't yet either. I'm not getting myself too worried about anything in regards to milestones. As a first time mommy, I cling to the famous words from many women in my own family: "every child matures at a different rate". My advice? Enjoy all the little achievements....

Lelani - posted on 04/14/2010

Hi... Connor is clapping hands and has been doing so for some time now, but he is not waving good bye to me as I drop him off at school in the mornings... your Son will pick it up so don't worry about it... not all children are the same and boys are sometimes a little slower than the Girls... your Mom is obviously comparing your Son to You as a Child and guess what you are a Girl...
Take Care...

Tanya - posted on 04/14/2010

Chloe is not clapping or waving yet either. She will be one on June 16. She is trying to clap, but just kind of hits herself a lot ♥ I KNOW she is not slow, so I feel the same about your son :)

Kim - posted on 04/14/2010

Definitely not slow. My son is almost 10 months and doesn't wave or clap without my help. He laughs at me when I clap and when I hold onto his hands and clap them together, but he won't do it on his own. He started crawling at an early age and is almost walking (he walks around holding onto things) so I know he certainly isn't slow, just hasn't done these particular things.

Michelle - posted on 04/14/2010

Hi Hannah,

I think your son is fine, but I can understand what it's like to be concerned about your child. Some babies reach developmental milestones at different times some earlier and some later than others. So don't worry, I am sure your little one will be clapping his hands and waving very soon. If it helps try coasting him into it by clapping your hands sometimes and waving hello and goodbye to him. I do this with my daughter and now she waves everytime I say goodbye or hello. I hope this advice works for you, and I wish you well!

Cindy - posted on 04/14/2010

I don't think your son is slow! My son doesn't mimic very often, which kind of concerns me, but I'm thinking he is just independent. He is clapping now, but if I'm clapping it is almost like he is studying me until I stop so he can do it. lol. He doesn't wave bye bye but stops and stares and raises his hand like he is considering it.

Shanica - posted on 04/14/2010

My son is 10 months old, corrected 7 months and he is not doing any clapping, waving Bye or holding a bottle or sippy cup although he tries to. Your son is not slow. Just give him time. Since my one is a preemie and had a bleed in his head, I have been advised that he will have some delays so I am not too worried. He is a good eater, sleeps well and very alert and curious so I know it's a matter of time.

Laura - posted on 04/14/2010

My 10 month old doesn't clap or wave yet either. All babies develop differently and learn differently. My son for example pays very close attention to his toys and his surroundings and wants to get into everything. He observes a lot, but he takes his time trying things himself. He watches me clap and wave, but he doesn't do it himself yet. I wouldn't worry at all. You could always practice a lot with him though. He'll eventually pick it up! :)

Kristi - posted on 04/14/2010

all babys are on a diffrent timeline and my lil girl is 10 months and all she ever wants to do is jump lol but your baby is fine just work with him on things you want to be better on