be honest, should DS be talking more by now?

[roz1982]

I am not one to become too concerened about DS doing particular things by a particular time, he seems to be doing ok and is happy, active and very VERY interested in pretty much everything!

I talk to him alot and he gets lots of human interaction from family and friends and goes to nursery once a week.

He responds to me with 'yeah' and sometimes says 'mama' and has some signs for things (hot/bird) and he understands much of what you say to him and follows instructions.

Is it ok that he is not really talking yet?

[roz1982]

sorry, he is almost 18 months old!

[amazingmumof6]

I think it would be easier to help you if I knew how old he is!

[amazingmumof6]

haha x post!

he is fine! I'll get back later, DD woke up
AFK

[cheesenpickle]

No not at all my Ds is 23mths and has only just started putting two words together, he was only really saying mama and dada at 18mths old- sounds perfectly nornal to me.

[roz1982]

[roz1982]

thanks cheesenpickle - i thought it was pretty normal but then started looking into it a bit and panicked when I read most babies say mama and dada in the right context by 12 months and by the time they are 18 months should have at least 10 words!!

[LibertineLover]

No, bet he was walking early was he? My DS spoke quite early on, but took longer to walk, now DD is nearly 2, and really not saying much, but walked really early, don't worry is my advice, he sounds fine to me :)

[capecath]

Sounds fine to me, especially if he responds to instructions, babbles and at least has a way to communicate. DS1 could barely say 5 words at 18 months, but it suddenly ramped from then onwards and now at 2.8 years I think his speech is actually advanced for his age!

[rrreow]

Yes I'm fairly sure that's normal. DS had ONE word (the name of the cat) until he was 22-23 months. Then the past few weeks his speech has just come on immensely. He has only recently started saying mama (and calls DH mama quite often as well )

[lljkk]

Within normal spectrum, early language is mostly about listening not speaking skills.

[JollyPurpleGiant]

If he follows instructions, I'd say you have nothing to worry about :)

[StrangeGlue]

Dd is almost 18 months and does no talking - she makes herself understood though! As long as they make some noise and seem to understand what you say I think it's fine. People say not to worry until 24 months

[roz1982]

yes Natashabee I also think my son is far too busy wrecking to stop and talk! thanks for all your responses.

Libertine lover, he walked at 12 months. he has always been very good with his hands and fine motor skills as well, obsessed with taking lids on and off and screwing things and putting keys in door! bless him it drives me nuts!

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

DS is 19 months (in 2 days time) and about a month ago said Dada and cat and bad and that was pretty much it, I was worrying too and now he wont stop!

In the past few days his favourites have been "quack quack" "big boat" and "batman".

He's also very very good with his hands, he loves putting the mic jack into his keyboard!!

Don't worry. :)

[HappyJoyful]

What I've noticed with my dd is that she seems to literally overnight add more words and she was like your DS at that age and then it all very suddenly seems to increase, slow down and then surge again.. never ceases to amaze me.

[gourd]

18 MO is a bit young to start ticking boxes and definitely way too young for speech therapy but the NHS waiting list is 4-6 months long, so if you are at all worried it is worth speaking to your HV or baby clinic or your GP now - BEFORE the two year developmental check-up.

We waited till the tow year check which in reality was nearly 2y and 3 months and it was too late then - we are still waiting for a referral for a first assessment on the NHS (a kind of pre-pre therapy session - a triage appointment really) at 2 and 7 months, so have gone private for speech therapy which has no waiting list.

We started immediately the next day after ringing up with a first assessment then two informal sessions over two weeks and another one due in three weeks time- she still too young for formal speech therapy and you don?t need appo9intment every week, but there are lots of things you can do at home with the therapists guidance and based on your child?s individual needs. Getting the initial assessment early is crucial.

[awwwwmannnn]

hi,
my DD is 2.4 and says about 14-15 words and that's it. absolutely fine in all other ways, no concerns at all.
her lack of speech has been concerning me for ages and i approached the HV about it - she had an assessment y'day morning and in all other areas apart from speech, she is 6-8 months ahead of where she should be.

even though she says few words, what the HV was looking at more than anything was her understanding, which is outstanding, and whether the words she does use are said with meaning and appropriate, which she said they were, i.e. door when she sees a door type of thing.

what the HV said was some DC are thinkers and stand on the sidelines taking it all in and actually know more than they let on, others are like a bull in a china shop and jump in with random words etc that don't really mean anything. apparently my DD is a thinker...which did make me giggle.

also, like yours, she was an early walker (10 months) and physically she is way ahead....it really is true, they can't be good at everything and when i said about other 2 year olds having conversations with you, she said can that may be but can they do other things that DD can - my friends DD who is a week older is an amazing talker, but she can't run very well, still can't walk up or down stairs and only starting walking at 23 months...kind of puts it all into perspective.

i have to say it put my mind at ease like you wouldn't believe - i was so upset and worried about her lack of speech it was keeping me up at night - today...literally...she came out with 3 new words, i was so shocked and proud i could have cried.

easier said than done (coming from the world's biggest worrier) but please try not to worry too much about this, she is still so young and has PLENTY of time to catch up (not that she's even behind but you know what i mean lol).

it was only when i kind of thought to myself that i should stop worrying myself about what DD isn't doing and acknowledge what she can do, that i realised she ain't half clever my little girl

xx