A 10 month old that says 15 words - is that possible?

[emkana]

I was talking to my friend about the upcoming 9 month development check for my dd2. She said her ds2 had his check at 10 months and that the doctor was astonished that her son could already say 15 words. To be fair I was astonished too! Is that really possible? Have you ever known a baby of that age that can talk that much? When we were together she sometimes said " Listen, he's saying such and such", but to me it just sounded like babbling - but then a Mum can understand a child much better...
My dd2 can't talk at all, by the way, and the only word she really seems to understand is her name.

[Bozza]

I'm like you - astonished but also agree that a Mum can always understand better. So not any help really.

FWIW - DS had no words at that age (although his checkup was at 7 months so not expected) but his first word was at 11-12 months. Didn't understand many words either IIRC.

[Hulababy]

My DD had several words which were clear to me and DH, and the people who care for her regularly -(grandparents/nursery). Speech is her big thing. She certainly had about that number that were clear to others also. So, uit is possible yes. She started to use the odd 2 word statements ("mummy I stuck!" being one of them)occasionally around her 1st birthday too. She is now 25 months and her language is still extremely good and the HV did comment on it, and note it down in her notes, at the 2 year check.

But all children are different and they all develop in different ways. Some are better at one thing than another, that's all.

[noddy5]

According to my mum I could say quite a few words clearly at 10 months so much so that people were quite scared!However I did not grow up to be a genius type or anything out of the ordinary so it's nothing to worry about

[Jimjams]

Yep my son could- well he had about 7 words at 10 months - can't say a thing now (age 5)- he's non verbal autistic!

NOT saying your friend's child is, but I was rather glad that ds2 wasn't too precocious in his speech- lol.

[Piffleoffagus]

yes my ds was talking in two word strings by then, his first word being purple, of all things! He is not the norm though, as he is spectacularly smart baby and child (now aged 10)
my dd now 18 mths, say by 10 mths she had maybe 4 discernible words and a few others that we knew what she meant, like the cats anme and her cuddle rug and cot etc....
I would say a discernible word constitutes a public airing of the phrase "he has 15 words"

[toddlerbob]

At 9 month check bob said "hiya" to HV and waved. But he was being a little trickster because it was a couple of months before he repeated this performance. He could also say "qack qack" when he saw ducks.

I think he says about 20 words other people would recognise (in context)now at 14 months, and made his first sentence last night "bye bye car" with a little wave and a disappointed look. But then he doesn't walk, they can't do everything at once. Like Hulababy's dd talking is his thing!

[Davros]

Well I've met Maomao's 11 month old daughter and, much to my surprise as I thought it was BS when people claim it, she can certainly say that many words and is walking!! Plus she's gorgeous.

[Galaxy]

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[Hulababy]

Well, DD could talk (as said below)and walk at 10 months. BUT she didn't get a single tooth until 13 months. See, they are all different in their own lovely was

[windypops]

DS could say 20 words easily at 10 months, but did not walk until about 20 months.

[motherinferior]

Oh dear. DD2 is 10 months and says buggerall.

She can pull herself to her feet though.

Feel a bit worried now

[lazyeye]

DS1 was brill talker...think he probably did have that many words at 10 mnths and was starting sentences at 1 yr.....BUT ds2 says virtually nothing apart from his name and "Fizz" and "yeth" and is 18mnths...so who knows and am not too worried just yet.

[tamum]

My brother didn't say a word until he was about 2, but is now a Cambridge graduate who communicates and writes brilliantly, so don't worry MI!

[Davros]

MI, my 14 month old says "dish, dish" which means this and that's all! Also not walking, only pulling herself up to her knees. Not worried though having had a child before with dev probs, no comparison!

[zebra]

Oh MI, don't worry. Esp. because there often is a trade-off between mobility & talking. After all, if they can go get what they want, they don't have to ask you for it! And visa versa. DS walked at 9 months and just about hissed out 'tee' for kitty by 1 yo... didn't get his next word until almost 19 months... didn't get to 2 word phrases until after he was 2yo (so he missed that milestone). Didn't hit sentences until he was 2y+7m old. Now he's 4.5yo and you can't stop him talking!

DD walked at 10 months but didn't say any words until 16 months... she got onto sentences by the time she was 2yo... but in spite of large vocab she still speaks very unclearly (2y+7m now). But she's fantastic at climbing things in the playground.

[tamum]

zebra, you're back (or maybe you never went away, I just thought you had, but pleased to see you anyway)

[Jimjams]

A lot of speech therapists believe that early speech (pre about 16 months or so- although will vary) is reflex. Went to a workshop which touched on this the other day-then at about 18 monthsish a different part of the brain takes over and "true" speech develops. It's one theory as to why autistic kids (such as my son) start to speak and then stop. The reflex part of the brain is working ok, but the language bit is buggered.

Only thing I don't understand about my son is why he also lost sounds. So at 12 months ifI said to him what does a snake say? he would say sssssss can't remotely begin to say ssss now (lost the ability at about 16 months and now age 5 has never regained it).

A couple of different SALTS have mentioned the reflex stuff to me, although I've never really looked into it.

My 2nd son didn't speak until gone 2 really. At 2.4 his pronounciation is still pretty poor but he chatters away in sentences and talks to me on the phone (something I find staggering to be honest). As Davros says there's a huge difference between a developmental problem and a late talker.

[froot]

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[Tinker]

I'm amazed so many of you can remember! I haven't got a clue at what age my daughter said her first words.

[Jimjams]

I know to the day when ds2 pointed (1 year and 1 week exactly) because I was watching him like a hawk. I only know about ds1 as he lost his words- and as I kind of realised at the time made a note (and have had to give his bloody case history about 101 times)

[motherinferior]

Thank you; I did know I was getting unnecessarily worried, but I realise I actually place a lot more importance on speech than movement. DD1 was sitting on her bum at 10 months, and in fact till well over a year, and it only faintly perturbed me. Can't remember when she started talking, come to think of it, and now she is as talkative as me. Her poor dad can't get a word in edgeways - hey, do you think that's why dd2 is concentrating on the physical side of things;o?

[Capie]

a number of you talk about a developmental checkup kind of thing.
who with? & who should organise? etc

[nightowl]

i cant remember exactly when ds said his first words but i know it was early and by 18 months he could hold a full conversation, which at the time i thought was perfectly normal but used to shock other people. however, i dont remember him ever crawling and he didnt walk until he was 18 months old.

[Hulababy]

Capie - I think most people are taking about the HV developement checks - linked to the sections in your red book. I think the 'standard' ones are around 6 weeks, 9 months, 18-24 months and then at pre-school jab time.There used to be a 3year one too but this is now done bny a questionnaire in many authorities.