to think it's unusual for a 20 month old to not be talking?

[alificent]

My niece is 20 months old and doesn't have any words at all. I know all DC are different but I'm sure mine were starting to speak in 2-3 word sentences by this age. My sister thinks she'll just get it one day and hasn't mentioned, nor does she plan to mention, it to her GP or HV. I agree that she will very probably just start talking a bit later but I do think it's worth mentioning to a professional because waiting lists for SALT are so long around here so it does no harm to already be on it.

I've broached it in a non bossy or judgy way but DSIS thinks it's common for children of this age to not be speaking yet.

[selsigfach]

My child is only just 19 months and isn't saying anything either. I can't decide what to do, normal seems to be a wide range.

[Samcro]

Mine didnt at that age
But omg once he did he was off

[Bytheseabythesea]

Hope not! My DD is 19.5 mths and can only say mam, baa and moo. She seems to understand everything we say and communicates by pointing and grunting. It hadn't occurred to me to be worried.

[AWaspOnAWindowInAHeatwave]

22mth old DS has no recognisable (to anybody other than DH or me) words. The HV came to visit DD last week and didn't seem concerned at all with DS's lack of words. Apparently I was talking in short (2-3 word) sentences before 18mths, DH didn't utter a single word until he was almost 3. Everybody's different but I wouldn't think you had any cause for concern just yet.

[Mrsantithetic]

Mine is 23 months and doesn't say a thing. He can do awesome animal impressions and can follow everything I say including several requests such as put your cup in the sink and bring g your shoes to mummy

Won't even say mama or dadda

[littleblackno]

My ds didn't at that age. He could make himself understood though- no-one seemed worried at the time. He's now 10 and is very articulate (when he's not grunting at me).

[angelikacpickles]

I don't necessarily think it's a problem, but I do think it is worth mentioning to the GP/HV for the reasons you've mentioned.

[museumum]

My ds only had 5-10 single words (badly pronounced) at 24months. He was fully in sentences by his 27mo HV appt.
I've no idea what he had at 20mo but I'm guessing only really babble.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

It's within the bounds of normal. I had one using complex sentences before 2 and one who didn't get any words until 22 months. Both ended up with huge vocabularies and never shut up.

[witsender]

Mine didn't at that age. They all develop at different times.

[Notcontent]

Hmm, I think all children are different. My dd didn't start until she was about 26 months but I didn't worry because I could tell she understood everything. Once she got started, it was in short sentences rather than just individual words.

[CostaAddict]

As a HCP (HV Team) I wouldn't be concerned at all at this stage. If parents were to raise it as a concern I would discuss how to help encourage the child's speech development through play and songs etc. Would then properly assess the child's speech development (as well as other key milestones) at 27 - 30 months.

All children do develop at their own pace. Some are much more advanced in speech compared to others at the same age.

[LastGirlOnTheLeft]

No!!! My DS started speaking at exactly two years of age....he just made sounds before that. Boyle at four he is the most talkative person in our family!!!!

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

DS said nothing before he was 2. He's now 12 and rarely shuts up

[Bythebeach]

My eldest spoke a string of words beginning with a hard 'c' sound from 9-10 months (car, cat, cook, 'ky for sky), at 14 months I wrote down a hundred words and gave up counting and at 18 months he spoke in complete sentences (e.g. Why is that chair broken?) I was quite isolated with my first and actually thought my second born was going to have some sort of problem when his speech developed nothing like my eldest and took him repeatedly to the HV to check. They are 8 and 11 now, both extremely articulate and you couldn't tell at all which one was the early speaker and which one was much, much slower. As long as they show they understand you well and can follow requests and instructions, there is little to worry about at 20 months.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

At 23 months old, ds1 only had 35 words - and not all of those would have been recognisable to someone who didn't know him well.

By 5 he was fluent, and could hold long and involved conversations about trains with anyone who was interested - and many who weren't!

Last year he got a 2:1 degree in Law - arguably a degree requiring someone to be able to make fluent and complex arguments.

I wouldn't worry too much.

[timeandtide]

DC will be two next week and it's only in the last few weeks that the words are coming out

[Natsku]

Mine only had one word at 19 months but I still think its a bit silly to not at least mention it to the doctor as although its in the range of normal its on the outside edge, and getting an assessment is no harm but potential great gain.

[Crasterwaves]

I don't want to be negative but I've got a different experience to everyone else.

My dd wasn't speaking at that age and SALT said it was a speech delay because a child that age should be saying at least a few words. If I had a completely non verbal child at that age I would:

A) get a hearing test - it turned out my dd was very deaf in certain frequencies which wasn't at all noticeable. We had thought she was fine.
B) self refer to SALT drop in. They will advise.

I would also buy the hanen book it takes two to talk which is excellent for encouraging early language development and is evidence based.

[Crasterwaves]

Should say my dd has caught up speech wise now aged 5 but it took over a year for anyone outside the family to be able to understand her. So I'm glad we knew it was a delay and could get working on it with both encouraging speech and sorting the deafness with grommets iyswim.

Always better to get things checked as soon as possible ime.

[honkinghaddock]

I wouldn't be concerned at that age as long as she is babbling and able to communicate her needs in ways other than speech and she seems to be interacting normally. I would see a hcp about it if at 24 months she is still not speaking.

[smallchair]

Both of mine had no words, not even a "mama" or "dada" at 20 months. They gestured and appeared to understand some words/commands, but unable to articulate a thing. It was like a switch flicked on 2nd birthday and they were off. Oldest is 4 and nursery report said excellent speech and communication. Younger one is 2.10 and a total chatterbox, I have no concerns now though at the time of the two yr check up for #1 which was at about 23 months the Hv suggested referral for speech therapy. (subsequently cancelled before getting anywhere near top of list)

[Aeroflotgirl]

Yabvvvu all children are different and develop at different rates. She is still very young to be speaking sentences.

[Wibblewobble100]

Hmmm... I think the rule is a few single words at one, and two word sentences ( eg want juice) at two.
That said DS didn't really have any recognisable words until 15 months. However by 24 months he's speaking in good sentences.
Does she hear okay, does she point, or draw your attention to things she's interested in some other way? As this thread has shown there is a wide range of normal....

[Aeroflotgirl]

Perhaps she coukd mention it to her HV at the 2 year check. But I would leave out of it. Ds 4.5 has a speech delay, at 20 months he was babbling like a baby, now he is speaking 3-4 word sentences and you can hold a conversation with him. We under SALT, he is improving so much, some take their time.