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AIBU?

To worry my one year old is behind?

55 replies

glueandstick · 13/05/2017 22:15

I'm probably being neurotic, but I'm concerned my 14 month old is developmentally behind. According to the HV at this age kids have 6 words. We get 'mama' and babbling. I'm convinced that I should be expecting more. At the same time I don't want to be a pushy mum.

What should a 14 month old be doing in speech, actions and in general? (This probably isn't even the right section, apologies)

OP posts:

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HerBluebiro · 13/05/2017 22:17

Is he/she meeting other milestones (walking fine motor etc)?

Doglikeafox · 13/05/2017 22:20

Hi OP,
Please don't worry. 14 months is SO young for talking. I childmind a very bright little 14 month old girl at the moment who only says 'mama' and 'dada'. I honestly am yet to meet a 14 month old with a 6 word vocabulary... I'm sure they exist, but I'm a bit aghast that a HV would advise that. I wouldn't expect anything more than mama, dada and maybe one other world like ball, milk, juice, bye etc. I certainly do not think your little one is behind Xx

Laquila · 13/05/2017 22:21

I hope that isn't what your HV said, verbatim - daft and v unhelpful! IME, 6 words at 14 months is a a bit ambitious, and what's far more important at that age is their comprehension, and whether they can start to make themselves understood by a combination of first words, sounds, pointing, showing etc.

Cakescakescakes · 13/05/2017 22:22

I can only think of one child I have ever known who had 6 words at that age. Don't panic!

Laquila · 13/05/2017 22:22

"I'm a bit aghast that a HV would advise that"

Exactly!!

Doglikeafox · 13/05/2017 22:23

Oh and also, the best thing I can advise for encouraging speech in little ones is stopping background noise like TV, radio etc when you are talking/ playing with her.
Also, the more she sees you when you're talking, the more she can learn about expressions, intonation and the shapes your mouth is making as you speak and the more likely she is to emulate Xx

WhereTheFuckIsElsa · 13/05/2017 22:23

6 words already? Haha that's a joke! Yes maybe I'm books but not in reality!
Both my kids said mamma after 2 and they both seems normal!

Tulipblank · 13/05/2017 22:24

Do not worry. My ds couldn't say anything at that age. Don't think he could say many words even by his 2nd birthday. At nearly 4 he has a great vocabulary; and being of a rather dramatic persuasion enjoys using lots of adjectives!!

SleepFreeZone · 13/05/2017 22:24

My son is the same age and only says mama and dada. He is starting to mimic me though and knows where his eyes and ears, tummy, feet and head are. So he'll repeat eye and ear if I ask him and he recognises lots of things if I mention the word he scoots off and gets it. So I'm not that concerned although my 4 year old did have speech delay but now talks pretty well.

Just keep reinforcing their learning by repeating words over and over. Things they point to, stuff you are doing etc. There are a sponge and eventually it will sink in.

outabout · 13/05/2017 22:26

Kids develop at different rates and although your LO MIGHT (I have no idea now) be a little behind at this moment there is a very high chance that they will have a developmental spurt and catch up. At this age a month or two is a huge percentage of their life. Unless you have real reasons to think there is a problem, don't go looking too hard.
When my LO was small we used to think she did 'odd' things. Go to a baby group with plenty of other babies to observe and you discover they all do 'odd things'.
Sometimes 'professionals' don't express things the best way and can cause anxieties.

Cockadoodle · 13/05/2017 22:27

Mine are 19 months old and say "aaah gaaaaaaaah" all gone "caaaaa" cat and mummy/daddy" and that's about it! I don't remotely think they're behind!

SoftSheen · 13/05/2017 22:29

My DS only had 4 words at 2 years old. Now at 2 years 4 months he is chattering away in sentences. They all get there in their own time.

Haudyerwheesht · 13/05/2017 22:30

Well ds could talk very well at that age and walk well. He's 10 now and is not a genius by any stretch of the imagination and his friend, who used to babble until he was almost 3 and didn't walk until 18 months is ahead of ds in every subject at school except maybe reading. It really doesn't matter at this stage, honestly.

Dd barely spoke at all until she was over 2 and certainly not at your ds's age. She's 6 now and she never stops.

Starsandwishes · 13/05/2017 22:31

My 1 year old says a few little words. But my 2 year has only just started saying the odd word. 14 months is still very young.

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 13/05/2017 22:31

Isn't babbling at that age seen as them communicating? Not sure dd says 6 words properly yet but you can make out what she is saying (only after my mum told me what it was though ). She is 14months.
I'm sure your DC is perfectly on course for their age

RNBrie · 13/05/2017 22:31

One of mine turned two with only five or six words. The other was joining two words at 15 months (bye bye daddy, that sort of thing).

Neither of them ever shut up now!

I wouldn't worry about speech much before two.

glueandstick · 13/05/2017 22:31

That's all fairly reassuring. I worry I spend too much time with competitive parents. 'Oh yes they thrive on great literary works' whilst mine is obsessed with one page of 'that's not my owl'

She's walking, babbling and can pick up grains of rice. I can tell her to fetch daddy's shoes and she'll take them to him. But she'll only follow instructions if they are interesting. No chance of 'come here' unless you have something worthy of attention.

Stacking cups in the right order is beyond her (perhaps no interest?). We don't have the tv on in the house during the day and the radio is off for meals and a good chunk of time.

OP posts:

OrangeJulius · 13/05/2017 22:34

My 16 month old can only say 4 words, and she isn't consistant with usage. Sometimes the cat is daddy, and everyone gets called puppy...

DissonantInterval · 13/05/2017 22:34

At the same age dgd had a few words but now at 20 months she is saying loads. She had a sudden language splurge and in a few months went from a few words to heaps. So please don't worry. They're all different.

RainbowChasing · 13/05/2017 22:40

Well my dd did have 6 words by 13 months old BUT she's always been very "wordy" and interested in words. When I think back to my baby group of ten kids, by 13/14 months she had 6, two children had more than 6 but the other 7 had less than 6. So hopefully this reassures you that your little one is completely normal. My friend's little boy didn't say anything other than mama until he was over 2 and he hasn't stopped talking since!

I think it's so easy to compare what your baby is doing to other people's, especially if it's your first baby, and I know how much you worry when you think your baby is behind. My dd was good at speaking but slow at rolling, crawling and walking and I worried terribly about it. But now at 3 she's just the same as every other 3 year old.

DissonantInterval · 13/05/2017 22:40

And if she's babbling, following instructions if they're sufficiently interesting and has good fine motor skills she sounds just fine imo. Dgd is a bright kid but can't quiet do the stacking cups yet at 20 months. Getting there tho. And it's normal for them to focus on one skill to the expense of most others so if they're getting to grips with walking steadily their language might go on the back burner for a bit.

BillyButtfuck · 13/05/2017 22:43

We have 13 month old twins
Twin one can say;
Cat, mama, dada, Lala and Ta
Twin two can say;
Daaaaad, mama, duck, Ta and up there (up thsssshhhh)

They are completely different and have picked up words at different times. One picked up a new word, and then another a few weeks later, the other just started spouting off a few words in the same week. They also try and copy each other so have that extra reinforcement I guess, I don't think twin two would be as confident with speech if he didn't have his brother.

My point is, all babies are different and learn their own way and in their own time.

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glueandstick · 13/05/2017 22:44

When she learned to walk she forgot 'dada' and he became 'mama' 😂

Wondering if the HV meant sounds rather than words.... definitely said words though.

OP posts:

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 13/05/2017 22:45

Ds didn't speak until 21 months. His first words were in phrases and sentences. By 3 he was reading, by 5 he was a free reader. If she is following directions that is a great start. I would watch and wait and try not to worry too much.

You can work on her receptive language by for example having a red and blue ball and asking her to get the blue ball. Also say with drinks - milk or water? Obviously not giving her complete control but choices which mean she develops her understanding.

SheRaaarghPrincessOfPower · 13/05/2017 22:45

My youngest only just had 6 words at 2yo, and they all sounded the same. He was and is definitely behind (he seems about 6 months behind his milestones).

At 14 months, please don't worry.

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