21 month DD not talking yet. Should I be worried???

[pookie81]

My DD says the odd word and sings etc but can't say 'hello' or even say 'yes' to people when they ask her things or play with her. She can say 'bye' and other little words and sounds and points to things she wants whilst trying to say what they are but that's it. My family have said that she should be putting sentences together by now and have upset me with it all. Should I get her checked out???

[pookie81]

..I do read to her lots and play all the time but she would just laugh and run off if I tried to emphasise words to her etc.

[Elmosgirl]

My DD is the same (21 months) only very recently she has started to say things, she doesn't say yes in context of begin asked questions. She doesn't say mummy either bt can say Daddy although sounds more like Deee. The other words she says are just when she points things out like cat, rabbit, dog, flower, fish etc.

I think some toddlers 'can' speak in sentances by now but doesn't mean they 'should'. I metioned it to my HV who said she wasn't worried as she was saying some things and making progress. But she has booked her in for a hearing test just to rule hearing problems out.

[Elmosgirl]

Oh and when I spoke to my health visitor, she was more concerned that she was communicating rather than talking, like pointing, eye contact, etc etc.

[ib]

My nephew was like that and at 23 months almost overnight started talking loads, in full sentences and all.

[lostinlace]

Can she understand you when you talk to her? Both mine were late talkers & I did get quite stressed about it with ds, but they both understood pretty much everything I said from a young age (once teased dp about putting his foot in his mouth, next thing I know less than 2yo non-speaking ds is physically putting his foot in his mouth. Similarly, had a v. quiet conversation about a mouse in our kitchen when dd was v. young & she knelt against the skirting boards going 'squeak, squeak').

Ds, now 5, is a great talker (especially when I'm in the car doing complicated right-turns), & told me yesterday I was ingenious (I'm not unfortunately, but it felt good). So, after all that worrying, I've decided some children seem to find it physically easier to make sounds & speak fluently, and the rest just do it when they can.

[pookie81]

I have spokien to my HV and she didn't seem at all concerned but I guess it's that pressure from family and some people when they say "why isn't she saying much yet?" or "doesn't she know how to say yes please?" blah blah-I get so emotional!

She has become very vocal recently with maing animal sounds and is very much on the ball communication wise but none of the words that come out sound of anything. I may just have to wait then by the sounds of things! Thanks everyone!