12 month old doesn’t say any words yet

[Duran31]

Hello, my LO turned 12 months a week ago and he isn’t saying any word sounds yet. He also hasn’t started to point towards objects that he wants etc. Every time I google this it immediately brings up the suggestion of autism. Has anyone experienced the same with their child and could offer any advise? Is this just a case of every baby is different and takes a bit longer or should I be speaking to my GP?

Thanks!

[Footlooseandfancy]

It's fine. They usually start talking between 12-24 months. In my area you won't get a speech referral until after 2yo. Just keep reading, talking and communicating. And put Google down, it suggests everything could be autism.

[Duran31]

Thank you for the reassurance! Google is definitely my worst enemy ha! I’ve been reading everyday with him so hopefully it will come naturally soon :)

[Ginfordinner]

12 months! Of course he won't be talking yet!

Please don't worry. 12 months is very early to be saying any words.

[Itisbetter]

I would say it’s not “fine” and you should take him to the GP and say you have concerns about his development.

Nb autism is not the end of the world even if that is the cause, but there are MANY other conditions that could delay communication and most are significantly helped by focused support(eg a child with hearing impairment given hearing aids early can learn language at a more age appropriate time)

[lifesalongsong]

Are you sure you're googling 12 months

I don't remember my children saying anything before 18 months, even 2 years isn't that unusual

[Mrsjayy]

Is he babbling and interacting? But tbh at a year old I wouldn't be too concerned just keep talking and asking him questions if he isn't responding to anything have a word with your HV or Gp and stay off the Google.

[Liverbird77]

Same boat here, although my son is 20 months.
I've had him referred to speech and language with no quibbles, however the waiting list is 18 weeks.
If you are concerned, act sooner rather than later and at least get him on the list. You are his mum, trust your instincts.

[EugenesAxe]

Maybe get his ears checked rather than thinking it’s autism.

A child should certainly have verbalisms like ‘da’ ‘ma’ ‘ga’ by one year and many will have said a word. I don’t think I’m being all MN ‘My DS was reciting Shakespeare at 8 months’ by saying that, either.

My sister’s baby is 10 months and can say their dog’s name. My DS was certainly saying things like ‘all gone’ at a year old. He pronounced it ‘guh goan’ but had hand gestures and context that made his meaning clear.

[Lockdownseperation]

If you are concerned then speak to your HV, they should be doing a 1 year check soon although it maybe over the phone.

Does he say dadada and make sounds?

[formerbabe]

Ive never heard a 12 month old talk

[Mrsjayy]

My eldest was speaking at a year old so babies do talk that young.

[Abitlikeabiscuit]

Hi, SLT here. This wouldn't concern me at all on its own. At 12 months I'd be looking to see if your little one enjoys spending time with you playing games (e.g. peekaboo, tickles, nursery rhymes) if they'll direct communication to you through noises or gestures and if they are making babbling noises (e.g. babababa or mamamama). Keep using lots of fun simple words in play ("boo!", "yay!", "wee!", "uh-oh!", "pop!" etc) and chat to them throughout the day about what takes their interest.

[formerbabe]

@mrsjayy
I've read it before on here but irl I've never come across a talking 12 month old. What do you mean by talking? Babbling or actually able to form sentences?

Also a one year old can be anything from 12-23 months. I'd be much more surprised at a 12 month old talking than a 23 month old even though technically they're both age 1.

[EugenesAxe]

I should say that my DS prioritised talking - walking didn’t come until 16 months, so if your DS is a real mover this may be why speech isn’t as strong!

As others have said a lack of babbling would be more concerning, or a lack of response. In case it helps, here are the 9- and 12-months pages of a development book I have (job related BTW).

[Mrsjayy]

Well no not sentences but she had clear words at 12 months maybe about 12/14 it was nearly 30 years ago so I can't quite recall them all.

[DivGirl]

Mine had basically zero words until 18 months. He's two and a half now and I cannot get him to stop talking. He talks all day. It drives me up the wall.

12 months would be very very early to be talking.

[Abouttimemum]

DS is 17 months, only started pointing about 2 months ago and doesn’t really say anything either. Nothing that I can understand anyway!!

[Abouttimemum]

And he has a physio and paediatrician because he had issues at birth and they are happy with his development. 12 months is still very young.

[RodeoDive]

My 13 month old says mamamama or dadadada generally to refer to us (I think) and certainly understand things like "shall we get a banana?" even when he can't see one or "give to mummy". But otherwise, although pretty vocal, doesn't say anything that I can really understand!

He's absolutely loving walking and climbing and generally moving, though and is reasonably stay on his feet for quite a long way independently.

Amongst his friends of a very similar age, they're all developing these things at really different times. I honestly wouldn't worry about it at this stage - there's so much variation!

[Duran31]

Thanks everyone. I would say that he is babbling, but not as clearly as some other 12 month olds we know. He mostly makes ‘ah ah’ sounds to communicate and will throw a few other syllables in now and again. He does seem to understand no when he is trying to get into things he shouldn’t! He is also walking and is very much on the move!

I’m hoping that we will start to see some development over the next few weeks! It just seems that he is so intent on exploring anything and everything but not fussed about talking.

[Itisbetter]

I don't remember my children saying anything before 18 months, even 2 years isn't that unusual I think it IS quite unusual.

He isn’t pointing, or talking, so I would want to check he doesn’t need extra support.

[seayork2020]

I don't remember my son doing anything much 12 months except breaking wind

[Scubalubs87]

Don’t stress OP. 12 months is still tiny and there is such a range in development at that age. At nearly 2 my little boy still doesn’t have that many words, and I’ve had bouts of panic over the the last year. I was forever looking for signs of autism, I’ve taught many autistic children, and google is definitely not your friend! But, what is clear Is that my son has focused on physical development. His fine and gross motor skills are exceptional for his age - he’s more mountain goat than toddler. It’s also apparent that he understands an awful lot more than he says. He follows commands, ‘chats’ all the time, engages with other children and adults with good eye-contact and is able to communicate his wants astonishingly well considering his lack of words. Yes, his speech development is on the slower end of normal but I won’t get a SALT referral here until about 2 and half and as he is displaying other communication skills I’m not too worried at this point.

If your little one is babbling and engaging with you at this point I wouldn’t worry too much. Just watch and wait and seek support if you feel it’s needed. Try not compare him to others either, hard I know, but they really all do develop at their own pace.

[WeMarchOn]

Mum of 2 Autistic children here, my oldest she was able to have full conversations by 2 (started talking at 1)
My other daughter couldn't talk full sentences until she was 3.5
Autism varies and it's really really not what Wikipedia says!
If you had said he was 2 i would be concerned but not at 1 x

[KitMarlowesCodpieceOfthigh]

I didn't talk until I was three. I'm NT - I just didn't talk. But when I did, I went from nothing to basically full sentences.

Try not to worry, OP. 12 months is very small. My DD is nearly 18 months and she has two specific noises - 'Ab! Ab!' for something she wants to play with, or 'Mmmnyomnyomnyom' for milk. She's a happy, curious, playful, interactive little girl and I'm not worried at all