17 month old not talking much...

[lndngg]

My 17 month old boy isn't talking an awful lot.. I read online by 18 months most toddlers can say 30 words! He will say mamma, dada, dat there, go there and that's about it. He understands an awful lot, but is reluctant to talk. I'm panicking! As its the two of us at home during the day, I'm obviously quite good at knowing what he wants which is maybe why he isn't stretching himself.

What do I do? Stop panicking? Go to speech language therapy?

[mamarach26]

I was exactly the same, he would only say gog, mamma, dada, nana.
Now he's gonna be 2 in a couple of weeks and doesn't shut up! Don't worry and I've learnt not too Google anything

[NickyEds]

Stop panicking! 17 months is still very young. My ds had 2 words at 2 which is when we first took him to a SALT drop in, at which they said he was too little to worry. Understanding is more important at this age

[lndngg]

Thanks for the replies! He understands virtually everything. I think we might be a family if mumblers, spoke to my Mum this morning who said it took a really long time for my grandparents to be able to understand her.

[PlasticRejection]

17 months is tiny. My ds said about 3 words by 2. Then seemed to just sprout. He's 3.5 now and has a very extensive vocabulary.
I wouldn't be panicking. They all develop so differently. Sounds pretty good he understands what you say.

[ScottAndStonebridge]

I wouldn't worry. With my first I knew exactly how many words they 'should' know and when but with my second I haven't really paid much attention to it. They are 17 months too so that's interesting to hear! She can say a handful of words clearly and then a handful more in a way that only I could probably understand- definitely not 30! Don't worry as long as they are understanding and learning more over time they all catch up eventually!

[Equimum]

I'm basically going to repeat what everyone else has said. DS1 said way more than 30 word by 18 months and was confidently putting words together. He barely advanced from that point and at 2.4years we took him to the SALT drop-in and were told he did seem a bit behind. About two months later, though, everything fell into place and over the period of about one week, he went from unclear two-word phrases to speaking confidently in sentences. At 4, his nursery tell us he has advanced language skills and a very wide vocabulary.

DS2 is currently 16 months and says very little. He lets us know what he wants, but only really says mama, dada and teddy.

From our own experience, and that of friends around us, language really is something that happens at different points and in fits and starts, with sudden explosions and, often, frequent plateaus.

I would try not to worry too much for now, but if you are really anxious about it, maybe have a word with your health visitor.

[KoalasAteMyHomework]

As everyone else says, don't worry. Maybe mention it to your health visitor if you're worried but I think it's pretty normal . DS is 22 months and has stopped forming any proper words. I saw the health team and they said they wouldn't refer him until he's at least 2 or after his 2.5yr check up but by 2 they would expect him to say between 5 and 30 (I think 30. it's the 5 I mainly remembered as I feel it's like a goal lol)!

As long as he is babbling or making sounds then I imagine it's all fine :-)

You wait, a few months will pass and you'll be desperate for them to shut up for 5 mins!!

[KoalasAteMyHomework]

Forgot to say, if you aren't already then maybe make sure you are singing, reading and talking to him a lot.

[raspberryblush23]

I wouldn't worry about it either. My DD is 16 months and only has a handful of words- hiya, mumma, daddy, guy for her brother and ' I get' at everything else. Plus it's not that clear at this stage. It might be worth getting his hearing checked as my older DS had glue ear that affected his hearing a little. He then had grommits at 22 months and his speech improved considerably.