Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Almost 17 month old not talking yet

59 replies

CathyandHeathcliff · 21/02/2020 20:46

I’m a bit concerned as my 17 month old is still not saying words.
He says “Daddy” and “No” when shaking his head. He’s started doing the “ssss” sound for snake as we do it when reading the gruffalo and pointing out the snake.
He understands mostly everything we say to him, he points to his body parts when asked and can follow instructions without a problem.
His spoken vocab is severely lacking and I have to admit it’s starting to worry me.
He does babble an awful lot though and I think he believes he’s talking properly.
Apparently by the time they’re 18 months they should be able to speak more than 10 words.

OP posts:
BeanTownNancy · 21/02/2020 21:00

My eldest hardly said anything, then randomly started counting to 10 in the bath one day about a week before his second birthday. Hasn't shut up since.

Every kid has different priorities, best not to stress unless you think your kid is actually struggling.

ethelfleda · 21/02/2020 20:59

Absolutely no need to worry OP. DS was about the same at that age - he suddenly got to 19/20 months and his vocabulary exploded.
He is 2 years 3 months now and his speech is ahead of most others his age (according to his nursery) he is talking in full and complex sentences and sings full songs and can recite some of his favourite books (e.g. gruffalo, room on the broom etc) almost from cover to cover.
I really really wouldn’t worry yet!

ambereeree · 21/02/2020 20:58

@stopgap I'm glad you posted that. My little boy is nearly 2 and doesn't say much at all.

stopgap · 21/02/2020 20:56

My youngest didn’t say anything until he was 2.5. He did have speech therapy. He was a gregarious, active little toddler, so was just a bit slower to talk. He’s now 6, a total chatterbox and really smart.

CoodleMoodle · 21/02/2020 20:54

My 19mo doesn't have many words OP. He says Mum/Mama, Dad/Dada and Nan/Nana. He says "buh bye!" but not always in context. He makes a couple of animal sounds, and that's it. He also understands pretty much everything we say, and has done for awhile, but doesn't always respond (usually because he doesn't want to!).

I wouldn't worry too much just yet, OP. My DD was exactly the same and then one day she woke up and just... talked. She's 6 now and talks nonstop! I think as long as he's babbling and understands roughly what you're saying (or is starting to), then he'll be just fine.

3luckystars · 21/02/2020 20:51

This would not worry me at all, so long as he is understanding you.

If it bothers you though then you know him best, you could ask the public health nurse. Is he due a developmental check any time soon?

Hellohello2020 · 21/02/2020 20:50

Sorry, meant nearly 3

Hellohello2020 · 21/02/2020 20:50

Sounds about right. A few people in my family didn't speak till they were two.

BlueVeins · 21/02/2020 20:48

Stealth boast that he understands everything? 17 months is FAR too early to worry.