17 month old has no words

[HurZle]

My 17 month old DS can't talk at all - no discernible words whatsoever, not even mama or dada, no animal noises etc. He babbles a lot but 0 words in context. He waves, babbles, shakes his head for no and seems to understand what we are saying but no words at all. He's a very physical child so just wants to be zooming about all the time. My older DS was slow to talk but he definitely had a few words at this age. Should I be worried? I'm generally fairly laid back but I would have expected at least one of mama/dada/hello/no/bye at this age.

If his understanding seems ok, and he is interacting with you ok...then I'd just suspect he's a busy boy!
Two of mine were late talkers... one didn't have any speech until over two, the other 3 (he had glue ear) but once they started they caught up rapidly.
My Grandson had nothing until first word at about 19m ...he is 4 now and never stops talking... or moving... he's such a physically active little boy who needs wearing out like a giant puppy!

I would definitely get him checked for glue ear though, it's not obvious (DS2 didn't have any ear infections) but when he had grommets put in the stuff poured out!

sounds on the bell curve of normal to me OP, do you think he is understanding words? Sometimes they are busy focusing on a physical skill and words take a backseat and then vice versa

My July 24 baby just about says ball and hiya his sister had many more words at this age

Do not worry they will come, after 18 months mine just started fully talking!

My daughter was quite ‘early’ with talking compared with other toddlers at playgroups etc and she still had no words until 18 months. From then on she picked up more and more each day whereas we did know a few kids who were still saying nothing at 2. I always advise people not to worry unless they get to 3 and aren’t talking - all the toddlers we know started talking a lot between 2 and 3 and now at 8 you wouldn’t know who had been the early talkers and who the late ones.

I'd be much more concerned if he isn't understanding. If you are happy he can understand and is responding appropriately non verbally then I don't think you have anything to worry about. Non verbal communication can be very effective and if carers are attentive and understand then the urgency for words might not be there. It will come in time. He is probably focusing on physical skills right now.

I remember worrying so much about one of mine who did this and now rarely stops talking, in case it's any consolation.

@HurZle i know this is fairly recent but has your wee boy come on many this past month. My wee one is coming 17m soon and much the same except not a lot of babbling either.