Will someone put my mind at rest please.....

[imgoingdowntown]

I'm a first time mum and my DS is 15 months. I'm really worried that he isn't talking as much as he should. I'm also unsure of what his speaking ability should be like at his age. He can understand perfectly...he carries out instructions like "climb the stairs to go to your bath" "give me your dummy" and can equate things like he finds the remote control of I mention fire man sam. It's just that he says very little. Dada, tea and all done. I just worry that I'm listening to other mothers with children of the same age and they're telling all things their DC can say and I'm worried that my DS isn't making progress with speaking. I know I'm probably BU but I don't have any other children and Id just like some reassurance. please.

[StampyMum]

My DS was a late talker - he only had about five words (two of them completely invented) until he was about 2 and a half. Then he suddenly started talking and JESUS CHRIST HE NEVER FUCKING SHUTS UP NOW. He's a very bright seven year old, but yeah, be careful what you wish for

[OddSocksHighHeels]

Well the fact that he obviously understands you makes me think his hearing is ok. Do get it checked if you're worried of course.

He's very little still, people like to brag and I think he's very normal. Not one person on this thread has said otherwise actually so I'm glad we've helped you relax a bit.

[lovemakespeace]

Haha I agree my youngest nephew didn't really speak at all until he was about 3.

He is 6 now. He has spent the 3 subsequent years making up for it!!!

My daughter is 16 months OP. She has very very strange mobility / lack of mobility. But I figure she is her own sort of normal. She did however pick up a napkin in a restaurant today, hug it and call it "baba" which is what she calls her dollies!! They all develop in their own weird ways :)

[middlings]

What Stampy said. Only mine's a DD and she's only 3

On her return from pre school this afternoon, when asked to remove her coat and boots, she threw herself on the stairs and shouted "Oh Mummy, it's IMPOSSIBLE!'

Yours'll be grand too.

[imgoingdowntown]

lovesmakespeace you've hit the nail on the head. They've got they're own kind of normal. They're fascinating wee creatures and I'm just unduly nervous I think. odd i think the bragging makes it worse. No one seems to be able to say "yeah they're bang on average with speaking or walking" my MIL makes out like my BIL was was walking talking and toilet trained by the time he was 14 months. He should be in bloody Mensa!

[OddSocksHighHeels]

middlings you have a Peppa Pig fan too don't you? That's where DD got the impossible from with me anyway

Yes the bragging is awful. My own mum said my DD was behind because apparently I could walk at 6 months and had over 100 words at 12 months but you have to take it all with a pinch of salt. They develop as they do and the slow talkers may well grow up to be the most intelligent. We just don't know! Try to relax as much as you can with it and let the bragging go over your head.

[Seriouslyffs]

Oh I wish I'd kept track of when mine spoke and what the said! DS was very delayed nearly 4 before he spoke but understood everything and do sweet things- he'd run away when I offered him a drink or food and it took a friend to point out he ran to his chair to be served- I'd thought he wasn't interested.
He has completely caught up and very bright now.

[GloGirl]

The HV told me if he couldn't say a single word by 18 months then that was the time to ask for further help. Your DS is doing really well!

Don't compare to the chatter boxes he sounds normal for his age. My son was similar and is older now and we have lovely conversations!

[middlings]

Is that where she got it!?! Hilarious. She was a devotee until about six months ago but we haven't watched it in a while - I thought it was a pre school thing.

Oh yes, the geniuses of previous generations. My dear grandma claimed my Dad was fully toilet trained at 9 months and I spoke fluent French (thanks to her) at 2!

And don't listen to others - therein madness lies!!

[OddSocksHighHeels]

It could have been pre school. My DD kept saying it and then I watched one episode with her and realised that was where it from. Disgusting featured highly too.

I'm sure I should have solved world peace by now going on my child genius status.

[Italiangreyhound]

Imgoindowntown talking sounds fine. You asked I'm really worried that he isn't talking as much as he should. Is that milk and solid foods or specifically milk? Is he on breast or bottle or just cup of milk with foods? If you are worried his weight should be the best gauge of how he is doing, IMHO.

But you can ask the health visitor or doctor for advice next time you are there. Keep a record of what he eats before you go, maybe. And try not to worry. It sounds good. And ignore braggy mums, my friends kids were eating roast dinners from he blenders before we had found bananas, or so I remember it (wrongly!)

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

He an say some words.
He can hear instructions
He can understand

This is all good.

My ds was talking in 5/6 word sentences by 15 months, but he still wouldn't walk. He also didn't get the hang of toileting until he was 4.

Dd said about 5 words until her 2nd birthday. Then picked up a few more. Now at 2 1/2, she chats away in her own funny way.

The skills they learn fastest are things that interest them and things that they get to practice.

[Italiangreyhound]

IGNORE! I thought you said TAKING as much as he should.... I thought it was talking and food! IGNORE ....!!

[Lariflete]

DD spoke better Spanish at 15 months than English because of Dora the Explorer

[LilaTheTiger]

I looked after a little boy who was walking at 9mths, running at 12mths, but didn't say a word until he was 22mths.

We pulled up on the drive and he said "Ah lovely, we're home."

(and then he didn't stop!)

[OddSocksHighHeels]

Italian food can get competitive though, it's true. My DD has never eaten a full meal I don't think. She's healthy and happy.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

DD1 only had odd words until she was three, and then suddenly spoke fluently in sentences. She walked at 11 months though. DD2 could argue with you, completely fluently, at 16 months, but wouldn't walk until she was 20 months. We used to have discussions "When are you going to walk, DD2?" "I don't need to. Everyone brings me what I need..." She walked and decided to potty train herself in the same week. They are all different.

[Mmmmcake123]

I really think you shouldn't worry. Myself and friends have laughed about milestones our parents reckon we met, such as potty trained by 6 months - am probably exaggerating but that's how it felt at the time.
My DD was referred to a speech and language therapist at 2 to 3 I think as she wasn't using 2 word sentences. The salt gave me advice and it was mainly not to just give her what she wanted without looking confused, e.g. dd pointing at fruitbowl saying 'gape', wait for her to say 'want g(r)ape', I had to model the phrase 'you want a grape?' And wait for her to say it (within reason), it took a bit of practise, but once I held back a little she became better at requesting things. The best advice is always offer options, e.g. hold a carton of orange juice in one hand and apple in the other. Ask very clearly do you want apple or orange. Try to get her to say the word. My DD BTW passed 13 GCSEs grade a and a* so don't you worry about anything.
My DS at the age of 2 had very little speech, he is ASD but unlike your little one his understanding of verbal instructions was simply not happening, e.g. get your shoes in a very clear sing song way just led to a blank face.
Your lo clearly understands instructions so the language will develop methinks

[imgoingdowntown]

Oh god they really are all completely different, aren't they? italian easily done after a long day!

[musicposy]

I've got two girls - DD1 only had a couple of word-like sounds at your DS's age. At just under 2 she went from saying nothing to talking in short sentences almost overnight. I have a video of her at 22 months and she doesn't utter a sound - just shakes and nods her head. But by her 2nd birthday she was quite fluent. It was all going in, I think, as she could follow instructions, but nothing much came out until she was very nearly 2 years.

DD2 was a complete chatterbox extremely young; people used to stop me in the supermarket and ask how she was talking as if I'd worked some kind of trick! To my shame, I know I used to boast about my amazing speaking baby

Both are teens now. I'd be very hard pushed to say who is the brightest. How early they did things seems to have made no difference to their abilities now.

I really think if he's understanding, it means nothing. It doesn't mean the supposed child geniuses around you will do any better than him long term. They all do their own things in their own time. Relax

[imgoingdowntown]

Ah you ladies (and maybe some men!) have been really helpful tonight. I'll sleep a bit easier knowing he seems pretty in line with others! I'll be honest, the fact he carries out instructions has its benefits...fetch the remote control for mama

[MrsMolesworth]

They do stuff at different stages. he's saying a few words, so that's a good start. One tip to make them speak is to ask them what they want without looking at them. So when they are hungry ask 'biscuit or apple?' without turning round and wait for him to say. He'll talk soon enough. By age four you'll be desperate for him to shut up for two seconds.