In worrying that my 17 month old has a speech delay - posting for traffic

[AlwaysWantedToBeATenenbaum]

My DS is 17 months old and at the moment he's only saying mum - no other words at all. I talk to him all the time and try and get him to copy me but he dosen't. He also hasn't clapped, waved or pointed yet. The only thing he does is put both hand soap in the air when we say "yaaay". Has anyone else had an experience like this with their little one's that can re-assure me? I'm going to phone the health visitor in the morning- it's just upsetting me so much when I see other toddlers saying lots of words and phrases. Feel like a failure of a mum.

One thing the speech therapist advised for DD that might help was using single words a lot. So rather than saying its bathtime now, we say bath and repeat it a few times leaving a pause incase she tries to copy, and we point at it. Same with any toys shes playing with I will say 'car' for example a few times and point at it rather than using the word in a sentence.

She only makes a small range of sounds still so I try to use those eg trying to get her to copy 'baa' for sheep and baba for her brother rather than his name, as I know she can do 'b' sounds well but doesn't copy any other yet.

Thank you all so much for your experience's - I've had a wee cry reading them but they've made me feel a bit better. I've written down all the advice so we'll start that and I'll look at the links. Just waiting for the health centre to open so I can give them a phone...

Thank you so much for posting this, it’s so great to hear how other people’s children have progressed. I currently have a 19month old tucked up in bed. At 15 months the only words were mum, dad, nan and just the occasional wave. I feel so stupid because it wasn’t even a concern up until then. I’m a first time mum and was chilled thinking they all do things in their own time. It’s only when I was at a little show and I looked around and all the other children were clapping. I must admit that was heartbreaking, I’m tearing up thinking about it.

Then it all changed, suddenly the pointing started wanting to know what everything was (like everything door handle, taps, radiator etc). Now clapping all the time and waving. Waving at people along the road and in the supermarket, it silly but those simple things have made me feel happier.

As regards to words, uh oh, umma umma (when it’s nice food), 7 animals noises, hop hop hop, pop pop pop and ready. I would just like to point out that you know what is being said all though it’s not all perfect. For example I ask “How does the cow go” and the answer is “maaaa”.

From that point I really paid attention to what my child knew. I guess I didn’t really ask them to get anything so then it was like where’s this, can you get this, put it on mummy’s bed. I know understanding is definitely there. Also lots of imaginary play, even saying at dinner for example where’s potatoes on the plate. Just every opportunity I’m showing and I guess testing that they are getting it right.

All I can say regarding the pointing, I got a load of new books and just started saying where’s this where’s that. I did it all first then took all hands away and then they had to answer. Hope that makes sense. The pointing at trees , cars and everything else followed very soon after.

I’m still frustrated that it’s still such little speech but when I think about the progress that has been made in such a short I know I must continue to keep positive.

It’s such a stressful time. I must of gone without sleep for a week at first. So I’m in a much better place now, although still worried but I guess that’s a mum thing.

Thank you so much for starting this thread.