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AIBU?

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Original poster

About my 16 months old speech? DH thinks I am....

76 replies

QueenofmyPrinces · 04/12/2018 11:47

I’m worried about my son’s speech as he seems to be behind when compared to other infants his age...

He can say:

(the words in brackets are how he pronounces them if he says them different to how the word correctly sounds)

Mama
Dada
Quack quack
Bath (bah)
Cat (cah)
Ball
Book
Teeth
Shoes
Bye
Bear (beh)
Bird (burr)
Car (darr)

And that’s about it.

He hums/sounds along to songs that he recognises and to theme tunes to recognises of cartoon programmes my 4 year old watches.

His understanding is good, I have no concerns with that.

He babbles all the time, he is never quiet but I’m worried that he should be saying more? Shouldn’t he be saying basic words like hello or milk etc? He doesn’t even attempt to say his brother’s name.

He is also a picky eater and someone told me that fussy eating and poor speech can be signs of lip ties but also signs of autism?!

I’m now worrying about it even more than I was and thinking about contacting HV/GP/Dentist etc whereas my husband thinks I’m completely overreacting.

Would you be worried?

OP posts:
SoHumble · 04/12/2018 12:18

I’m a Speech and Language Therapist. He’s meeting the developmental norms for his age. No need to worry.

CrazyOldBagLady · 04/12/2018 12:19

At this age it’s normal for a child not to say very much. As others on the thread have attested, some children don’t say much at all until two and then it all comes rushing out.

As long as his understanding is good, you don’t have to be concerned about speech at 16 months. I read this in a book written by a doctor of psychology whose career was focused on children’ development between birth and three years, so confident that it is correct and you should not be concerned.

howmanyusernames · 04/12/2018 12:20

Blimey, and there was me being pleased my 14 month old constantly babbles! Our LO says Mama, used to say Dada but now doesn't, will woof if the dog does (but also woofs at any animal), grunts and points, and is constantly babbling.
He's just started walking so I was super happy about that, and have always thought that children develop when they're ready. I'm not worried about him in the slightest as he is growing, changing daily, and doing more and more each day, and I can see that.

He is also starting nursery 2 days a week in January, which I know will help him.

KoshaMangsho · 04/12/2018 12:21

Entirely normal. There is a language explosion that happens between 19-21 months. But he’s not even 1.5 yet- many kids are not even walking at this age. Aren’t the majority of toddlers fussy eaters?! I am a little concerned about how anxious you are about a child who is well within the parameters of normal development. If you are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety please go to your GP- I know it’s a horrible feeling.

BruegelTheEIder · 04/12/2018 12:23

Sounds totally normal to me.

Both mine had only about 10ish words at that age, and their language acquisition exploded between 18 and 24 months.

Amanduh · 04/12/2018 12:24

Sounds perfectly normal and even slightly better than a lot his age.
I don’t know an under 3 who isn’t a picky eater!

JudasPrudy · 04/12/2018 12:25
Biscuit
UpToonGirl · 04/12/2018 12:25

Echoing everyone else, he sounds pretty normal. You say his understanding is good which I'm sure I read at this sort of stage you only need to be concerned if there was very little speech and no/not much understanding.

Fwiw my son is a few months older and probably similar in speech but I can see he understands verbal instructions so I'm not worried. Well, understands but doesn't always comply... My Christmas tree is being decimated!

Scotinoz · 04/12/2018 12:27

He sounds fine. At 16mths both my kids said nothing. At 5 and 3and a half, they talk constantly

notsohippychick · 04/12/2018 12:29

He’s 16 months. He’s fine. Take it from someone who has two children with ASD so I know about speech delay.

Maryann1975 · 04/12/2018 12:31

I wouldn’t be concerned about your ds speech. Children, especially babies, vary so much in their development and it is completely normal for children to be ahead in some areas, but behind in others. Occasionally you will find a toddler who is ahead with a lot of areas, but normally, for example, if their speech is really good, they are late to walk, or if they are feeding themselves, then they aren’t so good at creative stuff, do you get what I mean, they aren’t good at everything. Try not to worry about it if your child is generally similar to his peers. If they are behind with a few things, speak to the hv, but honestly it does generally all even out over time.

pigsDOfly · 04/12/2018 12:31

He's fine.

Stop comparing your child to what's happening with other children. Some children talk/walk/throw a ball/hop on one foot, the list is endless earlier than others, some a little later.

Ceecee18 · 04/12/2018 12:31

That sounds completely normal at 16 months. DDs the same age and says about the same number of words and does a few animal sounds and the nursery have said that her speech is good. As far as I'm aware a health visitor would only begin to be worried if there's were no words or babbling by 16 months.

Toomuchworking · 04/12/2018 12:32

That's loads more than my 15 month old says, I have friends and families whose kids didn't speak at all (or anything anyone could understand) until past 2 and all have completely caught up. Don't worry yourself unnecessarily, just enjoy the cute babbling! Boys do seem to tend to talk a bit later too.

cantfindname · 04/12/2018 12:35

I would actually say to make the most of it! He will soon be chattering non-stop Grin

My daughter had similar worries about Grandson.. believe me he never ever stops talking now.

RatRolyPoly · 04/12/2018 12:36

16 month old dd says "quack quack" and "byeeee"... and that's it.

mumsastudent · 04/12/2018 12:36

ahem- language delay is not in itself a symptom of autism & in fact when dc have (what was previously known as!) Aspergers they state that language delay may mean its something else! What you are describing where a child understands & reacts ie can I have the big ball/brick or your cup or the teddy or the car & he gives it to you - may well be word holding. Your dc has an older brother who may speak for him? What is his pronunciation of those words like & do you have a family history on wither side of late talkers? My oldest dc didn't talk much in nursery but within a term there the teachers said (with a grin!) she wouldn't shut up! check dc can hear properly clicking fingers behind his back on each side etc. whisper do you want a biscuit from the other side of the room ...

Original poster
QueenofmyPrinces · 04/12/2018 12:40

Blimey - I am genuinely surprised and I’m now embarrassed that I asked if it’s normal Blush

I think it’s because he was quite late to do other things that it’s always on my radar. For example, he’s only started waving bye bye in the last month whereas everything I read told me that’s something they should be doing at 9 months old.

He doesn’t play games like pat-a-cake or peek-a-boo etc but then again it’s not like I play it regularly enough for him to pick it up.

He isn’t interested in baby toys whatsoever as he just wants to play with his older brother’s (aged 4) toys. He couldn’t stack some stacking cups if I put them in front of him but that’s because he’s never been remotely interested in them to learn the skill if you know what I mean? The same with shape shorters.

I do try and get him to play with infant toys more so he develops those skills but he simply doesn’t want to know and instead just goes running off to play with his brother and his batman figures and dinosaurs.

He goes to a childminder two days a week so is with other young children then but otherwise he’s with me, my DH and our other son.

OP posts:
TaurielTest · 04/12/2018 12:42

As PPs including a couple of professionals have said, his speech sounds entirely normal. I often recommend this book to friends with babies/toddlers if they ask me about language development, it's very good, taking you through all the stages and explaining cool things you can listen out for:
www.penguin.co.uk/books/113/11386/listen-to-your-child/9780140110159.html

Houseonahill · 04/12/2018 12:43

My 21 month old says about 20 words I'm not worried because she is trying new sounds and making progress, she said hello at 18 months and nothing else so as long as she is improving that is the important thing. Also if I remember correctly 10 words by 2 is the goal before they would start looking at a speech delay.

SoHumble · 04/12/2018 12:46

Waving is a skill usually seen by 18 months, not 9 months. (I’m a SALT)

Batteriesallgone · 04/12/2018 12:48

Yes it sounds normal BUT don’t deny your instincts. If you think it’s worth a chat with a HV, give them a call.

A decent HV should send you out the questionnaire on development and then offer to catch up in 3/6m time to see how he’s getting on.

If you suspect you may need to get ‘in the system’ there’s no harm in finding out about the process early on. You have to push water uphill a lot of the time and if you’ve been consistently engaged with a HV who has you on their radar that can be very helpful.

Alternatively in 6m you may wonder WTF was I even worried about. Who knows haha

Musicaltheatremum · 04/12/2018 12:48

My DD is 25 now. At 2 she had a handful of words but understood a lot. 2years 3months she started speaking in sentences and she hasn't stopped since! Her favourite pastime on her hour walk home from work is to call me or her grandparents for a chat and she does all the talking 😂😂

SoHumble · 04/12/2018 12:49

It’s 10 words not including mummy/daddy by 18 months we usually look for. And 2 word joining by 2 years.

DuploRelatedInjury · 04/12/2018 12:52

Sounds perfectly normal - probably more actual words than my 16mo DC2 and I've no concerns about her speech and language, whereas DC1 (who has been diagnosed with ASC and global delay) At 16 months she didn't even babble, let alone understand anything much.

I'd be more concerned if he didn't seem to have much understanding of language (as that comes first) and wasn't trying to communicate with pointing, waving etc but if that's fine I wouldn't worry at this age.

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