To think that an 11 month old does not have 50 words?

[spugzbunny]

I was casually googling 'how many words should my baby speak' yesterday and I came across a thread where numerous people swear blind that their baby can speak 20 odd words, some saying up to 50! Am I right in thinking that's madness? Any more tiny, chatty genius babies out there?

My eldest said his first sentence at around 8 months (daddy gone) and had loads of words by a year. His baby brother didn’t say anything till he was much older. They are all different!

My oldest genuinely did. I didn't know what was normal but HV said she was very ahead in terms of speech. She's 2.5 now and I'd say, watching her with other kids the same age, it's levelling out. They all develop at different rates but end up in the same place. For example, same DD didn't walk confidently until 15 months while looking around - about 12 months seems average. But hey, she's walking now.

My eldest probably had this many words by 11-12 months, started talking at 10 1/2 months and hasn't stopped 9 years on. But she was (and still is) much less physical than the younger. Younger one probably had about 10 words by similar age, but was much more physically able - I need eyes in the back of my head for the younger. The older one just followed me round and chatted ALL THE TIME (and still does!) and I never needed to worry about her climbing on anything.

Yep, some babies definitely DO have 50 words by 11-12 months old (some many more.) Whether the parents with late talkers like it or not.

Those babies, who have 50 words at11 months. Are few and far between,but they are on the exectionally high IQ category.

Those babies, who have 50 words at11 months. Are few and far between,but they are on the exectionally high IQ category.

I don’t think that’s correct - there isn’t much correlation between early language and intelligence.

Some do, but it's unusual. Most are nowhere near and some have none. Language develops differently in different children, and early development doesn't mean that child will always be ahead. In my family, one GD was very advanced with her language skills very young, her sister was very late in developing them. I'd say they are both equally articulate now a few years down the line, i.e. both of them can talk the hind leg off the average donkey.

Riddley I have read of a few, they were very intelligent children, one had a Mensa IQ of 175.

Ha! My ds1 said virtually nothing until he was 2 and then only a few words until he was 3 and a half. We were referred to SALT but they said not to worry. At 5 and a half he's ridiculously articulated

@newnameforthis7 - it's so weird that none of them go to baby classes. Maybe that's related, that the baby is only ever with adults so they learn a lot more words sooner.

I have noticed some people have included some made-up / half-pronounced words in their lists in the thread, which I don't think is technically correct in how you're supposed to classify words are they should be independently understood. My baby consistently says "mmmmmm-mmmm" when he likes food and wants more, and he calls his drum "ooom", but they aren't words.

DS1 was speaking in full, complex sentences by 18m. I have videos of him following me around and saying things like ‘I wear rocket onesie. Who got me rocket onesie?’ He’s now 7. He is v v v bright. However he’s also v shy, quiet, slow to make friends and his gross motor skills have always been on the weaker side.
DS2 is under consultant care so I do have to make a list of words he can say. He’s now 2, I would say he has about 150-200 words and can put together 2-3 word phrases and the odd 4 word one. ‘Let me go Mummy’ as I try to change his nappy. His gross motor skills, despite his prematurity, far exceed his brother’s at this age.
Both my kids can understand a second language but can’t speak it.

Some do genuinely get language early, others catch up. Some parents are also massively over generous in what counts as a word. I knew one woman who thought her ~1 year old had hundreds because every time he babbled something which vaguely resembled a real word she'd count it even if it was totally out of context and he never said it again.

My DS had many many words by 11 months and spoke in sentences at 12 months, there's a car, there's a bus, there's a bike, whilst pointing at what he was describing.

He is the life and soul of any gathering and can talk to any age, children to adults, he is now 21.

His younger cousin is 11 and didn't speak a word until he was 3 years old. He also never shuts up now.