AIBU to worry about kids speech developments?

[LucinaLu]

I have boy/girl twins going on 14 months, who at the moment only use the word ‘ta’ to ask for something and ‘aaaahhhh’ to stroke people’s faces. They can say mama and dada but don’t use it to refer to us. I’m overwhelmed with different viewpoints online about when babies should be able to use words and some places make it seem that kids my age should be able to near enough start reciting poetry! On the other hand my health visitor once told me that twins often develop speech later because they have ways of communicating with each other that gets rid of the need to talk to us. Is this true? Is she crazy? I’m hoping for input from parents of singletons and multiples alike... when should I start to panic?!?!

In nicest way.. .you have unrealistic expectations.
Panic never helps.
It's job of HV to monitor & take action if needed.
Don't think my singletons said mama/dada meaningfully until nearly 2yo, btw.

All babies are different. Ds1, had several hundred words by 2, he took part in a university study because his language was so advanced. Ds2 had a lot at the same age, but nowhere as near. My niece and nephew had about 20 words at that age. But by 3, they were all talking the same.
Some children speak earlier, others will go to bed with 10 words and wake up with several hundred. There is no right or wrong way, and please don’t compare them to others, I know we do it automatically but they are individual tiny humans. As long as the HV is saying they are fine, then they are fine. They will do it in their own time when they are ready- then you won’t be able to stop them!

My two eldest singletons didn't really say many intelligible words until they were 2. My youngest spoke clearly, in sentences, from 16 months.
All deemed normal. It hasn't held my two eldest back in any way - oldest got Greater depth in all her subjects at Primary.

At 14 months it s way too early to panic.
Do everything you doing to encourage communication
use makaton signs to supplement
Read books look at photos of their daily life together
Offer choices
Milk or water?
Etc
At 18 months review with hv.

when should I start to panic?!?!

Certainly not now! Give it another 6 months and you can be a little bit concerned. It’s true what the HV said and it may affect your 2 or it may not. At present there lack of speech is no different from the average singleton.

parent of a child with a severe speech/language impairment here:

at 14 months, saying word is not important. At all.

what is important that they understand what you say to them (at that point simple sentences/instructions) and that they communicate with you (non verbally, pointing etc). if that is there, I would not worry at all at that point.

So encouraging so far! I’ve always been the type to compare my achievements to others, I categorically do not want to begin doing this to my babies. I think I ABU.

Gosh my youngest didn't understand anything he was supposed to, either. Such a turnip brain. Rather unlike the average MNer tot. He did need speech therapy (productive only, mild sound confusions, starting age 4yo). This was not a big deal. He's done well in school since (now in secondary).

Gosh my youngest didn't understand anything he was supposed to, either.

but it can be a sign that the development is not on track. mine didn't either. turns out she has severe autism and LDs along with a severe speech and language impairment. delayed understanding was the first thing that we and HCP picked up on. There is no need to 'gosh' about it.

I mention my experience to anecdotally evidence that the range of normal development is wide.

13/14 months is about when mine started saying real words. Around 12 months is bang average I think so while they are not mumsnet prodigies they are really quite typical. This lined up with what I saw in their peer group - some were earlier and some later.

Once the words start coming a trickle soon becomes an avalanche. See where you are at 18 months.

At 14 months I would worry. It’s atill incredibly young. How are their non verbal communicaton skills because there are just as important as actual speech and their understanding?

My was a really late talker. At about 16 months months I took him to the HV who said they don’t expect much speech until at least 18 months. He actually didn’t speak until 4 though!!

DD was also delayed speech. They would refer her to speech and lanaguage until 2 as in our area speech therapy won’t accept referrals until then.

So at 14 months I wouldn’t worry. Children often make sudden and unexpected leaps in their development.

Just realised how bad my grammar is ^^ sorry.

If everything else is on track and no other concerns; play is developing: they imitating etc and they understanding basic speech then wait a little.

14 month twins? Definitely nothing to worry about as yet. 14 months isn't a worry. If it's any help, I know it's only hearsay, but I worked with a doctor who had twins, and said they were slower to talk than his other children because they had less need to... their non verbal communication with each other was excellent, and obviously sufficient for them. May be worth researching? Regardless, 14 months is too early to worry I think.

I googled and this was the first link: www.tamba.org.uk/Parenting/Preschool-Years/Language