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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this unusual?

53 replies

thewheelsonthebus23 · 13/05/2020 17:49

This isn’t a boasting post, although I’m sure it comes across as one on here.
My almost 19 month old can count objects 1-10. Today he did it on our walk, he counted 10 sheep poos! And when we got home he counted 10 objects from his tea set and then 10 books later on. This has all come on suddenly, but he can’t speak very well. Although he understands mostly all instructions I give him e.g. “can you please go and get your shoes” and most words.

OP posts:
meow1989 · 13/05/2020 17:50

Is he counting or saying the numbers? Ds can count to 10 and has been for a while but only started counting this week at 22 months.

Likewise, he can sing the ABC but doesnt know the letters (though can recognise some numbers) if you see what I mean.

HollowTalk · 13/05/2020 17:51

He sounds great! You'll probably get a slating on here - AIBU attracts a bloodthirsty crowd - half of their 2 year olds have a PhD by now. Take no notice of them and enjoy your time with your lovely baby.

RedCouch · 13/05/2020 17:53

That's brilliant op. My little one was the same, loved numbers and was counting from a similar age

It's not boasting, my girls 3 now and amazing with numbers and letters, but won't even try potty training, kids all have strengths in different areas

Daftapath · 13/05/2020 17:57

Saying 'go and get your shoes', do you point or look at them at the same time? Do you ask him just after putting your coats on or when you are putting your shoes on?

If yes, then he is understanding the context and not the words. At most he is understanding only one word 'shoes'.

As for counting, depends on whether he is counting or just saying the words.

It's great either way but he also needs to learn lots of nouns and verbs in order to communicate with you and start to put words together. Counting is not going to help him communicate Grin

MouthBreathingRage · 13/05/2020 18:01

My two were and still are great at picking up numbers. I was amazed, I can barely add 2 + 2 Grin. Sounds like she's doing great, watching them learn is amazing, isn't it! I'm appreciating now, before they become procrastinating, grumpy teens Smile.

MouthBreathingRage · 13/05/2020 18:01

Sorry, he's doing great. Hopefully my kids will read better than I do as well...

Original poster
thewheelsonthebus23 · 13/05/2020 18:02

I know, I’m just wondering if it’s strange he can’t actuwlku communicate with me properly yet, but can do the counting and yes I think he is counting. I may be wrong. He may well be like his dad who is very good at numbers! I don’t have a brain for numbers, on the other hand!

OP posts:
Original poster
thewheelsonthebus23 · 13/05/2020 18:02

*actually

OP posts:
Pipandmum · 13/05/2020 18:03

My dog will go find his ball when I ask him to and he can't speak at all.
But seriously that's great and counting sheep poos a good way to learn! Making learning fun is very encouraging no matter what age.

MouthBreathingRage · 13/05/2020 18:04

It's great either way but he also needs to learn lots of nouns and verbs in order to communicate with you and start to put words together. Counting is not going to help him communicate

Always someone. He's 1 and a half, he'll get there with the talking Hmm. Why say something that might make a parent worry, honestly.

MrAlyhakinsMassiveYacht · 13/05/2020 18:04

My friend's then 9 month old said "hello you baby" to my then 9 month old. She mainly just grunts now she's a teenager though Grin

Marshmallow91 · 13/05/2020 18:06

My 15 month old has a vocabulary of around 30 words and phrases- most of them two or three sylabbles. She can also work my washing machine, other than turning the dial because she doesn't have the strength. She can understand when I ask her to put x thing in x place, like go put your shoes on the shoe rack. She can tell you where all the dogs toys are and can show me where things go, like when I'm making a coffee or my partner doesn't hang up his coat. She recognises colours and differences between things like car, van etc.

But she's still not feeding herself 75% of the time and can't walk yet. She also can't stack blocks more than two high.

Every child has their strengths and weaknesses.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/05/2020 18:07

If his DF is good with numbers then that's probably it. DS was counting at a similar age. DD was mostly smearing food in her hair. They're all different Smile

AuroraBore · 13/05/2020 18:08

Make sure you nurture this potential in your child. "It is our duty in life to discover where our greatness lies"—perhaps your little one has already done that.
Start teaching him basic number sense and see how he gets on with that. He'll probably love it!

AuroraBore · 13/05/2020 18:10

I recommend How to Teach Your Baby Math by Glenn Doman.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/05/2020 18:13

I’m just wondering if it’s strange he can’t actuwlku communicate with me properly yet.

He's very young to be worrying about this yet. Maybe do the progress checker for 18 month olds here and see what they says about his speech but nothing you've said so far would indicate a problem Smile

PipGirl404 · 13/05/2020 18:13

I'm disappointed there's no sarcastic comments about babies who can do the dishes and can recite poetry yet...

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/05/2020 18:15

I recommend How to Teach Your Baby Math

Is it just me that read that as Meth? Maybe once he's cracked that you could try him with making MDNA?

KKSlider · 13/05/2020 18:15

Counting is a form of communication, maths is a universal language and is the same the world over.

I remember ages ago I watched a documentary about how babies and toddlers learn and even very small babies can count. They did this experiment where they showed the baby or toddler some puppets and then put a screen up to block their view, behind the screen the researchers either added or removed puppets or changed nothing and then dropped the screen. In some cases they showed the child how many puppets were being added or taken away but faked the numbers (e.g., showed the child two additional puppets being placed behind the screen but they actually only placed one). In cases where the number of puppets had changed or was not the number the child was expecting, the babies and toddlers showed surprised reactions even those babies who were too young to speak.

DrawingLife · 13/05/2020 18:24

I think it is unusual, actually. Many children start speaking at that age and may be able to say numbers. But if your DS is actually counting, as in, connecting the words and the number of objects, then yes, I'd say that's early.

KKSlider · 13/05/2020 18:28

DS "counted" at that age but really he was just repeating the pattern hed learned from us, same for his alphabet.

helloPig · 13/05/2020 18:28

my DD started talking at 8 months (unequivocally pointed at the dog and said ‘dog’) and was having full conversation at a year.

she didn’t walk until she was 14 months and didn’t have a tooth in her head til 11 months. they all develop at different rates.

your DS sounds fun, OP. encourage his talents!

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 13/05/2020 18:30

What @KKSlider said.

It's like repeating the words of a song, not actual counting.

Majorcollywobble · 13/05/2020 18:31

@Marshmallow91
Love the syllababbles x
@MrAlyhakinsMassiveYacht
So funny x
She’s advanced - most teenagers are still walking on their knuckles x

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 13/05/2020 18:40

It's great either way but he also needs to learn lots of nouns and verbs in order to communicate with you and start to put words together. Counting is not going to help him communicate

Fucking hell! Take a day off.

Sounds good OP. To tell if he is counting or just saying the pattern of words he remembers you could put two toys down in front of him and see if he knows how many. Then try with 3 then 4 etc.