AIBU 19 month old not talking

[Plmoknijb123]

As above, just looking for some opinions/reassurance to ensure I’m not over worrying. My 19 month old doesn’t say anything. She babbles and points etc and understands some of what I say but no speech! Health visitor said wait and see but i just want to check from others that this is normal? Or should I be doing more speaking activities? She is at home with me all day.

My DC at 19 months only had a handful of words - like mama, dada, baby etc - really only a few. Then when they turned two it’s like he swallowed a dictionary - never shuts up now and will repeat every new word and learns new ones every day.

Talking to a mum in the park the other day I was surprised when she said her baby was only 22 months because she was a real chatty patty, I assumed she was quite a bit older because mine was nowhere near that before 24 months at least.

If HV isn’t too concerned then try not to worry, my second is a pretty quiet baby too, we do lots of nursery rhymes, lots of easy fun picture and word books, i narrate everything I do with them And I do a lot of “mummy is doing XYZ”. And I point everything out on our walk “can you see the dog, look at that tree” etc etc

at that age spoken language is not really that important and it's much more important that they communicate (gestures etc) and understand. If she understands what you are telling her and can follow simple instructions, I would not worry.

Neither of mine were speaking much at that age. Now they never shut up! (Seriously, they are both very articulate and well ahead of their ages in terms of vocabulary and expression. The older one is doing well in her foreign language learning at school as well.)

I would recommend talking lots to your LO and reading lots of stories, including speaking about what you can see on the pages and asking her to point things out. Also, ask her questions generally at home and when you are out and about (and try not to answer them for her) and encourage her to ask for things rather than giving them to her/doing them for her automatically.

Baby signing is great for babies/toddlers who aren't speaking yet, in my opinion. Allows them to communicate with simple signs if they don't yet have words, and helps with language development generally. (Plus it is fun!)

My 18 month old just says mama and bang and spl, she understands alot. Not worried yet she was late to roll, sit, walk I'm just keeping talking to her and playing with her and remembering especially this year children have less opportunities to socialise with family and groups (baby toddler groups) which I'm sure has an impact I think if there not talking by 2 a referral is made x

My DS grows up bilingual and I was worried that might set him back, so at 19 months he has a handful of words, now he's 22 months and repeats lots of words, points at things naming them etc.

Don't stress mama, give your child time - understanding and non verbal conversation aka pointing and babbling is already a great start x

Thank you all!! Very reassuring, I will keep on with reading and ask more questions

and ask more questions

don't ask questions. Any Salt will tell you that you should not do that. Model language, keep it simple, comment a lot but please don't start asking lots of questions.

My DGS is three next March and he has very few intelligible words and certainly doesn’t speak in sentences. However, he never stops “verbalising” and gesturing. I don’t think DDiL and DS are worried about him.

I had one child that was an extremely early talker (first word 9 months) 12 word sentences Crystal clear sentence by 20 months, one average and 2 with speech delay.

Yes yes yes to baby sign

Yes yes yes to modelling language.

They make a sign or point at something they want you go "you would like train", serving breakfast "here's your toast and porridge"

For both of mine it was completely different hearing issues, one of them was pretty unintelligible at 4 still. Her understand was fine, she conversed as she played but she was very difficult to understand until her hearing was sorted. The other one was delayed and then a near selective mute at pre-school and reception until her hearing was sorted!

So keep an open mind on his hearing too, with auditory processing they can hear but it's sounds very distorted so how they speak is distorted to use if that makes sense, fortunately it can be treated!

My ds1 was exactly the same. When he was just under 2, I made a list of all his words - including the ones only his doting parents could decipher - and he had only 36. He had easily caught up, before he went to school - indeed, he could talk at great length in his specialist subject (trains), without hesitation, repetition or deviation, until his poor listeners glazed over and backed away.

He went on to study Law at university - which requires an ability to argue and reason aloud.

My little boy is two next month and its only the last month or two he has even really started saying mama. I was a bit worried but he seems to have picked up a few more words lately so I'm just letting him go at his own pace.

I will add he does clearly understand what we say to him and will follow instructions. He's probably the only one in the house who does what I ask!

I would promote sign language. The book 'it tales two to talk' is great. If her receptive language is good and there are no other warning signs it's most likely to just be a speach delay. I would get hearing checked though.

I work in this arena, here is a list of what a typically developing 18 month old is doing. Remember it is only a guide and from what you say your child seems to be about right.

I wouldn't worry at all. If understands simple instructions (i.e., has receptive language) and points (i.e., demonstrates shared attention), that's what is important at that age.

At 19mths I wouldn’t be worrying too much. The best thing you can do at this age is keep talking to them. Narrate what you are doing and what they are doing so they hear plenty of relevant vocabulary and how sentences flow together and show interest in what they point and gesture to so they know it’s worth communicating with people.

My second still only really said yes, no and mama at two. Then his language exploded and now he won't shut up. Sounds normal to me.

@pumpkinseed

I'm not meaning a Mastermind-type grilling or necessarily expecting verbal responses - just meant asking simple questions eg to point out things in books or point at something they want, etc as it helps encourage communication.

parentresourcesblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/questions-development.pdf

Agree with what you and others have said about modelling answers.

just meant asking simple questions eg to point out things in books or point at something they want, etc as it helps encourage communication

offer choices by asking questions: apple or banana? not open questions in the sense of what is this what is that. I have a child with speech issue and was told to avoid these.