What would you expect from almost 1 year old?

[Sofiegiraffe]

In terms of development, I mean. Specifically the following:

1. How many words would you expect them to be clearly able to say? Not necessarily the full word, but recognisable, eg "mama, dada, nana", etc.

1. Would you expect them to be able to recognise pictures and verbal words, e.g. if you presented them with a picture book and said "where's the apple?", would you expect them to be able to point to it?

I appreciate all babies develop at different rates, I'm just wondering what you might expect generally, of the average 11/12 month old?

Possibly dada /mamma. But would not worry if the baby is not saying them. I think Any sounds a baby makes is them learning/practicing for when they do learn to talk .

No I would not expect them to point-to-point a picture in a book if I say what it is .

If you Google 'ASQ + their age' you'll get the questionnaires health visitors use to assess development, it gives you a rough benchmark of the sorts of things they may be able to do (although they don't need to be able to do them all!)

Thanks for the replies. My baby can say "mama", "dada" and "nana" (meaning banana, she loves them and says this when you show her a banana). She doesn't recognise any pictures in books or point at them yet. I'm asking because my friend's 10/11 month old can recognise things in a book like apple and point to it. I'm wondering if my baby is behind.

At 11/12 months I wouldn't expect much in terms of words, maybe 'mama' 'dada' but not all babies will at such a young age. By 18 months you'd usually expect up to 20 words according to NCT. Only just a year is really young still, there will be outliers who use words earlier but 12-18 months is the range you'll start to hear recognisable words for most babies.

I spoke to my HV a few weeks ago as my 2 year old (2 years 3 months to be exact) wasn't speaking much and she said it's not uncommon but by 2y 5mo they usually have a massive development- she was absolutely right! In the last 2 weeks he has more than doubled his words, become a lot clearer and started using longer sentences.

Pointing to things in books again 11/12 months is still early, they might be able to point out something very familiar or something in a book you read to them often and have pointed out before but I wouldn't be concerned if they weren't just yet.

Your baby is absolutely fine! Do NOT compare, and also don’t believe a word of what friends tell you about their baby’s development!

@Sofiegiraffe

Thanks for the replies. My baby can say "mama", "dada" and "nana" (meaning banana, she loves them and says this when you show her a banana). She doesn't recognise any pictures in books or point at them yet. I'm asking because my friend's 10/11 month old can recognise things in a book like apple and point to it. I'm wondering if my baby is behind.

It's easier said than done but don't compare your dc with others. Development is really complex and so varied it doesn't do anything other than stress you out.

The age range for development in babies and toddlers is huge.

Your baby isn’t behind OP. It will really vary at this age. DD1 could say the exact same words as your DD at that age whereas DD2 was more like your friends child, both were considered normal. And it could be that your friend has sat there repeatedly encouraging that in her child. DD2 could only do that as DD1 insisted on ‘teaching’ her and poor DD2 had to sit for ages listening to her, whereas DD1 spent a lot more time following me around ‘helping’ me.

Oh and DD1s in reception now and is doing really well so it hasn’t had any impact at all.

My son didn’t say a word until he was 19 months old. He’s a bright articulate 3 year old now.

All children develop at different rates and comparing yours to others will only cause anxiety.

Thanks everyone, that's reassuring! I will stop comparing as it's pointless if there is such a huge range of normal. So hard not to though sometimes!

Is it a book your friends baby is used to? If so then it's just been "trained" to know that's the apple in the book. If you put a pile of fruit in front of them I don't expect they'd actually know what an apple is.

At just a year old your baby is fine. You've got a long road ahead and comparing your child to others would be a good habit to get out of now. Easier said than done I know!

DS is 14 months and at the same age, was saying mama dada and caaaaa (for cat).

He had no interest in sitting down with us reading to him, because he was off running and climbing anything in sight.

Now it’s less of a novelty so will sit down and point to things in a book, but he has no additional words, even though he understands pretty much everything.

A friend’s son at the same age could say about 6-8 distinct words and point to things in books, point to his nose when you asked where it was etc. But compared to DS, his physical development is nowhere near.

So they all have their own things that they excel at, and other things to catch up in & it all balances out ultimately.

@Sofiegiraffe

In terms of development, I mean. Specifically the following:

1. How many words would you expect them to be clearly able to say? Not necessarily the full word, but recognisable, eg "mama, dada, nana", etc.

1. Would you expect them to be able to recognise pictures and verbal words, e.g. if you presented them with a picture book and said "where's the apple?", would you expect them to be able to point to it?

I appreciate all babies develop at different rates, I'm just wondering what you might expect generally, of the average 11/12 month old?

Look at the asq for a 12 monther.

My 19month old couldn’t point to an apple in a book. She’s stubborn as hell tho and won’t do anything on command 🤣

Do not compare yours with others. Everything is on a wide schedule. I know a kid who walked at 9 months (did look weird) and one who didn't til 2, both ends of the scale I imagine. Both are healthy active teens now. I know kids who can count to ten and recite the alphabet backwards at some ridiculous young age and some who can't til much later. So what?
There are things to be aware of, however. But these are outside normal behaviours and your mum sense would be tingling. As long as milestones are met within reason don't worry. And some milestones they pass by - my son never crawled for example (he's a personal trainer now). If you are ever worried ask your local baby clinic (or equivalent).