AIBU to be concerned about my 15 month old’s development?

[Rayofcloud]

Mostly posting here for traction, i know it’s probably not unreasonable but I would really appreciate others opinions.

My 15 month (almost 16 month) old babbles but doesn’t say any words consistently and the ones she does say are mama, cat, uh-oh, hi. Some days she doesn’t say anything at all.

She doesn’t shake her head yes or no (and doesn’t say these words either) and I don’t think she understands when i say this to her.

We have been using flash card of animals consistently every day but she does not even attempt to imitate the names or sounds the animals make.

She can wave, clap, point with her hand but again, not consistently/everyday

she can follow a simple instruction like ‘find the ball’ ‘give it to mama’

Should i be concerned or focussing on anything specific? The babies which are 15/16 months at the baby groups we attend are all much more vocal but i know i shouldn’t compare.

She sounds totally normal to me. My DS was the same at that age. As soon as he realised that language was a useful tool to get what he wants, his language exploded. So for example, if he pointed to his beaker of milk to get him to pass it to me, I would say “say milk” to him as has long as he made an attempt to say something that sounded like the word milk, I would pass him his drink. As soon as this clicked it was honestly amazing to see how quickly his words came.

He is now 7 and above his learning age in every topic at school. Please don’t worry, she’s still so young and you’re doing all the right things.

My sister was like this. I was old enough to remember my parents laughing about her being thick (!) but she wasn’t at all! I talked at 9 months but didn’t walk until I was nearly 14 months apparently. She walked at 9 months and didn’t talk until she was nearly 2. Grew up to be a B student at GCSE level. So she’s less intelligent than me but not hugely.

I think she sounds completely normal.

Normal development

Says more than DD did at that age. I don’t think I got a ‘mama’ until about that age let alone anything else. She has selective mutism but has caught up I’d say on speech development now. She was just slower to begin with from getting less practise.

Completely normal! But it’s so easy to worry - my eldest developed speech a bit later than yours is and I remember panicking and looking up speech and language therapists for 1 year olds. He’s now absolutely fine and chats away nineteen to the dozen at 4.

It could be worth looking up the ASQ for your daughter’s age - it’s the assessment HVs use and essentially are looking to tick about 3/6 statements in each area, it should hopefully be reassuring.

Completely normal. If you look on google there are so many websites that will say most children only use words consistently from 18-20 months. Yes of course some speak before this but on average it’s 18 months.

My DS was like this and was hardly sitting up, glaring and hardly communicating. I8 months was putting two words together and walking confidently. They all develop at different times keep going with everything it will appear shortly

Perfectly normal!

I have 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren. All different in their development.
The youngest grandchild 18 month boy is still babbling with few words but communicates very well.
His eldest sibling 5 year old girl had 200 + words at his age ( I only counted because she totally amazed all of us with what she could do at an early age)
Their 3 year old sister talks nineteen to the dozen but is difficult to understand and has speech therapy.
They are all different and as I say our 18 month old Is still babbling and we are not worried. Just enjoy every stage of your lovely little girl!

My DS didn’t talk (much) either. And then one day when he was two, he said, “I want sumping to dwink!” A full sentence! 😂

My eldest was slow to start talking and at a similar word count to yours at 15 months (didn’t change much until around 18-20 months) and she’s a straight A student currently. If they seem to understand, which you say she does as she can follow instructions, I wouldn’t worry too much just yet. Easier said than done though I know!