what age should they have words?

[ruty]

i am over the moon because 13 month old ds recently started pointing. Just wondering, when should he have words for things, even made up words? He doesn't appear to have specific sounds for specific objects. He says da da for most things, or ma da, he doesn't seem to apply them to me or dh, they apply to ducks and trees and everything! Just wondering if this is still ok...

thats fine.

varies enormously - first words from ds1 at 11 months. First words from ds2 at 20 months. Ds2 is now 2.2 and catching up fast...

ruty- chill- he's pointing Seriously I wouldn't worry about speech until well over 2 (and if at over 2 all non-verbal communication and understanding was fine then I wouldn't worry much- didn't- this was like ds2- until over 3- as speech can be worked on- and except in very very rare cases fixed).

thanks all - and yes, bakabat, i know, i shouldn't expect everything all at once! was just wondering how much leeway there is, but i feel so much better about everything now.

Ruty, DS (19mths) pointed from an early age (11/12 mths)and made plenty of "attempts" at words from about 14/15mths, but he was in no rush and still isn't. He says "Tractor" and "Digger" clear as day but won't say "Mama" or "cat" and has only recently started trying to communicate verbally when asking for things (very garbled!). I have noticed that the girls we mix with are far more advanced verbally than the rampaging boys who are more interested in climbing and running around!

that might be it lizzylou - he won't stay still for long, he loves to smile and point at other children so i'm not too worried right now.