should I be worried.

[mummy2aisha]

I was looking at what a 18 month old should be able to do now I'm worried.
I read they may be able to speak 15 to 20 words make phrases or put together pairs of words and talk more clearly.
I have to say my daughter says two word mama and dada. It also says they should be able to point and recognise object in books I cant say she could do that. I was wondering can your or could your child do these things at 18 months when do you start to worry about your childs development.

One of my nephew's was around 2 before he really started saying anything. He's 3 now and this range is only recently started to get more broad.

My beautiful niece is 18 months and she can't yet say anything. I have seen no sign of her recognising anything in a book either. She is bright, lively, interested and mischievious.
These charts and guidelines make dangerous reading. I know it is a cliche but babies develop at their own rate. Pay no attention and enjoy your lovely baby.

FWIW my dh's father didn't say anything until he was 4. He is highly intelligent and very successful.

If you read around, you'll see these "guidelines" change depending on the source.

Some say as as long they should be joining words together at 18 months, some say not until 2. Some say 50 words by 2, some just say as long as they've got a couple by 2 then not to worry.

I only read them out of interest really, and to see what she's likely to be working on doing next. I don't pay any attention to the timescales.

don't worry, I never read any of these guidelines, as they just cause anxiety and worry. Your dd will develop at her own rate, just keep chatting away, playing, singing and she will get there. My dd2, just turned 2, and is only just beginning to put words together, and is now picking up all the words she needs very quickly. All 3 of my dc have been vastly different at all these different physical and verbal 'milestones', but they are all happy, alert and intelligent children in their own ways.
p.s. my youngest sister did not speak at all until she was over 3, and she got 1st class honours- first in her class from Cambridge .

Well, my 17mth dd says very little -dada, oh dear (o jar)yes (e) and babbles all the time. Sometimes I wonder if she is talking, its just Im not listening - as in, maybe she is saying real words its just I havent deciphered them.
She can point to things in books though, mouse, cat/dog, tractor, bed...but we've practised this for ages and get loads of library books.
Im sure theres no need to worry.

DD1 had a handful of words at 18 months. She did have 40 or so by two (yes I counted, as I think you will!). She is very very articulate now (aged 6). Honestly, it really is true that they develop at different rates - or maybe it is just that they put their energies into different things at different times. A lot of kids who speak well at this age have been drilled by their parents.

I wouldnt be too worried, i would expect some words by two and pointing to things she wants and/or interest her by eighteen months. Have a word with gp or hv for a bit of reassurance. The book baby talk by sally ward has useful tips on encouraging communication , shld be in the library

i am a childcare worker, i had a lotof experence with the children, dont ever compaire your child to any other children at this age, as the speach age not the same for all the children, I had a child over 2 and didnt pronoce other words than mum, dad, I was worried about him after 2 to4 months he become normal at his speach, and one think that we learn at child care, that developemnt of children is deffents, so dont be worried at all, take him to his normal GP check, and just relax, one day he will surprise you.

my DS will be 18 months in two weeks and he can't say anything - not even mama. And he couldn't point to a cat or dog or duck in a book.
But he can make his wishes known. He points at the tv and hands me the remote in the evening to tell me he wants TV, and if he's hungry he drags me to the kitchen and points at the cupboard where i keep his food. So i'm really not worried about his intelligence levels and the speech will come in time.
Some of the mile stone guides are ridiculous saying that babies should be able to speak as early as 12 months. I think you need to take them with a huge pinch of salt if you bother reading them at all.