21 month old who only ever says hiya!

[mickeylou]

My dd is 21 months and is not yet talking. She says hiya, yes and no very regularly but that's about it. She is a very active toddler and definately gets her message across but I am starting to worry about her speech or lack thereof. She doesn't even say mama or dada. She does a lot of pointing at things but doesn't attempt to say the words. She has a favourite picture book but just wants me to name the animals etc instead of doing it herself! Ant advice? Is this a case of let her do it in her own time or should I be paying the gp a visit?

I have a 20 month old who isn't much beyond this. He understands LOADS but doesn't say much.
Still doesn't say mum/dad but does attempt gran

we have clear yes/no/hiya/gonna get down/ball/car/key
key for thank you, psss for please, giggy for doggy/piggy/dirty

but mainly berm. this means i want.

I think as long as she can communicate with you and seems to understand you I wouldn't worry. I'm certainly not. My DS seems to be about right when compared to his peers.

I was told that kids tend to concentrate on one skill ata time and you mention she is very active. She probably concentrates on her fine motor skills and has no time for learning to speak .

My DD had turned 3 and still couldn't, literally, put two words together and the words she used weren't in double figures. Very worrying - went to speech therapist and got hearing tested.

One of the bits of advice we were given was to give her choices - instead of asking if she wanted juice - she was to be asked whether she wanted orange or blackcurrant. Plus not to understand her, deliberately, until she said/attempted to say the word. Apparently having three big brother and a mum who could understand her non-verbal communication delayed her.

At three she started nursery and I think this really helped too.
She is now 10 and is a well-spoken, articulate little lady who reads masses of books and writes lots of song lyrics (which are really bad!)

Well dd has got up this morning, and is her usual noisy self but no words except "no!" on the other hand she can work this iPad better than me and is trying to get out of the backdoor to go on the trampoline already! ... so I'm going to try to forget about it and hope the speech comes sooner rather than later!

Thanks for the advice - I'll try giving her choices etc. I do agree that she gets everything she wants/needs by gesturing or moaning so perhaps she sees no need for language!

She also has an older brother who never stops talking so perhaps it's a case of not being able to get a word in edgewise?!

You need to check her hearing. There is no reason to put this off.

My 22 month old says bye, no and dada. His hearing has been tested and is fine.

I was told recently by my GP that the important thing is that he understands pretty much everything and can follow complex commands such as 'if you are done with your breakfast, please bring me your plate, if not, please finish eating.'

By all means, get her tested, but don't be surprised if they don't find anything!

I wouldn't worry yet OP. We have 2 year checks here and my DS2 wasn't speaking at all then - he is now 2.8 and has a few words. Its hard when all around them of the same age are chattering away! The HV even at 2 wasn't particularly worried.

Justhalfwaythere - your DD sounds like him - he is also DC4 - we have just had hearing tested and our first initial appointment with SALT. She said exactly the same. We know exactly what he wants and he gets it with signs and gestures so why does he need to speak lol! We are just starting with the "choices" so wish us luck.