Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

No words at 13 months. Should I worry?

23 replies

chickling · 10/05/2011 20:27

He can understand plenty of words and babbles away, but has no proper words yet. Not even Dadda or Mamma directed at us. He pretends to feed his cuddly toys, is great with a shape stacker, 'combs' his hair and gets the wipes when you ask him if he has a dirty bum! I just wish he would say a proper word and then I could relax a bit. Perhaps he'll go straight to full sentences! No walking either- just cruising. I'd love some reassurance.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

hefferlump · 10/05/2011 20:33

Hell No! He's doing brill ........ they all do stuff at different times - DS didnt babble at all and only started to speak at 17 months but went for 3 word sentences from the off!

NimpyWindowmash · 10/05/2011 20:37

My 13 month old is exactly the same, no real words but lots of babbling. She tries to copy what we say, for example if I say "good girl" a lot, she says goo gah. She seems to say mama, but I'm not sure it's meant with any meaning. She doesn't walk either I'm not worried because shes my #3, the others were about the same I think, although maybe a bit sharper on the walking. I expect it will all come together as and when.

He sounds absolutely great, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise - love the fetching wipes

2ddornot2dd · 10/05/2011 20:45

Nothing wrong with him at all. In fact he sems a little advanced for his age to me

mummissinghermind · 10/05/2011 20:48

Please don't worry, my d.d didn't really talk until 2, even then most people couldn't understand her!
But now OMG the non-stop chatter, i feel weak by the time she goes to bed.
Your baby sounds right on the dot.

brandnewme · 10/05/2011 20:52

Bloody hell.....my 13months old can't do any of that!! And i'm not worried about him at all. He's making different vocal sounds but nothing that i could honestly say are proper words, or his own words for things yets...except '0oo 0oo' for trains!

I'm impressed that he's feeding toys etc.....is he your first? I wonder if i'm more laid back as my ds in no3. Will be testing him tomorrow

brandnewme · 10/05/2011 20:53

And all he does with wipes is pull them one at a time out of the packet and makes a flippin mess with them

ChippingIn · 10/05/2011 20:55

He's doing just fine - you are a long way off needing to worry about whether he's saying any words or not - just enjoy the quiet while you can

Original poster

chickling · 10/05/2011 20:58

Aw thanks! Feel much better now. He is my first. How could you tell?! Women in work with babies the same age always going on about what theirs can do and then I go home and worry. He's a very happy, confident, much-loved child so think I'll relax a bit. His Dad and I never shut up so maybe he can't get a word in!

OP posts:

BestNameEver · 10/05/2011 21:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cheapFlower · 10/05/2011 21:58

I know there are 13 month olds out there who can say words but I have yet to meet one (and I have plenty of friends with young children!)

have to say your DS sounds pretty advanced to me. my DD couldn't do any of those that early.

Tigresswoods · 10/05/2011 22:21

DS is 14 months and your DS is doing some cool stuff he doesn't, I love the fetching the wipes thing.

DS also doesn't really have words. We like to kid ourselves that he has said a few things but he hasn't really.

WHat sounds like "gone" and "that" could just be babble?!?

It'll come.

Phewsers · 10/05/2011 22:21

Glad to see I'm not the only worrier around here. Your lo sounds clever and adorable.:)

AngelDog · 10/05/2011 23:04

My GP friend said that her rule of thumb was 3 words at 18 months as a trigger to find out more (and that doesn't necessarily indicate a problem if the child can use complex gestures to make their point).

My 16 m.o. can't do things like comb hair, pretend to feed toys or pass something when asked.

stressy123 · 12/05/2011 16:24

Dont worry about what other kids are doing. I know its hard but it really isnt a competition. My DS was refered to a speech therapist who told me that noises like Baa and Moo for animals count as words. Combing hair etc sounds pretty advanced to me

Original poster

chickling · 12/05/2011 19:47

Feel much better now! Everyone has been so friendly and helpful on here. It was my first time posting. Much more helpful than the cliquey women at my baby group and the competitive mums at work! A woman at work smiled when I said he was 13 months but not speaking and then said, "well...at 14 months you'd worry." Not the best thing to a first-time mum. Thanks all.

OP posts:

gkys · 12/05/2011 19:50

my ds1 used to practice his speaking at night before he went to sleep. and laugh at his little self, he wouldn't say it to us for ages

roadybar · 12/05/2011 19:56

I'm a speech and lang therapist and certainly wouldn't worry about no words at 13 months. It's all about the whole picture e.g. pretend play, understanding, communication in other ways etc all of which sounds like it's happening! I'm also mum of 3 and half year old who didn't speak til he was about 2 years old and now he never shuts up!! 2 years is quite late to speak though so if you get that far with no words would be worth a referral!

TheHappyCamper · 12/05/2011 20:09

I think he sounds very advanced as well!

My dd had no words at all at 18 months, but pointed, followed instructions etc. By 23 months she ony had about 30 words so we went to a SALT drop in. She had her hearing checked just to be sure, but guess what? Less than a month later (2 yrs) she now has 160 words! I am so very relieved ... can't shut her up now! (note to self to fnd something else to worry about)

Your ds sounds fine to me

NimpyWindowmash · 12/05/2011 20:24

gkys, that is such a sweet image

IThinkTooMuch · 12/05/2011 20:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FootprintsOnTheMoon · 12/05/2011 20:47

Sounds fine

sprinkles77 · 12/05/2011 21:07

My DS is 14 months. is at exactly the same stage as yours, well he can comb his hair (often with a wooden spoon) though not feeding the toys. I think its normal. And when he babbles something that sounds a bit like something intelligible and appropriate to the situation, I repeat back to him what it is I imagined he said. He never repeats it back. Does he make other kinds of vocalisations? Mine will click his tongue and has learned to hiss, so we say to him "what doessssss the sssssnake ssssay?" and he hisses. And if I say "aaaah, isn't the cat / baby sweet?" he'll go "aaah" back in a sort of patronising sing song tone. It's all communication, but no words, no crying out for mummy!

Original poster

chickling · 16/05/2011 19:57

He mostly says 'atta', which could be 'cat', 'out', 'hot' or just babbling! He says 'aaaw' when cuddling his toys and he does babble in what sounds like Chinese while pointing and gesticulating like mad. Not really worrying now after all the helpful comments. Had his hearing checked at birth and he hears and seems to understand everything. Thanks to all who posted. X

OP posts:

Flip