15 month old doesn't say any words

[lurcherlover]

...He babbles non-stop, but there are no actual words there yet. The developmental milestones which I know I shouldn't read but do all say that they typically say two or three words at 12 months...but it's OK that he hasn't, right? He points at things and does a chimp noise when he wants something (eee, eee, eee) and he understands some things ("do you want milk?" gets a big smile, "No!" gets an incredulous look before he does it anyway ) so I'm not worried about his comprehension. I just saw an article yesterday that said babies who are delayed talkers at two years old are basically screwed for life so obviously I'm now panicking (yes, I know he has nine months to go...)

well I hope that you are wrong about the 'screwed for life' bit, as ds has a speech delay (18 months and only makes squeals and squeaks, no consonant sounds, very little babbling, no pointing - but does 2 makaton signs - 'more' and 'mummy' - proud mother!) he sees a Speech and language therapist and she seems to think that now words at 1 year is ok, as long as there is some sort of communication going on through babbling, gesticulating, and understanding of what others are saying to him.

I think it also depends what you count as words. Ds did sssss for snake at this age and I didn't count it as a word but reading some threads on here people do seem to count animal noises as words. He used to make a squeaky noise when he saw a teddy and I've realised now he is saying Ted-da (I'm obviously so tuned in to him!).

He was signing for milk at around a year so that did reassure me that he was trying to communicate, perhaps give signing a go. I asked hv and she said they don't expect words at 1 and only really pay any attention if they have no words at 2 and even then they look for the kind of stuff you describe.

Put down the articles! (I'm just as bad...)

hazey, sorry I was being a bit flippant there - I should've phrased it more tactfully. I just read an article that said intervention in Reception for speech delay at age 5 is way too late, and we need to be intervening with two-year-olds who have speech delay if they are to stand a chance of coping at school. But as you are already seeing a speech therapist at 18 months I'm sure all will be fine.