DS1 21 months not many words- cause for concern?

[ProlificYoungGentlemenBreeder]

My PFB has a few words not all 100% correct pronunciation. Mumma- not mummy, says W ( we're) instead of William for his brother. Ca for cake, bir for Bird. Will say Gone.
All gone, uh oh and mwah for kisses.

He understands a lot and can complete simple instructions- pick the bottle on the floor up.

I'm just worrying, what can I do to encourage more speech? He babbles all the time, he's coming up for 2 and I'm worried.

Help please!

Should add I read with him, we sing songs, I'm ditching the dummy at the moment which is going well.
I tell him what I'm doing all the time and he "talks" all day long it's just all babble really.

At 22 months my DD could say yes, no mama, dada and a wierd version of her name. She babbled constantly and signed many things though. She could follow instructions....but just did not say words. She did not even do that copying thing most children do...you know where you say ball and they say ba.....

I mentioned it to the HV who said if she was babbling and following instructions then not to worry yet, just keep reading and talking to her etc......if she was still not talking by 2 they would look into it.

Then by 2 she was chattering in sentences..........and has not stopped since and her pre school teachers are very impressed with her vocab!

My 21 month old is exactly the same - he calls his older brother (William too) Wah-Wah. He doesn't finish the ends of any words.

Fingers crossed he will be talking by two as the frustration on both sides is becoming exhausting!

Same boat! 20 month DS will babble words. Can say-
Ball
Bye
Bath
Mum
Dada
Dun dun (dummy)
Jake(baby jake!)

Maybe a few more too! He's really trying to say more but struggling a bit. Not worrying as much now! They'll be giving us headache with their chattering before we know it!

It's really hard not to compare children isn't it? My 4 children have all been fairly 'late' talkers - v. similar to the OP - and everywhere there seem to be 18 month olds talking in sentences (like my niece for example), and other parents telling you how their 12 mo has over 100 words....
My health visitor told me (with DD1) that they only worry if a child has fewer than 4 recognisable words at age 2 - and that benchmark has helped me allay my fears no end. All of mine now talk very well, including DD2 who is deaf - they fit the usual MN stereotype of being unusually gifted in every way of course... and of course Einstein didn't talk until he was 5. I say don't worry!

speak on short, clear sentences and repeat key words fo the sentence.
repeat key words such as More, Finished, Drink. Repeat them a lot
play games such as blowing bubbles, so you sit on the floor, count 1-2-3(wait) GO and blow bubbles. Make the waiting time a bit longer and try to encourage your child to say GO or make any sound at all, then praise. Say loud POP when you pop the bubble.
Don't ask your child to repeat a word or ask too many questions, try to model the words.
Try to encourage to make sounds such as car sounds, sirens, train sounds, animal sounds. They are more fun than words!
Try to have activities that will encourage muscle development of the face and mouth, such as blowing bubbles, drinking with a straw, blowing out of a straw, giving lots of food that is hard to chew such as raw carrots.
Check out a book called It Takes Two To Talk. It is expensive but check at library. Let me know if you want any more tips I have loads. My son has a severe speech disorder so we do and did lots of things with him. But he didn't babble before 2.5 and babbling is a very good sign.

you'll be suprised how quickly all the babble will turn into words!! lol
i dont think you need to worry at that age my girl was he same.
now if i say do you want your bottle?
rather than just say no, she insists on a sentence and will say no mummy i dont want my bottle. lol!
and that all developed within a couple of months [busmile]

Similarly, our DS is 24 months and doesn't talk like his sister did at the same age. Apparently he should have about 50 words by now - he's got some, but not nearly that many. They include Daddy, Mummy, Milk, That, Ball and Are... he's definitely got "are", no question about it... ... I'm counting it!

We're not too worried - he understands and responds correctly with his actions when we talk to him. And the words he knows, he uses in context. The doctor and health visitor both said nothing seems to be wrong - so he'll no-doubt catch up.

Thank you all so, so much for your kind replies. I am printing the thread off and making points to go through.
Blueberry: thank you, your advice is great, I may pm in the future for a few more tips if you don't mind?
I'm going to buy bubbles and do more with straws too.

I feel much calmer reading this.
Thank you.