22 month old not talking much

[caramal]

My 22 month old says about 40 words but only uses around half of these frequently. Things like yes, ta,yoghurt, nan, gone, duck
Just starting saying a few phrases "I knew it" and "did a poo" can understand instructions like 'sit down' 'give the phone to mommy'

I'm getting really frustrated at "friends" constantly on my case about him "still not talking much" and then commenting that it's because he's not at nursery. He goes to toddler group, soft play once a week and has play dates too so lots of interaction with kids. I spend lots of time counting, singing and doing flash cards with him. He can count 1,2,3,8,9,10, knows the actions to head, shoulders knees and toes and wind the bobbin up. I think he's doing well and I'm not too concerned although he does babble away a lot. Does anyone else have a LO not saying a great deal? My DS is so active and hardly stops I think he will just blurt out lots of words when he's ready.

Sounds normal to me.
DD1 had about the same number of words at that age. At about 26 months, she suddenly exploded into full sentences and has not shut up since. She went to nursery from 11 months. I expect your DS gets more 1-1 attention from you than a child at nursery would get.

My son was the same and I was worried although everyone told me he was fine. When he was 2.3 I spoke to my hv and I was referred to speech and language but by the time his appointment came through I wasn't really worried anymore. He did start preschool at 2.5 and I think this may have helped. I also would make him ask for something instead of pointing. He is 3.5 now and his speech is pretty good now although there are times when he is unclear. If you are worried mention it to your hv.

My 22 month old hasn't managed to get 40 words yet!

normal, and actually there is no evidence that going to nursery advances language skills.

Thanks for your replies.
I do usually try to get him to ask for juice and say ta when he's given something and he asks for yoghurt after dinner everyday.
Yea he's going to go to preschool at 2.5
Annoys me how When people see him they expect him to chat away to them in length he's quite bubbly but would much rather be running about. Because he's very tall too and looks more like a 3 year old people expect more from him it seems

I have a severely s&l delayed dd, when she was 22 months she had 0 words. So to me 40 words is plenty. dd has only just reached that number at 4yrs
I would advise not to rely on speech coming on at nursery, often "busy" children find the environment too stimulating and busy for language development.
Smaller groups and 1:1 turn taking games like you are doing at home encourage interaction are often better for DCs language.

At 22 months many dc won't talk to people outside of the family unit. My 6yo won't talk to people she doesn't know well.

Do your "friends" have older dc? Or are they overly competitive?

That's not really delayed at all, they should have around 50 words and putting 2 words together by 2 - he is pretty much already there and has another 2 months to go til 2.. so he seems fine/normal? I would just ignore your friends

Two don't have children and SIL has 10yo and 7month old. Thinks its a mixture of both. SIL seems to judge me on a lot though I bite my tongue at her heavy drinking/smoking/constant swearing and sexual references infront of her 10 yo
I hate people who are overly competitive. He's been quite advanced in other areas took his 1st steps at 10 months and walking well by 11 months.. Wouldn't make another mom feel bad if their child wasn't walking by 1 year.

I think he sounds normal. DD is 20 months and has about 35 words - no sentences that I can understand and her only phrase is 'what's that'. She is delayed in walking and still not walking and other Mums are always asking me about it so I know how you feel. But I think you have nothing to worry about.

If they don't have children, then they won't know what to expect. If it was 8 years ago that your SIL had a child of that age then she won't remember accurately what they do when and what variation there is. 40 words sounds within the range of children I know and I have always been under the impression that the more they focus on the physical, the less they focus on talking.

He says more than my 22m old!

DS can put 2 or 3 words together (like "mummy where's ball?" "shut door please") but his actual vocab is quite small. I figure he'll get there in his own time. I have the same problem with people expecting more from him because he is bigger than average. He is very physical, so that must be his "thing".

Ds was 2 in November and has only recently started his language explosion and putting 2 words together.

He is dc4 and the others were talking much more by his age. However I haven't been at all worried as he understands everything and can make his needs known :)

My DH told me that he didn't talk at all until he was 2 years old. He is an English Teacher now :)