What to expect of a 15 month old boy re talking and language development?

[cantthinkofagoodone]

He has very recently started to chatter a lot of rubbish but we have very few words.

That
Cat
Ball
Car
Thereyougo (one word to him)
Dada
No
Ta

Thats about it and they're not all used regularly. Still no mama.

I feel like I talk to him all the time but not too sure what to do to encourage this.

Also no animal noises or anything. He did copy a neenaa noise the other day though.

Is this about right? I'm not really sure what to expect as I don't have any friends with babies the same age.

He's doing better than my DS was at that age, it sounds perfectly normal to me. By 16 months DS had about 4 consistent 'words' and 1 animal noise which he could use. He's approaching 19 months now and he's got quite a few more now (possibly 20.... but I've lost count), and learnt how to use yes and no appropriately. They seem to leap with it all.

I personally wouldn't worry. At 15 months he's still quite little on the language development front. My DD at that age probably said about that number of words, and now at 18 months it's more like 30. It happens really quickly. It took her ages to say Mummy - apparently it's not that uncommon!

In my group there are babies who use a great deal fewer words than DD at 18 months, and those whose parents report they already use three-word sentences (I am a little bit about this, but they definitely think they do!) It's just really variable, but I was told by the HV that by and large they all get to exactly the same point by about 3 years old.

This is apparently what you might expect by 18 months. Your DS has got ages to get to this point though and already has at least eight words which seems good going!

Children develop skills at different rates, but by 18 months, usually children will:

Enjoy games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake and toys that make a noise.

Start to understand a few simple words, like ‘drink’, ‘shoe’ and ‘car’. Also simple instructions like 'kiss mummy', 'kick ball' and 'give me'.

Point to things when asked, like familiar people and objects such as ‘book’ and ‘car’.

Use up to 20 simple words, such as 'cup', 'daddy' and 'dog'. These words may not always be easily recognised by unfamiliar adults.

Gesture or point, often with words or sounds to show what they want.

Copy lots of things that adults say and gestures that they make.

Start to enjoy simple pretend play, for example pretending to talk on the phone.

Sounds normal to me too :)

This was a list I compiled on my blog when DS was nearly 18 months old:

Look
Beeebeee (beep beep)
Dat (that, or cat, occasionally)
SSSS (meaning snake - hissss)
Raaa (meaning lion/tiger)
Gooo Gooo (in the tone of choo choo)
Ba (bye)
Where (but does not combine into a sentence)
Mama/Dada/Nana/Rama (grandma)
Bips (biscuit or drink)
Baps (apple, but used for all fruit)
Brr (ball)
Teesh (teeth)
Ta (thanks)
Do, do, DO! (one two three, not counting but leading up to something)
Dump (jump)
(Also possibly kick and duck/dog though I am not sure)

We also did baby signing and he had the following signs:
Milk
Food/drink
Cat
Dog
Elephant
Monkey
Cuddle (he uses this to mean that he can see a teddy or baby most often)
Duck

I seem to remember Mama and other names being one of the later sounds. Just keep talking to him :) It's not a race. FWIW, he was starting to put words together into sentences by 1 week after his 2nd birthday, so IME they tend to pick it up very quickly once they've started, but it definitely comes in fits and spurts.

DS1 at that age had 3 words, Mama, Dadda and More. That was it! He developed perfectly well and is a hugely articulate 6 year old who even by the age of 2 could speak in perfectly well constructed sentences.

DS2 had about 6 words at that age. He's 21 months now and has about 60 words but is no where near talking in sentences.

In my experience they have very little language at 15 months but then both of mine have had a language explosion from about 20 months onwards.

My daughter is 18 months old and can only just say 'tack' (thanks), 'ba ba' (bye bye) and 'nay' (no) she still doesn't say 'daddy' or 'mummy' and doesn't make any other noises apart from a sound like 'whooosi' (which my parents believe is 'who is it?') and 'bee a bee a bee a bee' whenever she's getting anxious.

I'm worried about her speech abilities too. She's got pretty much a full set of teeth, does that make a difference?

Sorry for the hijack, I just didn't want to make a similar thread.

Children absolutely do not all have the same language abilities at 3 as the HV says. If that was the case Speech Therapists would be out of work! I think at 15 - 18 months some children say very little but that does not mean they are not taking in what you are saying to them. Sometimes it all comes out in a torrent when they are 2. If they are still reticent at 2/2.3 I would get further advice. Also some children form words very poorly so cannot be understood. Therefore speaking proper words to them is a good idea. Not much point learning words you have to forget pretty quickly, eg moo moo instead of cow. Also read books with pictures to them and dwell on some important words. They get to recognise the characters/words and start to say them when asked. Eg ball, dog, hat, toy or similar easy words. Libraries should have baby books that are fabulous. Also music classes are brilliant. Do either of you have a mum and toddler music group nearby? Definitely go to one of these.

Thanks all. Glad that he's in the normal spectrum. I'll just wait & see how he progresses in the next year or so.

My ds said his first word at 15 months (cheers!), and now at 18 months I have lost count - probably 30ish, more if you include signs and animal noises.

It really does snowball once they get going. Your ds sounds like he's right on track.