Should I be worried?

[Raisinbrain]

DS is 21 months and not talking. He sometimes says "yes" but he doesn't have any other words.

He calls me, DH and his brother all by yelling "daa"
He waves with a rotated wrist for hello and with opening and closing fingers for goodbye.
He makes a "nnnnnn" sound for no and shakes his head.

I'd like to get him checked out but DH thinks we shouldn't worry.

I think it's much too early to worry. Most kids get going with words between 18 and 24 months, and it's not a linear process.

I would go and get him checked out. The minimum is 6 words or appropriate sounds (eg bmm for car) at 18 months, so he's definitely into the intervention stage.
In our area the wait for SALT can be 12 months, so better get on the waiting list and say "actually it suddenly clicked when he was 22 months and he now doesn't need it" than find you're putting him on the waiting list at 2yo and worrying that now he's severely behind and bottom on the waiting list.

Thanks

I think at 21 months this is fine, but some children's centres have a drop in SALT session.

How is he in other areas of development?

Try and describe play and things he is doing. Also don't worry about correcting when he calls someone something different, say yes that is Mummy. Ask questions and even if it doesn't make sense respond as if it does such as
Are you playing with the blue car?
Yes you it is going fast
They start with one word then string two together but sounds are really important so lots of looking at books - what noise do cows make? What sounds do cars make? And doing those together.

Lots of reading stories, nursery rhymes as all this is going in. Understanding can often be months ahead of speech, so check the understanding and if concerned there then raise that too. Understanding simple commands such as finding a favourite toy, getting shoes etc.

Hope that helps - I have three children. One & three early talkers, number two not much until 2 then words, as I started to worry all came about 2.5 and now at 6 amazing vocabulary! Beyond his years!

Thanks summer. He has really good understanding, can point to lots of body parts, goes to get his shoes when asked, puts something in the bin or sink when asked etc etc.
He loves to point at things and have us name them especially people.
He's using gestures a lot to communicate. He loves to dance to music and nursery rhymes. But he doesn't make a lot of sounds, he doesn't try to name things or copy sounds. He just goes "uh uh uh".

It is good his understanding is there.

You don't have to answer this to me but questions to ask:

Does he have a dummy? If so can you reduce it just for naps/bedtime.
Does he use a beaker/bottle - can you move to just a bottle or beaker at bedtime and use an open cup the rest of the time.

Had he had lots of ear infections or throat infections? Did he have any when younger? Are you confident on his hearing? Glue ear type thing?

When he is playing is the TV on? If so at times turn it off to encourage him to fill the noise and talk. Turn it on to watch then off for playing. Listening games and listening to music, stories also help.

You could try ten minutes a day describing his play with him, in an over the top way will help. Such as are you pushing the red car, you are pushing it fast, you are moving that car fast (car noises added in). Child's name is walking to the kitchen. Etc etc.
This helps the self-talk stage & helps Pre load them with words.

Also enjoy looking at noise books (the ones you press and they make a noise) so he can mimic them.

Also when asking him questions- leave time for him to reply, even if he doesn't then respond to his reply or what would be his reply (if that makes sense).
Also when he is in a good/well rested mood you can hold something slightly out of reach that he wants: drink/biscuit etc & encourage him to ask for it - when he attempts a sound (even though it does not sound like the object) reward him by giving it. You can get tougher on the release the clearer his sounds/words get. But high success at the start.

He is still young, so I would try this things at home for a while then at 2 phone HV for a 2 year check or to express concerns and you can say what you have tried already.