How many words does (or did) your 14/15 month old have?

[Rainatnight]

I can't find anything definitive about how many words they're 'supposed' to have at this age, and I'd find it really helpful to have some comparisons.

The backstory is that we adopted DD from foster care, where she was seriously under-stimulated. We've paid a lot of attention to language stuff to make up for it (nothing heroic, just lots of books, talking to her, reinforcing her babble, etc) and I'm interested to see how she's getting on.

0 words and still has 0 words at 19 months

I actually came on to post about my 19 mo who has maybe 2 words - daddy (kind of) and bus ('bu'). At 14/15 mo he had started mimicking 'uh-oh' from time to time but that was about it. I think they're all very different but having spoken to my mum who's a HV there's no need to worry until they're 2 as long as they're communicating in other ways and have an obvious understanding of simple instructions / what's going on around them. Oh and of course general interaction like eye contact, smiling/laughing and so on.

My 14 month old will have a full conversation with you but uses no words only grunts hums noises. He says dadddeeee and mummma and calls his brother yeah yeah????? My eldest could name every engine on Thomas the tank by now

Didn't even start counting till 18 months.

10-15? He does seem chattier than average though.

BlueChampagne surely that's pretty advanced even for 18 months though? My 19 mo isn't speaking let alone anywhere near counting!

I suspect Blue champagne means it wasn't worth counting the words (rather than that the DC was actually counting at 18 months, which would be pretty impressive).

DS2 is 15 months and says 'Cat', 'car' (they sound very similar and can only be distinguished through context!) and 'yup'. He also makes siren noises for fire engines and planes.

Receptive language is more important at this age I think. I'd be less concerned about what your DD says, and more about what she understands. I can have a fair conversation with DS2 through him nodding and shaking his head.

Sorry BlueChampagne Thanks for clarifying Furry!

Although I know plenty aged 18 months who are indeed counting but I'm ignoring them.

Counting is just memorised sounds at that age. It doesn't mean anything really.

Mine is 17 months and has I guess 70 or so now, maybe 20-30 at 14/15 months - but he is definitely at the chattier end of his friends! We know 17 month olds with only a word or two. Spectrum seems quite wide for speech at this age.

My little girl is 16 months and says the odd word (repeating after us) but doesn't yet say anything other than "Mama" and "Uh-Oh" independently.

DS2 is nearly 15 months and has maybe 10? Not all of them get used regularly though and I think mostly I know what he's saying whereas a stranger in the street would consider it babble! He has lots of sounds though and copies them from us and his big brother. He also manages to make it abundantly clear what he wants, and from whom, whenever he wants it, so not awfully concerned about his ability to communicate!

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply. There's such a wide spectrum, isn't there? She's got around 20 so seems to be doing ok. Not that I'd be worried if she didn't - everyone talks in the end! (Which is what I tell myself about walking which is verrrrry slow to arrive)

DC1 had zero. She has SN but at 14/15 months we didn't have a clue and most kids I know don't have any words at 14 months.

DC2 had about 50 words at 14 months and things exploded from there. but DC2 was on the very early side.

with having a child with complex needs I can tell you that HCP don't look at how many words a 14 months old can say.

receptive language and communication (e.g. pointing) is much more important. as long as your child understands you and can follow simple commands, respond to simple yes/no questions and is getting her needs across, I would not worry. and 20 words at that age is great esp given her tough start

everyone talks in the end!

I am afraid this isn't the case

At 14 months mine could say "(c)at", "moo", "sheep-(b)aaa", "dis"(this), "dat" (that) and "mmmm!" (to chips). DS started speaking in sentences at about 2.5 and was a fairly advanced speaker compared with many of his peers.

There seems to be a big range of normal and I'm not sure that it is a fair comparison (between a child who has been in foster care and one who hasn't). She sounds like she's doing great.

ginger I apologise, I was being flippant and really didn't mean to offend anyone with children for whom this won't be the case. I should have thought more carefully.

missadasmith she's definitely got lots of receptive language and understands really well. (Even if the answer is 'noooooooo' a lot of the time!).

Thanks land. I think she's doing well. She's also a big one for 'mmmmmmm!'

There's a wide range of "normal" and also a point at which to seek SLT assessment and help. This website has good information and a user friendly progress checker tool. www.talkingpoint.org.uk

They are all different. DS (who is currently trying to correct the teacher's grammar on his homework task..) held conversations at 12 months. DD, who had no less stimulation, didn't come out with a string of words until she was 3 and she's no less intelligent.

Keep on with what you're doing, main,y because sharing books is such a lovely thing to do, and don't worry.

Congratulations on your lovely DD too