When to be concerned about late talker?

[Usercantfindaname]

My DD is 2yrs 4mths. She communicates great using body language and can pretty much always get her point across. She understands everything we say/ask of her, and she does babble.

She really only has 3 or 4 words that other people would recognise (including Mum and Dad) and a handful of words which I know what she means based on context but really sound nothing like the word

She doesn't get frustrated, and communicates well in other ways so I haven't been concerned as I feel she will get there eventually. Tbh I'm very aware kids do things in their own time, and I don't stick to 'this by this age' type rules, and as her and my older DD are SO different I don't compare

But now I'm getting worried that I'm being blasé and what if I should be concerned and if she does need help I don't get it early enough

Any advice? Is the fact she is communicating and babbling enough? The words she has/is trying to say have been a work in progress since her 2nd birthday

Mmmm. My DD4 didn't speak until she was almost 3 but when she did, it was in complete sentences. Numerous people expressed concern about her lack of speech but somehow I just knew she was fine. [She has just qualified as a junior doctor BTW.] I would trust your own judgement OP!

i would get her checked out as if there is no issues with her then at least you have peace of mind - and if there is something going on then you can get speech and language intervention as soon as possible.

Thankyou both for replying

I've always trusted my own judgement /gut intinct (sometimes against professionals advice) with my older DD and have been proven right to do so

I think it is the fact other people say things is making me question myself!

I think I will speak to her hv and as you say at least then I've checked

Is 2y4m a late talker? (I'm a mum of 3 and had both early and late talker. My one on the middle was about your DD's age so that's average in this family )
I would ask HV for a referral for speech therapy as it takes a few months to see a speech therapist. If her speech is fine when the appointment comes through you can always turn it down.

Thankyou it's good to hear, I don't know what is classed as 'late' actually! Older DD was talking miles before, she is autistic and they're so very different to each other I don't tend to compare the ages they did things

It wasn't really bothering me (because she was communicating in her own way) until people started mentioning it which I guess made me question myself

3-4 words at 2.4 is very little. I think that fact that she is communicating and understanding is great. I would still ask for a referral to Salt. sometimes other things (not talking ASD) are going in such as verbal dyspraxia where children just cannot form the sounds and need lots of input. she may just be a late talkers but the thing is - you don't know. and given the NHS waiting times, I'd get her referred. you can always cancel if it's isn't needed anymore.c

Thank you I'm still waiting for hv to call back but definitely going to look into it even if just to stop me questioning it

You're right on waiting times we were 4yrs from referral to diagnosis for my eldest, most of which was waiting for SALT so yeah that makes sense for me to start the ball rolling now even if we turn out not to need it