Worried 18 month old not talking

[playingbytherules]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice with my 18 month old little boy, he is really active and busy playing and running around but he doesn't seem interested in learning words.
The only thing he says is mum and dad, and that's not consistent.
He doesn't point, but will bring things to show me, and if he wants something that he can't reach he will stand by it and shout.
He babbles non stop but I can't pick out any words from it.
He understands his name, and will respond if he's not too busy doing something else. He is very cuddly, and loves playing with me, but no imaginary play. He loves games which include building or shape sorters.
He's really happy, and loves sharing enjoyment if he is happy with something.
He also knows how to wave and clap, but again he does this when he feels like it, and not every time.
Does this sound normal, or should I call my health visitor for advice?

Sorry it's long, I just don't want to not get help if he needs it.

It all sounds completely normal to me. From my experience most 28 months can't speak very much, despite the fact that some Mum's will by telling you that their little darling is fluent in Mandarin

There's a useful 18 month progress checker for speech and language here and an online test to assess the risk of autism here, although nothing you have said would make me think there is an issue with either

@JiltedJohnsJulie thank you so much! It's make you doubt yourself when everyone asks if he's still not talking!

You could always teach him some simple signs, like the ones Mr Tumble uses to help him get his point across. Things like yes, no, milk, more, mum & dad are useful ones to start with

Sounds totally normal to me! I work with children this age and it is perfectly normal for them to babble and use just a couple of words.

If you had said that he didn’t make any noise st all, that would be different. But his babbling is him ‘talking’ to you. The individual words will come with time!

From a professional point of view, we would expect him to use a few words together in context (such as “go garden” or “eat cake” for example) by the time he is 2. But if he didn’t? Still wouldn’t worry too much!

I second what @JiltedJohnsJulie said about parents exaggerating what their child can say/do - I have witnessed parents outright lying to each other! I have stood there whilst Mum boasts about how they can tie their own shoes at 18 months old and thought....I had to stop your kid from eating rocks today 😂

Thanks @Eggcellent29 that's really helped! Does make a lot of the same sounds to get my attention so I guess he thinks he talking to me!