I really don't think DS is developing much ...

[LadyOfWaffle]

He is 19 months old and only has a very few words, dada, doggie, mama (sort of), bebe (sort of, just random noise, not related to an object), car which is really clear (his favourite word) and definatly knows what is a car, and now ball. He does sort of try other words when I say them ie. tiger when I hold his tiger, but not really. I just read on another thread their 20 month old is starting to be potty trained etc. ! He can sort do his wooden cut out jigsaw things really well, and other bits and bobs but he is nothing like other 19 month olds I read about (I only know one other in RL who who I rarely see but has alot more words). I read to him quite abit (I think, maybe it's not enough?) stories and picture books with one word... is he normal?

20 months is quite early to be potty trained! All children do things at different times. I know how easy it is to think other children are doing things earlier than yours but it really doesn't matter in the long run. Does he point to things? Because that is a good indicator that is all well. I would guess that he is fine and it will all come in time.

He sounds fine to me but if you really are worried why not give your health visitor a ring?

How is he physically? My dd2 wasn't much of a chatterer beascause she was concentrating on learning hoe to climb as much as possible (and as high as possible) perhaps your ds is learning something else at the moment and the language will come later - then you'll wish for a moments quiet!

oh and ignore pressure to potty train - wait until he's at least 2.6 - then cod will help you

He sounds perfectly normal to me. So long as he understand what you are saying, looks at you and is trying to say words he will get there in the end.

I was saying on another thread the other day that my DS didn't have a huge number of words up until he was 21 months old and then, almost over night he came up with loads every day to the point where was saying 3 or 4 word sentences by the age of 2. This might not happen to your DS at all, it might happen sooner or later than 21 months but the point I am trying to make is that development is not always steady. Your DS might be developing in other areas and his speech is taking a back seat for the moment. For example, he can do puzzles which neither of my boys did at that age so he is doing well with that.

There probably isn't very much you can do for him. You are reading to him a lot and talking to him so he will get there in the end.

Most 20 months old children, especially boys are nowhere near ready for potty training so don't worry about that either! My two were over 3 before they were trained as neither of them were interested but you would never know now. It makes no difference in the long run so long as they get there in the end.

LadyofWaffle, my 18 month old has no words (possibly duck and dada, but as he says da to everything it's hard to say.). He's not walking yet either, and I often get dispirited when I hear what amazing things other similarly aged children do. My only thought is that he is a 3rd child, so spends a lot of time watching the other children do things. He does have a great sense of humour though!

does he point? understand instructions? Entirely normal not to be talking much at that age, as long as the above are there. IME language develops in spurts, and your ds might not have spurted yet My ds1 is 2.6 and potty training has not even been attempted yet - all we do is gentle chats to encourage awareness of when he needs to go.

Oh Lor, LadyOfWaffle, I've met many 19 month olds with few words - especially (sorry if this sounds sexist, not meant to be, just factual) boys. They've ALL caught up later.

As for potty training, I hardly know any who were dry at 20 months - the ones that were, were very early walkers (there's a link between the two, according to some). My dd1 was 2.8 or so, and was about average in her year - many of her fellow pre-schoolers were 3+.

Trying to say words, copying sounds, is a really good sign - I bet he's taking it all in, they understand SO much before they can say a thing: also bet that six months from now he won't stop talking

My 25mnth old doesnt talk all that much. She understands everything you say though, and my HV has said they wont do anything until at least 2yrs 6mnths with regards to speech.

Your 19mnth old sounds perfectly normal to me. Kids do things at different rates - i know this thanks to DD1 being really quick to talk etc and now DD2 doesnt want to know!

He points alot, especially to cars and says car, or points when he wants to know what something is and sort of says "wazzat?" He has been walking a long time, and is running, climbing etc. and will get his tiger, his phone, his car and his ball when I ask.

I am just worried because I cannot imagine potty training him, he doesn't seem that able to follow instructions etc. & the very few words he has - he seems to me like a 12 month old

Apparently there is a gene for early language. By the age of 4 it evens out and most kids are speaking in a similar way. HVs usually say that at between 18-24 months children should have between 8 and 20 single words. Some have alot more some have less. I wouldn't be worried by your Ds he sounds fine to me. As for potty training at 20 months- that is v. early!

Someone on MN has a 17 month old who says sorry [sob]

LadyOfWaffle, it's not a competition! That's meant in the nicest possible way obviously! It's just that your DS sounds absolutely normal to me, in fact at 19 months I think my DD just said car and ball, lol. She is nearly 2 and says a lot more now, but some kids her age say a lot more, but some less. If you are really worried, speak to the health visitor, but really I'd say just enjoy him, cos you'll look back at this time and think, why did I waste my time worrying!!

As for potty training, I'm not even thinking about it yet, with another baby due in a couple of weeks it's not even on my radar!

You mustn't worry Ladyofwaffle. My DS2 is 2.4 and in comparison with DS1 is nowhere near as advanced, especially in his speech. At this age DS1 could have full conversations, knew colours, letters, numbers etc. DS2 is very vocal but it's all still cat, dog, cup etc and nowhere close to being in sentences.

As for potty training, no chance for a while .....

LadyOfWaffle: I have a DS the same age as yours. He sounds very similar to my DS and I think he is fine. I would not worry at all. People tend to gloat "My LO can do x y z etc" and I would just ignore it. Your DS is still very young and if he is happy, you should not worry about what you have described. Also, it really is not a race and it is also not a measure of future achievement etc.

LadyofWaffle - please try not to worry! Ds1 had a huge vocabulary at 17 months, but then seemed to plateau a bit and is only now (at 27 months) starting to make two-word sentences (eg "I sleep", "dropped it" etc). He is absolutely nowhere near ready to be potty trained. I have two friends with dds who are the same age as ds1 to within a couple of weeks, both of whom are potty trained (one before the age of two and night-trained too!) - and I have to say, despite ds1 being my third child, it's hard not to compare and worry a little. But don't, really! There are loads of MNers on here whose children didn't utter a word until they were over the age of 2, and my dd2 wasn't potty-trained until she was 3.5! All normal

My dd2 was quite slow to talk. This time last year she was 22 months, and had about 5 words, mummy, daddy, dog, cat and ball. Not much else at all.

We were on holiday in Turkey and she picked up an olive from under a tree and said 'like acorn'. We were so shocked, I had no idea she knew what an acorn was - but realised that actually they sometimes know far more than they say. When she did start to talk she caught up so quickly, and now a year later there's not much she doesn't have an opinion about and very rarely stops talking.