How much does your 16 month old understand?

[MotherOfDragon20]

My 16 month old DD is definitely behind with her speech, no proper words. Not really too worried about this yet as she has plenty of gestures and non verbal communication seems good. What I’m not sure of is if her understanding is also behind?

She understands-
-Where’s your head/nose/ears/ the trees/the birds and will point appropriately

• are you dancing- will start bouncing up and down.
• stomp your feet
• clap your hands
• have a drink…
• give it to mum
• take your dummy out
• definitely understands who/what mum, dad, ball, baby, ball, book, coat, shoes are.

Concerns are that she isn’t great at following Directions such as “bring mummy a book” she will about 50% of the time but now sure if she’s just ignoring me.

I suppose because her speech is so behind I’m a bit anxious about her communication. Does this sound about right for her age? Or would you expect a 16 month old to be better at following more complex instructions?

She sounds pretty on track. My 15 month (16 months in a week) is basically at the same point. I don't think more complex instructions like "bring mummy a book" (especially if from a different room) are considered delayed for a few more months. My DS doesn't have any proper words either but gestures constantly and is sociable and engages well. He certainly communicates in other ways.

I agree, she sounds on track in terms of understanding, and I think if they're on track with understanding and non-verbal communication, 'late talkers' usually are just that – they talk when they're ready and usually catch up with little or no extra support.

I would also say that whilst 16 months may be later than average for the first word, it's still very much within the range of 'typical development'. There's just a huge amount of variation with speech at this age.

Sounds just like my 15.5 month old tbh. Doesn’t have many distinct words; understands some things but not many instructions yet. I’m not worried because his speech is definitely developing… it just hasn’t manifested into comprehensible words yet.

Mines just gone 17 months and sounds the same. Can identify his belly,nose,head, toes and mine or someone else's. Understands give it to mummy, go put that in the bin pleases, where's your teddy, pass me your book, clap your hands, wave bye etc. can I have a bite? I think sometimes we underestimate what they can understand too. When I say can I do your bum, he does a runner, so he clearly knows what I'm going to do 😂

Words-wise, he can say a few things but not loads and sometimes not in context. For example he can say his cousins name, but wouldn't shout him unless I told him to. I hope that reassures you a bit xx

That sounds right .

My oldest didn’t start talking until 20 months . He had a few words but by 24 months he knew 200 words. It really was a language explosion. He’s 3 now and talks non stop !

My second born is currently 16 months and a great little talker but he doesn’t really take direction well . If I ask him to bring me a book he might sometimes. He was a bit late with clapping and waving too (he didn’t clap until after one ). But then he is ahead in other areas such as his speech and he was a super early walker too .

All babies develop so differently and yours sounds right on track .

Your little one sounds totally normal. Bear in mind people will post/tell you about things that their little ones does but that is not necessarily the average child that age or they may be doing X but not X or even do something early but then others will catch up and overtake in something else. As hard as it is don’t worry and just focus on enjoying your child.