DS 21 months and not talking - is this normal???

[monkeybumsmum]

Am starting to get a bit worried about ds as he seems to not want to talk. He's communicative in other ways - we always seem to know what he wants, but he won't even say no. A friend's baby is only 11 months and is already saying no.

I know that children develop at different rates, but is there anything I can be doing to encourage him?

I should also say that he's trying to learn two languages at the same time - he goes to a french speaking creche two and a half days a week. I know this may be the reason for him not talking english yet, but I don't want to tell myself that's the reason and then bury my head in the sand (if that makes sense?). I'm sure other children are in the same position and are already talking at his age...

Any help/advice would be muchly appreciated .

my son is 3.5 and can say a total of 20 words but no sentences and only very basic like red, blue, mum, dad. Its coming but slowly - I know its really hard not to compare as all his friends were talking by 2 but give him time and it will happen slowly but surely. If you are still concerned by HV was great and referred us to a speech therapist who reassurred us there was nothing wrong he could just communicate effectivly with out speaking!

my local sure start centre (childrens centre) does "look who's talking" classes which dd (16 months) goes to. its not speech therapy as such but it is run by speech and language experts and i find it very useful and dds vocab has suddenly increased partly because of this. Maybe there is something similar by you?
Tbh i wouldn't be worried at that age but maybe mention it to the hv.

Thanks for replying both of you! Unfortunately I don't have a hv - am living in Belgium. Will ask pediatrician next time we go though.

ilovetochat Do you have any tips from your dd's class that you could pass on? It sounds a really good idea...

it is all about communication rather than just talking, we get to their level, use eye contact, label everything they point to. at the start of the session we sing a hello song and say hello to each child and most have started waving hello now. there are signs on the wall showing the schedule, each sign has the word and a picture and when the child gets the sign for snacktime for example we say snack and show the picture round. and we give lots of choices, at snack time we don't just give them a bowl, you offer 2 bowls, say red or blue and then whichever they choose by pointing or even staring you say oh you want the blue bowl. same again with the snack, offer banana or grapes, then label what they choose. then constant praise, good sitting, good listening, good eating, is the banana nice, etc.we use makaton signs to so they have to ask for more snacks if they want them and they have to sign when they have finished.
they have play time but we offer 2 choices of game, label game and then use lots of language, ie.push the button to make the train go, push push push, the train is going round and round, the train has stopped, do you want more, it seems very unnatural at first but it is working.
dd can now say more, all gone, push, pull, and do signs for more and finished, that she couldn't do/say 4 weeks ago when it started.

That sounds brilliant! I can imagine that it must feel unatural, but I will start trying to do the same sort of thing with ds. Will get dh to do it too. Thanks ever so much for the help!

ps it sounds like your dd enjoys it

That sounds brilliant! I can imagine that it must feel unatural, but I will start trying to do the same sort of thing with ds. Will get dh to do it too. Thanks ever so much for the help!

ps it sounds like your dd enjoys it

Oops... Got a bit over-enthusiastic clicking the mouse.

she loves it and has got more confidence now she can tell us what she wants, hope it goes well for you!

I think the bi-ligual bit is very relevant as long he understands what you say & is communicating hopefully the speech will come along soon.