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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

What's normal speach for an 18month yr old?

25 replies

butterscotch · 27/12/2008 22:42

As above really just curious my dd is string sentances together and parrots everything we say! I just wonder what is normal if there is such a thing as normal

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

wrinklytum · 27/12/2008 22:44

Thats lovely She sounds absolutely fine and normal

Original poster

butterscotch · 27/12/2008 22:45

Cool its hard when you don't see others with the same age to know what is normal development wise

OP posts:

SleighGirl · 27/12/2008 22:45

anything from not saying anything recognisable to speaking in clear & concise 12 word sentences IME!!!! I've had dc at both ends of the spectrum!

hazeyjane · 27/12/2008 22:45

dd2 (19 months)talks a lot, counts, sings songs.
dd1 said a few words at same age
my friends ds hardly says a word (again 19 months)

they are all normal

PaddingtonBore · 27/12/2008 22:47

there is such a wide range of "normal" at this age.

my DD was a gobshite fairly similar at that age. at 21mo she now jabbers fluently on most topics. her cousin of the same age is much more reticent, but clearly understands just as much as my DD does.

the novelty of her talking has worn off now, and I'd quite like some peace.

wrinklytum · 27/12/2008 22:47

I think the key thing is that they have a range of sounds and babble.DD has severe speech delay and never really babbled.

theinsider · 27/12/2008 22:49

I believe whilst being no expert that there is cause for concern if a child is not saying two recognisable (to it's parents') words by 18 months.

So it's sounds like you have no cause for concern regarding your daughter

Original poster

butterscotch · 27/12/2008 22:50

at paddingtonbore the peace thing would be nice also watching what you have to say and having to spell things I am finding hard to get used to

Glad DD is normal

OP posts:

Pannacotta · 27/12/2008 22:50

My DS2 ia 19 months and while he has his own little language (bit like the Clangers, with lots of intonation etc) he doesnt say any actual words yet...

littleboyblue · 27/12/2008 22:53

Don't think there is a 'normal' is there? My ds (16m) calls everyone dada, points at things and says whasssat and yesterday screamed car. Nothing else though, and don't see anything coming anytime soon

wrinklytum · 27/12/2008 22:53

Pannacotta,I am sure he is fineThe SALT said to me the key point is between 2-3 years i.e they were less worried about a non verbal 2 yo than a non verbal 3 yo,also the fact your LO has lots of intonation and babbly stuff sounds fine.

theinsider · 27/12/2008 22:57

When I say "cause for concern" I only meant as in they'd watch closely until age 2, to check they were chatting away then.

As with all other developmental milestones they reach them at diferent stages, I bet your DS has just been concentrating on the physical running, climbing, jumping ones.

Pannacotta · 27/12/2008 23:02

I am not in the least worried, but thanks for the concern!
In fact DS2 does have two words - "duck" and also "dack" (for Jack, his brother).
He is a bright little button and understands nearly everything we say to him, but would much rather charge about like a loon than chat to me

Pannacotta · 27/12/2008 23:03

In fact DS1 didn't talk much even by age 2, but he never stops wittering now (age 4)...

Astarte · 27/12/2008 23:06

It's far more important that LO's give eye contact and use non-verbal cues with a range of sounds and gestures at that age.

Actual speech for most kids is not discernible to others until 2ish.

As long as the child can understand what you say to him/her I really wouldn't be worried at all.

wrinklytum · 27/12/2008 23:06

sorry

Having worried and worried about dd who I knew was delayed I guess I sort of jump in on these threads to try and reassure people whose dc sound fine from what they have written IYKWIM??(Gets coat)

Pannacotta · 27/12/2008 23:13

Oh don't worry wrinkly, am not in the least bit offended!
I was trying to say to the OP that there is a wide range of normal, not that I explained myself very well.
Agree with Astarte that at this age understanding is more important than actual speech.
That said, I do think it makes life easier for everyone when kids this age can start to say things, DS2 relies on pointing and squawking at the mo, not ideal...

wrinklytum · 27/12/2008 23:17

LOL dd points and squawks,loudly AARGHHH!!

Today we had a breakthrough,though,she put two signs together

More cake !!!

Before it was just 1 sign.

She is a girl after my own heart with the cake

We just need to add the sign for "Please" now (I see a large pig flying over my computer!)

Bubbaloo · 27/12/2008 23:20

Ds2 is 20 months old and only says 'gat' when he sees one of our cats.He babbles,screeches and understands everything you say to him.He has been late doing everything so far and only started walking 2 months ago,so I'm not in a least bit worried.
Sounds like your dd is doing really well.

Astarte · 27/12/2008 23:21

at 22 months we're quite proud that he'll take his dummy out to 'speak'

He can jabber all day in a similar clanger style lol. Strangely enough he does always get what he wants rather quickly so either he has us well trained or there is a pattern forming to his speech.

he has 'der' for there. 'dat' for that.
'share' (clear as a bell) for when he wants some of whatever anyone else has.
'da' for dad, but it isn't used consistently and he can say mama if asked to say it, but doesn't use it of his own volition.

He can sort cars into colours and correctly identify loads of body parts on himself, as well as say 'no' and 'es', but doesn't do so very often.

He also has a wide range of squawks which we know mean different things. His squawk for they aren't letting me play is very different to I want the fridge open for instance.

Original poster

butterscotch · 27/12/2008 23:27

I didn't mean to come across like I was being competative sorry if thats how its come across its hard to know what milestones are normal and not! DD was walking at 10.5months which I understand to be early...however i have a mindset of when they get to school they are all pretty much on par but i was just curious as Hubby's cousin ikkle boy didn't speak till he was three.....and had to see someone but I was curious as what was normal as none of our friends have kids of same age iykwim? Glad there is a good range for normal! What one is good at now, will lack in other areas I am sure

OP posts:

Pannacotta · 27/12/2008 23:27

Oh yes we know the cake and fridge squawks pretty well by now, plus the "I need a dummy" squawk too!

And had forgotten that he says "dat" for cat too...

Quite funny that our DCs sound so similar. Am looking forward to having proper chats with DS2 though, it's always good to hear what small people have to say after so long of hearing only grunts/yells/babble!!

Astarte · 27/12/2008 23:31

oh don't apologise butterscotch.
girls tend to be a bit more 'vocal' anyway. Or gobby if you're my Dd1.

Actually Dd1 didn't have more than a handful of words from about 15-23 months, BUT when she hit 23 months in the space of one week she had full sentences. Something just clicked!
She's never shut up since

I love the early sentences when they want to tell you everything about anything.

wrinklytum · 27/12/2008 23:32

I don't think anyone thought you were Butterscotch DD is 3 and severely delayed.Her lack of sounds were flagged along with other problems that led to paed referral at 19 mos.I think at 18mo as others have said there is a broad range.Red flags as Astarte said are lack of social interaction/pointing/lack of babble or range of sounds .If I see a thread on speech I sometimes dive in with my two pence worthIIRC ds was quite chatty at 18MOS but less developed physically than his peers who werent so advanced speech wise....it usually evens out

brightongirldownunder · 28/12/2008 04:35

Einstein barely spoke a word until he was three, apparently..

DD at 20m says things like "turtle, buddha, chocolate and (today) wowthatsapoo" but refuses to say "thanks, yes, no, hello" and pretty much anything that her peers say. Sometimes she has completely word free days and just chats away in her own weirdy language (I actually enjoy those days as she just won't stop!)
I know she's fine - she can recognise pretty much anything I ask her to point out.
I love this age.

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