18 month old not talking

[booboobunny]

my ds is now 18 months and is totally unbothered about learning to talk. every so often he'll say a word, but beyond mum mum and dad dad he's perfectly happy to communicate by pointing and hollering. i well remember my dd being able to say many words at 18 months (it fell at christmas so it sticks in my mind). are we doing something wrong. i've heard that 2nd children are often slower to develop speech as the older child speaks for them, but this isn't happening here.

sometimes he says ball, gone (while waving empty beaker) he's said bubble one and bob bob (for bob te builder), but i'm struggling to think of anything else.

does anyone ave any suggestions on what i can do to encourage him further?

I think number of words spoken are less relevant than ability to communicate. It's normal to only have a couple of words at 18 months. What's more important is that he can make himself understood, point, communicate, babble and understand you.

Just talk to him lots. It'll come in its own time.

Talk to him about everything and anything if you are in the kitchen preparing a meal talk to him out loud about what you are doing, what you did today, what you are planning on doing tomorrow, moan about things . Whatever you are thinking in your head say out loud.

He'll be speaking before you know it then you won't be able to shut him up.

I have a 16 month old and she just grunts and calls everyone daddy, no other words, just daddy. If he can point and tell you without speaking what he wants then all is OK i'd say.

my 17mth old is exactly the same. says mama and dadda, but that is it (oh and daisy for upsy daisy).
he points and says 'uh' over and over when he wants something all of the time.
my mum read an article that said that babies who point a lot and talk later ultimately end up with really good speech. not sure where she read that, but thought it was worth saying. i don't think it is uncommon at this age is it?

My ds is 18 months and only says dada, occasionally bub bub (instead of mummy)and sometimes he will say 'gone' to indicate dinner is all gone! Other than that he just grabs my hand and points it in the direction of what he wants and grunts 'uh'!!! I have to guess what it is he wants and if I dont get it right we have a major tantrum!

I was worried about his lack of speech but having been on this site a few times and looked at others posts with similar problems I have come to the conclusion it is perfectly normal and once they do eventually start to speak they probably wont stop!

Use quite short and simple sentences. Don't ask too many questions (e.g. "what's that? can you say 'car?) but comment on what he shows you - e.g. yes, there's a car. It's a red car. And try signing - we did with ds and he's picked up loads of really useful ones very quickly which means even if he isn't speaking, at least he is able to make himself understood.

DS1 was like this and did not really start talking until he started nursery at 2.9, now he never stops! DS2 was the opposite, a complete chatterbox by 18 months. All children are different and as long as he is communicating effectively I wouldn't worry too much just yet!

This book might help you: "Baby Talk" by Dr Sally Ward. It's a shame we don't all get given it as a going home present from the hospital. Lovely reassuring book about speech development, easy to read, lots of case studies and packed full of information.

BabyTalk is a programme for helping your child learn to talk, based on a daily 30 minute playtime, just you and your baby in a quiet room, lots of toys.

goodness i think your son is doing fine. my dd hardly spoke (if at all) then and is now 3.8 and doesnt shut up! so pls dont worry! he does have some words- even linking htem together. i really really really wouldnt worry!

okay thanks everyone. i probably wouldn't be worried if i didn't know for sure that my daughter was well able to put 2/3 words together by the same age. it's being able to make such a direct comparison that's lead to my concern. he was about a month behind her in crawling and walking but seems light years behind speechwise, but i guess you're all right and i just shouldn't compare. he'll speak when he's ready and in the meantime i'll just have to carry on trying to guess what he's trying to tell me!

thanks all.....

I certainly wouldn't get too concerned OP. My nephew is 2yo and isn't speaking yet, he laughs, and that's it.
At least your DC is saying a few words now, that's a start and very promising.