22 mths - no words

[DaddyCool]

ok, he's now 22 months and still no words. please 1. tell me this is normal 2. suggest something i can do to egg on the speech other than read him books and talk to him clearly.

i've been on before talking about this but i just can't believe my little boy just isn't talking yet. everything else seems fine, just this.

as if !!

i think boys much slower, IMO

also did he walk early. seems as if they do one early, they do the other late!

As you can see I cannot. I don't even know what it means, but always think it sounds great.

he points to anything he wants

he brings me the tv controls when he wants to watch brum (all the bloody time)

he doesn't make animal noises

when he wants to be picked up he usually says mamama and when he wants anything else he'll say nananana or bababababa.

he's kinda alright really except that his play isn't highly imaginative and he doesn't know any real words.

he waves good-bye to everyone and seems to know when he is leaving.

he hits very hard at everyone and everything

Speaking in very simple sentences can also help - ideally no more than 2 or 3 words in a sentence. Things like "John drink" or "John go walk". You will feel pretty stupid to start with but it really does seem to help with understanding.

he crawled quite late but walked around 15 mths and is very confident and steady on his feet.

i agree FLUM, all boys seem to come along a bit slower.

actually yes I woudl recommend the sally ward book - even if you are going for a referral, there's no reason why you can't do some DIY SALT in the meantime - its what you'll end up being advised about anyway. Its got some pointers to when to seek referral as well as lots of practical suggestions aabout language related play.

I only haven't done it myself because she lays great store on 30 minutes a day one-to-one playtime to help language development and I feel sickeningly guilty that ds2 doesn't even get that amount of my time....

Daddycool - he sounds pretty normal to me. boys seem to be slightly less sociable in the early years.

but you should see a doc if you are worried. better to know than not

MI glad to hear dd2 has found her voice - when did it take off?

Daddycool, you know that Einstein didn't have any words at all till he was 4?

thanks guys. i think he's normal, I just want him to talk to me! I can't wait till he starts saying things and telling me what he wants and what he doesn't want. it'll be wonderful.

Wait for the "Why?" and "where's xxx come from?" - it's fantastic, but also dementing!

Hello daddycool - it looks like you have no need to worry judging by how many people in the same position.

Just wanted to say that I have watched and learnt a lot from my nanny about communication with babies. She started with us when dd was ten months and I notice that she gives an almost running commentary to the days events to her. She doesn't just name everything instantly but she talks to dd about where they are going and where they have been all the time. Not in a baby voice, by the way, but in completely normal voice. I am sure it is only because of her that dd now has about 150 words at eighteen months. If it had been left up to me I'm sure she would still be mute but I thought it was something worth passing on. Hope it helps...

that's actually very helpful passion. thank you.