Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Behaviour/development

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

Original poster

14 1/2 months & no words yet - need reassurance!

18 replies

chirpyburpycheapsheep · 03/12/2009 16:56

DD is otherwise doing fine developmentally, walked just before 1st birthday, no concerns about hearing, didn't start babbling til she was around 10 1/2 months (the same time all her teeth decided to appear) and we're still waiting for that elusive 1st word. Am wondering at what point to mention it to HV? She manages to communicate pretty well by pointing & saying 'Aah' a lot. Just wondering what other people's experience has been with late talkers & whether to worry yet or not! Any tips for helping her language development? Am trying really hard to ignore the fact that all her friends natter away & putting it down to the fact she's been concentrating on getting around the place.

OP posts:
ConnorTraceptive · 03/12/2009 16:59

DS2 had no words at this age and at 18 months only had two or three not very clear words but I knew what he meant!

He's 20 months now and his vocab has started to leap into action suddenly and he's picking up words all the time. Less than a month ago I was quite worried but now I'm a lot less so.

ComeOverAllFunny · 03/12/2009 21:17

DD had first word about 20 months, by 2.2 had six words, has come on over the summer and now at 2.7 is beginning to properly 'talk'. No indications that there was anything to worry about, she's just done it in her own time. I've read that the age a child begins to talk is largely genetically determined and there's not a lot you can do to speed it up. Interesting, as I was over 2 years when I spoke my first word.

BlueJellie · 03/12/2009 22:30

DS is 14 months and not uttered a word yet - still just inane ramblings, but he does understand a lot of words 'i.e 'Go fetch your teddy'. I'm not bothered about it I expect he'll talk properly when he's ready. Was an early walker so I guess you can't have it all!

leggybird · 04/12/2009 11:35

14 months is quite early to expect lots of words. My (now 4yr old) didn't start talking til he was almost 3 so don't worry. All children develop at their own rate. Can he understand you if you ask him do something? or respond if you talk to him? If so, then there's is nothing wrong with his hearing or comprehension which is what would be tested first if you were to mention it to you doc or HV.
My middle DS (4yrs) does have delayed speech but my youngest DS (3yrs) is just fine as was my eldest (now 11).
If he gets to about 2 1/2 and noting has improved then I would ask your doc for a referal to a speech therapist for an asessment. Therapy is rarely started before the age of 4 but it's good to get in early as the wait list can be up to 6 months.

LB

sweetnitanitro · 04/12/2009 11:46

Your DD and my DD sound very alike! DD is 14 months old and hasn't said anything yet either, not even 'mummy' or 'daddy'. She was also an early walker. My friend's 11 month old can say quite a few words and it is disheartening but I can tell DD is bright and she understands lots of instructions (go and get teddy, give mummy a kiss etc) so I'm not worried about her communication skills.

The fact that your DD is pointing at stuff shows that she is trying to communicate so I wouldn't worry too much. I've been trying to encourage my DD by reading lots of books to her and looking at picture books together. She's got an animal book and she points to the cow when I say 'moo' I think that kind of thing will help.

firsttimer08 · 04/12/2009 13:59

same here. ds is 13 months and no words yet. He was also walking before his first birthday. He does point to things and goes 'aah' as well. As I've been told by others in the forum, he may be just taking his time. Only worrying thing in his case is that he doesn't understand a whole lot either. So I hope its not a sign of some other underlying problems. Same here on the genetic front, both DH and I were late talkers. As I've posted on another thread i started - we have already had the hearing check and a visit to the gp. We may visit the HV if after another 2 months he still does not seem to understand us v. well.

cantmummyhaveabreak · 04/12/2009 14:02

DD1 didn't say a real word until 22mths... now at 3.7yo she's the biggest chatterbox ever!! She let her older brother do all the talking for her i think. She'll get there in time!!

chegirlwithbellson · 04/12/2009 14:11

If you DD was chatting away at this age she would be pretty advanced.

Its always worth keeping an eye on something you are worried about but I really dont think you should be concerned at the moment.

I work in a child development team. Doesnt make me an expert but I can tell you that a 14mth old not using lots of words wouldnt be an issue IYSWIM.

hohohojollster · 04/12/2009 16:03

DS is 18 months.... no real words as yet. Plenty of recognition, comprehension very good. BUT no real defined sounds apart from "yeah"... .

I know girls are generally quicker at this but I wouldn't worry in your shoes.

kalo12 · 06/12/2009 21:53

my ds only said 'dat' at 13 months and this went on for quite a few months, probably got a few more words my 18 months. in last two months has started repeating allsorts of things, but not many words are very clear to anyone other than me or dh. 'I say water , you say, 'ruff ruff,', I say 'butterfly', you say 'du-du'deerrrr' ...

maxybrown · 06/12/2009 21:56

My Ds still hardly says anything at 2.2 He has seen a speech therapist and even she isn't concerned because he ticks all of the other boxes as it were! She thinks he just
t has no real need to talk yet, will see her again in January

MrUmble · 06/12/2009 23:30

14 1/2 months is fine to not be talking. As everyone hear has said, kids develop at their own rate, and sometimes over the space of a few days they can develop leaps and bounds.

PacificMistletoeandnoWine · 06/12/2009 23:35

She is doing just fine .

DS3 20 months chats all day but entirely in some alien tongue, never shuts up ! Very entertaining as is sounds like language but is complete gobbledigook.

DS1 was very early talker, DS2 not as fast but faster than DS3 who in every other respect seem like a bright cookie .

Don't fret, keep talking to her and she will use words when she is ready.

becs1973 · 07/12/2009 07:03

DS (18 months ) only says 'ball' 'book' and 'oh no' (including a shoulder shrug which makes me giggle) Even these words have only come about recently, at 14 months he had no words at all.

He still refuses to say 'mama' and will instead loudly shout something indeterminate if he wants me

I also stressed when I read books saying he should start his first words around a year! I reckon don't fret at all, it all comes together eventually!

BlueberryPancake · 07/12/2009 15:50

If you would like some tips, here are a few:

  • get a parent facing buggy if you can
  • talk in short sentences, three-four words, and get her attention so that she looks at you before you start talking to her
  • Listen to her, her sounds, babbles, and repeat them back to her. It will make her feel that you are listening to her and give her more confidence
  • spend some time with her each day to play, with no tv or music, and 'comment' on her play don't lead it. Get some of her favorite toys out, let her pick what she wants, and comment on what she is doing.
  • Sing the same nursery song to her many times a day, and then drop a word out and see if she tries to fill it. such as Twinkle Twinkle little .......... wait for her to say Star.
  • Give her lots of time to answer you if you ask a question, and listen to what she answers, wether it's verbal or non verbal.
  • Do lots of games/books with animal sounds, car sounds, fire engine sounds, etc
  • Get some bubble mixture and blow a few bubbles, and then say 'ready, steady, ....... go" and blow more bubbles. Next time try to wait and see if she says go. Blow bubbles even if she doesn't, give her lots of time to 'anticipate' and to try to make sounds.

I have a 2.8 year old boy who only very recently started to say some words. Up to now, he was only using three words: Yes, Mum, and Burp (very useful that one). Now he has about 50 words, which is still way behind for his age but he's great fun, a very happy little chap.

MunchMummy · 07/12/2009 16:00

My DD1 didn't walk until 17 months and didn't utter first word until 23 months. Within about 3 months she had started talking in sentences and now at 3.5 she talk fine in terms of sentence construction her pronunciation could do with alot of improvement. But I am not worried.

DD2 has just turned 18 months and her vocab is starting to really build up - a couple of new words every day, even if not totally clear.
.
So I had one very late talker and one more normal talker. Not worried about either - they'lldo it when they are ready

BlueberryPancake · 07/12/2009 16:06

And I don't think she is not a late talker, by the way. I don't know what the average is for first word, or for first sentences, but I know lots of 14 months old who were not saying much at all.

I wouldn't worry about it if I was you BUT looking back when DS was 14 months, I wish I knew what I know now and I wish I had started the tips I gave you a lot earlier.

tokengirl · 07/12/2009 17:37

21 month old with 5 words, but bright and good communication/comprehension. Don't worry about it.

One child started at 18m, one 21m - both seem bright, happy and normal.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page