Everyone with Toddlers aged from 18 mth to 23 mths, could I just have a bit of your time?

[Nbg]

I am very interested as to what other peoples children do at this age.

I would like to know the following;

What words can your child say?
At what age did they say their first word?
How old were they when they started walking?
Do you read to your child?
If so how much and when in the day?
Do your children watch tv?
If so roughly for how long, in a day?

Please tell me to b*** off if you think I'm being to nosey!

Thank you

I have an 18 month old as well as a 3 year old

I'll answer with regard to the 18 month old

Words - Barely, think she can say Bye Bye, Hiya and Dadddy.

Walking - 10 months

Read - Not as such, not a proper story like I do with her sister, but we look at books loads. Books are all over the house so she picks at books several times a day.

TV - Its quite often on for her sister but she doesnt show much interest.

dd 22 months. How many words? Åbout 150 - hello mummy, help me, on/off, up/down etc
First word? At ten months she said dada but first 'proper' word (Dada wasn't aimed at dada at that stage) was at ten and a half - she said 'hello' - By one she was saying four or five words
Walked - Fourteen months
Reading - At least an hour a day - In the morning or evening
Television - As above!

Just read your reason for asking this nbg and, to echo others here, I really wouldn't worry. It's a clichee but they do all develop at different rates. My friends baby is 18 months and hasn't said a word yet - another friend has two very healthy happy boys who didn't speak until two and a half. Also, those of us who have answered here are probably aware that we have pretty developed talkers - which is why we were attracted to this thread! It means very little in the grand scheme of things though - as we should all remind ourselves when tempted to boast.

Thanks for all the replies.

Merglemergle, am impressed about the Teletubbies thing. It's nice to know that these programmes do have some effect.

Hi Nbg, really interested in this thread.........my DD is 22 months and is not really talking she says dad for me and DP and some other sort of sounds that I understand (meame is read to me!!) as words, I was (am??) really worried about this as all of her friends of similar ages seem to be having "conversations" with their mummys, but she points, understands everything we say to her and is happy. I guess the talking will come at some stage and i try not to compare too much, although it is hard.

My DS is 25 months and has no words yet, so I understand how you feel! At his 2-year checkup I asked for him to be referred to the Child Development Centre as I'm concered about his communication in general (pointing and copying are both quite vague). Still waiting for an appointment, and feeling very much up and down depending on what I've been reading! Can recommend Thomas Sowell's "The Einstein Syndrome", which has some encouraging case studies and some interesting theories on why some children are late talkers.
Also baby signing might be a good idea (the Sing & Sign video is quite good).

hi nbg - my dd is 21 months and yesterday started saying ta and bye -i'm over the moon!!! She babbles a lot and shouts sounds but other than the occasional mom and dad these words are the only words she has come out with that are coherent and consistent (and 2 in one day) - i'm hoping it's the start now. I too was worried when a friend's ds who is one day younger than my dd is saying lots of words and starting to put words together. However dd understands everything u say to her and can follow instructions really well so just keep thinking the speech will come when she's ready. We read an awful lot, she loves books and she watches tv/dvds for an 1-1 30 a day approx. However I've noticed an improvement since doing the programme set in a book called Baby Talk. The main principle is to spend 30 mins a day with your child with no noise, distraction. Set out various types of toys, ie books, construction, puzzle, pretend play etc and let them take the lead and just do a commentary on their play to them. Don't ask questions. Just comment. It seems to have made an improvement in our dd in 3 weeks. It might be worth a go.

I'd like to proudly announce that dd has just signed I love you when I put her to bed!

Result

What signing do you do?

I'm trying to learn Makaton at the moment, have also borrowed the Sign2Me Sign With Your Baby pack from a friend.

Great to hear that your daugter signed to say that she loved you.

Well I got the Sign with your baby by Joesph Garcia and some sign cards which were done by Parenting magazine.

Although the book is ASL it's not so much different to BSL.
I bought them at xmas and tbh I've not been using it all the time which is why she hasn't picked it up.

nbg-don't know where you are but would recommend a baby signing class. there are loads around, but going will probably prod you into signing.

not only did i buy mr garcia's book, i and dp can both sign , but it took a class to get me going.

most mntters seem to really like the classes. i found it a bit yummy (4 month old waves hands a bit-ooooh! says teacher and mummy-she's signing milk! look everyone!) but actually also very useful. even if ds is oldest by a year.

Message withdrawn

Have you got any links Mergle?

The ones I've looked at are all in Sheffield and I'm 20 miles from there and don't drive.

I don't think there are any in Barnsley. I would have been there like a shot though if there was. I have mentioned it to the local childcare info service but haven't heard anything back.

dd is 22 months.
(What words can your child say?) she will parrot back virtually anything and is a great talker so too many words to list. yesterday my friend turned round and said to me 'did (dd) just say 'in out in out shake it all about???' - they're mad on the hokey cokey at her nursery at the mo.
(At what age did they say their first word?) about one I think.
(How old were they when they started walking?) About thirteen months
(Do you read to your child?) she's mad on books, so yes loads, and we started with baby signing board books mainly which she loved and she did baby signs really well - its a great game for them I think
(If so how much and when in the day?) sometimes she'll grab a book and ask for it to be read before nursery, say when she's getting her shoes on. Then always a few books between 5.30 and 6.15 which is playtime before she goes up for her bath. Then a couple when she's drinking her milk in bed, then one before lights out. if its a non-nursery day then just whenever really, she prefers books to toys mostly. But its really only loads because she asks for them all the time. and always the same ones over and over (until i hide them )
(Do your children watch tv?) no, not really. i occasionally put cbeebies on for a few mins on a weekend morning but she doesn't really get into it, and we try not to have the tv on in the background when she's up and about - maybe sport on a weekend, that's all.

oh btw not completely sure that others understand all her words like we do! i love watching her little group of friends and they all do different things better/sooner/later.
HTH

My dd (22 months) is the early talker / late walker type...so in answer to your questions....

1. Words - too many to remember but now does 3 words sentences such as 'monkey in washing' and 'Mummy sit chair'. Sometimes get 4 word sentences now such as 'put it in there', etc.

2. Can't remember when her first word was..but think it was 'tractor' and at around 11 or 12 months

3. Didn't walk until she was 20 months old. Didn't even cruise until 18 months...just bum-shuffled

4/5) We read to her lots - she is know as the 'bookworm' at nursery as she can spend hours looking at books. She has stories in the morning, two stories before bedtime and then, if we're at home, we'll look at books during the day too.

6/7) Doesn't watch a huge amount of TV - she goes to nursery 5 days a week where there is no TV whatsoever, but will watch certain DVDs. She has 10 minutes of Kipper, Maisy, 64 Zoo Lane or something before bathtime as a wind down when she comes home from nursery. Sometimes has TV at weekends but mainly when we need to distract her for 15 minutes or so, so that we can do something like pack / unpack the car. We find horseracing, rugby or wildlife programmes particularly good for this..although to be honest she'll just watch whatever is available!!

Really interesting thread though.

DS is 25 months.

What words can your child say?
virtually anything! he now talks in longer sentences than i do 'i want apple juice in my cup now', 'go upstairs and change my nappy on my mat', 'i want to get out of car and say hello to mummy friend', (and my personal favourite)'don't you tell me i naughty mummy!'

At what age did they say their first word? around 1 year - slow to start, only 3 or 4 words for the first few months then suddenly started talking and never stopped!

How old were they when they started walking? 11 months

Do you read to your child?
If so how much and when in the day?
Every night before bed sometimes during the day too. He loves books and despite being a very active, physical child will sit and listen to entire stories from start to finish.

Do your children watch tv?
Yes, he does now -he wasn't the slightest bit interested in it until he was left alone with dad for a week! Although still won't sit and watch for more than a few minutes. I'm sure that's a good thing but somtimes don't you just long for the peace it brings!

DD is 25 months. She now repeats just about every word she hears, and has a lot of words. She doesn't link them that well, however, and is being evaluated for possible GDD (Global Developmental Delay) as she has been late w/all her 'milestones'.

Can't remember when her first words were, as had bad PND and was medicated till she was about 18 months and the drugs affected my memory.

She was 22 months when she started walking. Thanks to physiotherapy, she is now in the normal range of physical abilities for a child her age - goes up and down stairs, kicks a ball, jumps, throws a ball over her head, jumps, runs, etc.

Read to her at least once a day and she loves her books. She has a wee library and brings you books she wants you to read her. She particularly likes Maisy books.

She watches Cbeebies only. In the mornings. And she has a small collection of videos and DVDs which she likes to watch as well.

I was grossly exagerating I know realise
ds2 only has about 30 words in both languages and then you can only really understand him if it's in context, but he can put three of them together

nbg
Not read the whole thread through - saw recent ref to babysigning. Tracey who does Sheffield Tiny Talk babysigning has done some sessions at Barnsley Library. Might have been only one, but if you have her contact, you could find out if she's going to do any more? If you don't have her contact details, I can get them out of the Sheffield Telegraph for you.

NBG
Just wanted to reassure you with several points. Everyone says not to compare, but it is sooo hard. All parents do it. It's hard.

*My niece (now 25 months old) has only just started to speak in the last three or four months and the words have come thick and fast once she got going. My sister was really worried (like you are), but it just seemed to snowball once my niece got her first few words out. I guess it's like a switch that suddenly flicks on 'oh, objects have names' and then it doesn't stop.
*My own daughter (almost 15 months) has a few words, but nothing consistent. I sometimes wonder if people claim that their children can 'speak' when they are still just making noises that sound like words. In that case my daughter said 'dada' at seven months (but she didn't). My daughter has 'said' dog for ages, but applies it to dogs, doors, trees. However, she is following simple instructions (with no visual clues (eg close the door, knock on the door, kiss Daddy good night, blow a kiss, say bye bye etc etc) and I think that is more important than actually saying words.
*Finally, as a baby, I was speaking sentences at 18 months (seriously - full sentences, could carry out a conversation. Now that I have a child I can appreciate why my mum has always marvelled at this). However, I can't say that my early speech was any sign of greatness or great intellect - I now speak too quickly and mumble so fat lot of good speaking early did me!

What words can your child say?

when he was 2 he ahrdly spoke nowat 30 months he speaks in full sentences reasons with me and obviously wins everythime!!!!!

At what age did they say their first word?
As above!!

How old were they when they started walking?
about 14 months.

Do you read to your child?
If so how much and when in the day?
Whenever he asks me to..if I am avaikable !!!

Do your children watch tv?
If so roughly for how long, in a day?
Cbeebies is on almost all day when we are in!!!

talking in two word sentences after 6 months of speech...26 months. started talking about 20 months, mom and dad stuff

he loves books

can count to five alone, lol but skips four alot...

ds just started watch t.v. he didn't have a clue up until about 1.5 months ago...he will sit through harry potter though...loves it.

ds, has asthma. and gets repeated infection..needless to say he stays in a great deal (about 1 month at a time) and his energy level in rather low. he can stand horse play for about 30 min.

good point ajmum. It's fun for us all to brag about our 'clever' or 'quick' or just plain amazing babies - but in the long run it doesn't really mean that much and comparing is pretty useless. I remember when dd still didn't walk at 16 months and all but 1 of her peers had been on their feet for ages. Now she's 4 and two of her favourite things are football and ballet!

Well a few days ago dd started to say more and is using it well. Especially when she has her milk on a morning.
Also last night she said Mummy and has been saying it today but not to me directly but I'm sure that will come in time.

JS, Thanks for that info. I'll look Tracy up and give her a call.

What words can your child say?
none - he has some signs and some "noises" that I understand but not recognisable-to-strangers words. He can say dada come to think of it, little traitor.

At what age did they say their first word?
he's communicated for months (inc pointing) but no words.

How old were they when they started walking?
10 mths

Do you read to your child?
yes, not as often as I read to ds1 though

If so how much and when in the day?
before bedtime or if he brings me a book during the day.

Do your children watch tv?
yes, mainly ds1 though

If so roughly for how long, in a day?
depending on the weather anything from 0 - 3 hrs a day (rainy days and dvd's, poor lads get kicked outside if the sun is out). that's ds1 though, ds2 still to active to pay TV any attention.

For the record, ds1 had few words until he was almost two, then seemed to speak in complete sentences.

I agree with the baby signing - some people think that it slows down speech, but if you only teach a few signs, for the important things/most commonly used-drink, hungry/eat, sore, up etc in my experience, they talk faster. (Maybe they see how great it is to be able to tell you directly!) I used some sign (I learnt it from a book) with dd from 6 mths and still use the sign for toilet when we are out. (shes now 30mths) It may be unrelated but she spoke very quickly and although she does still have a slight "baby lisp" its always been pretty clear.