How many words does your 20 month old say?

[Shoegurl1]

DS seems to be generally hitting all his milestones, but only really says “hiya” and the occasional “dadda”. He seems to be developing in every other aspect but from what I’ve read, is maybe a little behind with his words. Am I working trying unnecessarily? Does anyone hve any suggestions on encouraging him to say more?

*worrying not working

Mine said hardly anything it seemed until overnight at around 21months and his vocabulary has simply exploded. He went from maybe 5 to 40-50 and every day there’s a new one. I’d try not to worry too much - I know it’s easier said than done.

KTD27 thanks, that’s encouraging to hear. You know what it’s like with DM and MIL and medically trained DS asking all the those me. Just feel like we should be doing more, but other than talking to him, reading to him and repeating objects etc I’m not sure what else to do...

*all the time. Sorry, sausage fingers

Our ds is almost 22 months and has about 50 words, as op said it literally seemed to happen overnight. I wouldn't worry, my younger sister had barely 5 words at 2 and she's fine and my nephew had very few words til he was almost 3. They're all different I really wouldn't worry about it

Thank you lorelairoryemily - do you have any ideas on anything else we can be doing with him to encourage him to say more?

My DD is 22 months and only says five words. I've spoken to the HV and GP and neither are concerned. She's meeting all other milestones, her understanding is fantastic (I would estimate that she knows - as in can point out objects or bring me items - around 200 words) and she has no hearing issues.

Both told me to just encourage descriptive play, read lots (which we do anyway, DD is a bookworm!), praise when they do say a new word and don't stress.

They have a development check here around age 2 and the HV said if DD isn't speaking by then they'll arrange a review for age 2.5. Still not speaking at 2.5 then they'll start referrals to SALT, but she said the vast majority of children are chatting away by then.

DS is incredibly chatty. He’s bang on 20 months and he just doesn’t stop talking at the moment. Words not sentences but loads of them. Dozens. Including ‘Batman’ (proud mum moment, grandparents less impressed). This isn’t a not so stealth boast though (promise) cause I wanted to compare with DD (two years older) said bugger all at this age. Mummy. Daddy. ‘Allo!’ at a push. She seemed to understand what we were saying but just wasn’t fussed about speaking. She didn’t say much at all until just shy of her second birthday when suddenly she was flying. We did exact the same thing with both of them - word books, naming things, bedtime stories, incessant chatting, everything. It’s just it wasn’t her thing but was his.

Please don’t worry about it. It sounds like your DS is a happy little boy who’s developing well. Try and ignore people comparing and ‘advising’ no matter how well meaning. It doesn’t help, no one is more of an expert about your DS than you are, no matter how well they know child education gubbins. Smile, nod, ignore. Try not to worry.

My MIL and GMIL keep going on about how DD is so well developed in loads of ways ‘...but can’t write yet.’ She’s bloody three. I try and ignore but you do worry should I be doing more. Try and silence the worries :)

Thank you so much theBlindspot and GeekyWombat - making me feel much better. Will just continue with the loud (annoying) repetition and singing and trying to read a story without DS turning the pages at lightening speed so I end up gabbling outbthe story and speaking as though someone’s pressed the fast forward button!

Mine Is 2 in a couple weeks and only has 5 words

@Shoegurl1 we just do what you're doing! Sing, read to him and tell him over and over what everything is. He started off with animal sounds, after the usual mama, dada, baba, it was all moos and oinks!!

One of mine chatted away in sentences at 20 months, the other said practically nothing. I remember trying to count his words when he turned 2, and he had 5 - but only just. So 'mumumum', 'dadadad' etc rather than actual clear words.
He started saying more from about 2 and a half, and by three we couldn't shut him up!

It sounds to me like your dd2 is doing fine. He's only little still and if everything else is fine, I'm sure he'll get there.

I was given some tips to encourage our little one...
Rather than saying let’s put that here or let’s out that down say... let’s out the train on the table.
Play with them on their level so sit on the floor or on their little table.
Encourage them to make sounds for what they are playing with e.g. nee nor for ambulance or fire truck, brrrrrm for car or motorbike etc.
Try to make conversation with the TV and radio off no distraction. Even if you are just talking to yourself you may find they attempt to reply or make some noises
Repeat back any sounds they do make
Play games and sing songs with repetition I.e peekabo, old macdonald
Use nappy changing and feeding times to talk about what you are doing, the plan for the day, talk about what you are eating, what are you eating? is it warm, cold, crunch.
Children learn by listening to you so the more you talk the more they hear. Even if they don’t know many words yet or don’t reply they will listen and start to pick it up.
Hope that helps!!