Advice on teaching first words - toddler

[doadeer]

Hi there,

Can I get some advice about DS.

He is 15 months, such a joyful, lovely little boy- laughs all the time. But he isn't trying to form any words or animal sounds etc at all. He's been saying mamma and dadda since 10 months. Has always been vocal in terms of noises ever since he was little but he has no interest at all in trying to copy words, point to things or make animal sounds.

He loves books and we read them so many times a day, if I say "Look DS a cat!" "What noise does a cat make, meow" for example he just looks at me, then goes back and turns the page (or sometimes he raises an eyebrow!)

I think he understands me, is good with simple commands and he has an excellent sense for games like hide and seek.

Is this normal? Is there anything I can be doing to encourage or am I just being ridiculously impatient?

At 15months all DD said was 'dack'. It meant that/duck/dog. 'muuuuummy' meant she wanted something.

She had about 20 words (plus animal noises) and could put two together by 18 months and was doing four word sentences by two. (And now at 3.5 never shuts up).

I wouldn't worry just yet, it sounds like you're doing all the right things.

Thank you!

I know this sounds bad but I Can't wait for him to start having language. These are very long days in a flat with a toddler ha ha

DD also walked at 11 months so I think maybe her brain was more focused on spatial stuff rather than words for those few months, can't do everything at once!

It'll come. I found 15 months to about two absolutely amazing in terms of watching DD turn into a little person.

DD is the same age and pretty similar. She has a few words - dada and bubble are the clearest two - and she can pick out all the different animals from her collection of finger puppets when asked, and do signs for some of them, but she's not particularly trying to say their names or make their sounds. She's happy making noises generally, but not really forming words.

She's just starting walking so I don't know whether maybe her brain is occupied elsewhere at the moment! But I am also impatient!

I would look at walkie talkie speech therapy on youtube. My DS had significant speech delay essentially due to glue ear. He could hardly hear us so we've had to do a lot of work and her videos have really helped.

15 months is very young so I wouldn't be worried at this stage.

Just to clarify I wouldn't be worried at 15 months but speech therapy can only help. I found the games really helpful. Also five minute mum (has a book/instagram) has some great play ideas to help with speech etc. Maybe a little bit young for some of the activities in the book but her Instagram has lots of great ideas.

Thank you everyone for supportive messages and good ideas I'll look. His attitude to everything is very relaxed he was standing up unsupported at 9 months but it took ages from then until he could start walking he just wasn't bothered 🙈

I'm such a do it now person I need to learn a lot more patience ha ha