18 month old and language

[PopcornAndWine]

Hi my DD is 18 months today and not talking, aside from 'mama' and 'dada' and a couple of animal noises. She has said a couple of other things that sound very like words e.g. 'water' and 'book' but then not repeated them. Physically she is grand, she walked quite early, she is very active, can use a spoon and fork and do stacking and shape sorting with only a small bit of help. She is very good-natured, usually smiley and happy and very affectionate. She lets us know what she wants e.g. by pointing. So it's just the language - I know I'm probably worrying about nothing but part of the problem is we aren't seeing any other children so don't know if she is behind or not! I saw something today that said by 18 months they should have at least 10 words and be starting to put words together as well. So it got me a bit worried but don't know if I should be? Thanks all.

I might be wrong, but I think the threshold for intervention by speech and language is fewer than 10 words at their 2 year developmental check. If that's the case, you've got a little while yet.

My 18 month old has only really started accelerating quite quickly with language over the last couple of weeks. You might find something just clicks and it all comes spilling out. Six months is a long time in a toddler's life.

Also, I think professionals put more store on receptive (understanding) rather than expressive language. Does she respond to what you're saying and follow basic requests like 'get your shoes'?

My DD didn't say a word until she was 2. Never said 'mama', very rarely said 'dada' but not appropriately. She didn't really point at anything. She was a very early walker so was always able to go and get what she wanted without asking.

At the 2 year development checks I was expecting the health visitor to refer her for further checks but I was told they don't do anything until they are about 2 and a half.

A week or so after her second birthday she started constantly talking - all these words just fell out of her mouth. It was like she had been learning them and storing them up until she was ready to use them 🤷
2 months after her second birthday and she won't shut up 😂

Try not to worry X x

Ah thanks that's very reassuring! Yes she can understand basic commands like 'put that back' or 'give that to mummy'. And she can do things like if she wants to go outside, she will go and get her wellie boots and give them to us!

I wouldn't worry. My daughter sounds just like yours. Mine walked at 8 months, was very physically able to do anything, loved her toys, babbled all the time, very engaged, but she barely said a thing until she was 2.5. I admit, I was worried sick, but it was because I was comparing her to my first born who was a VERY early talker and never stopped talking from the minute he started. I even had her hearing tested 2 times, but like their doctor said, how could my daughter get a word in edgewise with her brother! It was true.

Needless to say, she is now 21 years old and absolutely brilliant. I'm positive your daughter will be, too!

@Aquamarine1029 your DD sounds lovely