16 month old speech

[Whathefisgoingon]

I’ve just seen yet another horrifying video online with a mother crying because her 18 month old only has a few words and has been told he should have 50 by 2 years of age. It’s set me off!

My 16 month old babbles and talks all day long. Everybody comments on how vocal he is, including his swimming teacher etc. Compared to other kids his age he never stops.... but as for actual words, he only says “cat.” He’s obsessed with cats. Every time he sees our cat, he points her out and calls her cat. Same goes for cats in books or ornaments etc. He recognises birds in books (he also loves birds) but he’ll just point and them and go “ehhhhh” or some other sound.

He’ll say “mama” but if I say it first. If I ask “where’s dads” he’ll look at his dad, or if I ask him to give me the cup etc he’ll give it to me - so he definitely understands.

I talk to him all the time - but this video has got me worrying again!

He’s not walking either but he climbs absolutely everything (and has been for months) and now stands independently. His dad didn’t walk until 18 months.

Does this all sound normal?

Totally normal.

He has 8 whole months to go until he is 2. They change so rapidly at this age that he will be pretty much a whole new person in 8 months time. Just think about what he was like 8 months ago compared to now.

My advice. Stop watching videos online and stop worrying about milestones. He sounds like he's got not problems with his movement or his speech so there's no need to spend all your time worrying now about stuff that very likely won't actually be a problem.

Totally agree with Green. Sounds like your Googling might be the issue rather than his development

Thanks both! It was just a video I saw on social
media, wasn’t actively looking - I stopped that a long time ago

ds was like this...babbled until about 22 months? Woke up on day saying a couple of whole sentences and words! He still babbles a lot but SALT dismissed us because he doesn't need it after he was referred. They all go at their own pace and our consultant told us that the pandemic has a lot to answer for.

I wouldn't worry, I know it's hard though.

Even at 2 my DD did not have anywhere near 50 words, maybe 20. Now at 2 and a half I can't count how many, definitely over 100, and is speaking in sentences.

Don't worry at all, looking back at my own worry it seems like such a waste! My paed told me they work on different skills at different times, and for DD1 language came last (after fine motor skills and gross motor skills like running and walking).