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Original poster

14month old - No words/ not speaking

53 replies

Katewillows1 · 15/11/2021 00:33

Hi All,
Just seeing if anyone can please give me some advice. My nearly 14month old DS has no clear words as yet... He is very vocal and babbles alot but isn't speaking any words and doesn't copy anything we say... He say 'mamama' but it's not directed at me, so he isn't connecting the babble with me...
He's doing well in most other areas, makes good eye contact with ppl, laughs and giggles, is engaging, responds to his name, claps, waves to hi and bye, points to things he wants, points to things he finds interesting, sleeps through the night, walks, fairly good eater....
At his 12 month check, the Dr indicted at 1year he should have 2 clear words other than Mum and Dad... I wasn't concerned at the time, but 2 months later there's still no speech...
Do you think I should be worried? Or just wait & see?
Thanks so much Smile

OP posts:
ShagMeRiggins · 15/11/2021 00:44

Did the doctor say what the next step would be if there’s no change?

This is anecdotal, but one of my cousins didn’t really have words until he was three years old. He has a PhD now and is working on a project that converts dew into clean water. He’s also happily married, has two children, and plays a mean set of drums.

Get more advice from the GP.

Original poster
Katewillows1 · 15/11/2021 07:17

@ShagMeRiggins Thank you for the reply... do you think this could be cause for concern?

OP posts:
Wagglerock · 15/11/2021 07:20

He's really young still, he's got loads of time to develop. DS didn't talk till 2.5yo and you'd never know now.

Interested in this thread?

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1 year olds Behaviour & development Families General parenting
RampantIvy · 15/11/2021 07:27

I wouldn't expect a 14 month old to be able to say anything yet.

Namechangeforthis88 · 15/11/2021 07:30

Mine didn't speak till he was two and a bit. Now 12, quite bright, never stops talking. If everything else is fine, it's too early to be concerned.

ronswansonstache · 15/11/2021 07:34

My 14 month old hasn't spoken yet either. She babbles, waves, points, does all the things you've mentioned but no actual words. I'm not sure many of the babies in my Nct group have said actual words yet either.

I don't always think it's helpful for Drs/ health visitors to be preoccupied with milestones. They'll all get there in their own time!

Evelyn52 · 15/11/2021 07:35

I have twins who had a couple of words at their 2 year check and the HV wasn't concerned. In their 3rd year it clicked into place and they went from nothing to sentences in a few months 😊 I wouldn't worry ATM he's still so little

ToDuk · 15/11/2021 07:36

I would be asking for a referral for a hearing test to make sure that's not the reason.

idontlikealdi · 15/11/2021 07:37

Walking at one, talking at two.

legalseagull · 15/11/2021 07:38

I wouldn't expect a 14 month old to have words. I think you're worried prematurely. It'll come

WishICouldButIDontWantTo · 15/11/2021 07:42

@ToDuk

I would be asking for a referral for a hearing test to make sure that's not the reason.
If he's responding to his name, hearing is probably fine. OP, is he getting upset/frustrated at not being understood or anything? You mention he's pointing to what he wants and using gesture etc. Model the words for him when he does this so he can take it all in and use the words when he's ready. As others have said, he is still quite young and might just be a bit late in using his verbal communication skills. Very positive about eye contact, engagement and using pointing/gesture though, so continue to encourage this. See how he is when he's 2/2.5 before seeking help I'd say.
ToDuk · 15/11/2021 07:42

www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/when-babies-start-talking/zd7bscw?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=when-do-babies-start-talking

This is a useful article. Some ideas of other things to look out for eg understanding and communication.

SophieHatterPendragon · 15/11/2021 07:44

Given all the other things you mention (eye contact, responding to people, clapping & pointing etc) I wouldn’t be too worried OP. Talking usually comes a bit later (those questionnaires the HV use can be a bit ridiculous and scary to parents sometimes)

I knew at 14 months something wasn’t right with my now 3.5 yr old because he didn’t babble, make any sounds really, point, clap, respond to his name or any sound stimulus, wave or acknowledge people in any way etc he was non verbal until he was 3 and is on the autism pathway. In comparison his sister didn’t say much either but like your Ds she did all the other normal stuff then around 18-19 months we got more words and she just turned two and speaks in lovely little 3/4 word sentences

Evelyn52 · 15/11/2021 07:45

Also, I've just remembered our boys consultant saying it's not unusual for many kids to only have 4-5 words by 3! They all have very different opinions on everything these child 'experts'. Xx

Evelyn52 · 15/11/2021 07:47

If you're worried about hearing just drop something on the floor when he's not looking and see if he turns to the sound.

Thetrainisinthestation · 15/11/2021 07:47

My 18 month child isn’t saying any words yet either

ToDuk · 15/11/2021 07:50

@Evelyn52

If you're worried about hearing just drop something on the floor when he's not looking and see if he turns to the sound.
No!

Seriously, hearing is so much more than this. I work with children who could hear something like that but still have significant hearing loss which impacts their language.

cookiemonster2468 · 15/11/2021 07:50

1 year is only an average for first words, many children are earlier or later than this, and it doesn't really matter - it doesn't have much indication for their future speech & language.

14 months is too early to be worrying about it, especially as he has good non-verbal interaction.

If he gets to 18-20 months and still has no words, ask for a speech & language therapist assessment.

gogohm · 15/11/2021 07:51

The normal range for language is 9 months to 2 years, so a lot of variation! Dd1 did have issues and was referred to the diagnostic pathway at 2 with no language, her sister at 18 months also had no language and so was referred earlier (autism can be genetic so runs in families) however by 2 she developed speech and is not autistic

cookiemonster2468 · 15/11/2021 07:53

Also bear in mind your GP is not an expert in child language. They are simply going by an average milestone.

Speech & Language therapy wouldn't take a referral for your child based on this - particularly as his other development is normal. Just give him a bit more time.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 15/11/2021 08:02

My DD will be 21mths later this month and she's not talking either. We've recently got 'daddy' but that's it for proper words. There's been fleeting use of words but she then goes back to making noises rather than words.
We had a health visitor a few months ago who wasn't worried at all about the language issue and said it's become clear that due to Covid, the lack of socialising has become evident.
Even now we rarely see family and she doesn't go to nursery so I'm not surprised her language is behind.

milissa · 15/11/2021 10:59

DD is 16 months and no words. Not yet walking either but nearly there I think.

It's hard not to worry isn't it? DD points at what she wants, pushes things away if we give her the wrong thing, babbles etc. and if I say where is your head she touches her head. I'm trying to not worry because it is a vast space of time during which they start to talk.

Original poster
Katewillows1 · 15/11/2021 11:15

Thank you so, so much for all your advice and points of view.
Logically I can see my DS is developing well, but of course there's that bit of Mum worry about the few things he's not doing. I talk to him ALOT, and make sure I acknowledge and name whatever he points at... hopefully it just clicks and the real words come x

OP posts:
Grasshopper90 · 15/11/2021 22:16

I don’t think DD had any proper words by 14 months either (though babbled constantly). I think words coincided with her starting walking (around 15 months) and came thick and fast from then. She’s just turned 2 and has an impressive vocabulary and uses a range of simple sentences, adjectives, etc. I wouldn’t worry at all yet.

Embracelife · 15/11/2021 22:18

Teach him makaton signs from something special

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