Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Toddler speech

5 replies

swirly3468 · 19/05/2023 21:24

My son turned 17 months today and he said his first word at 8 months (dada), just wondering what is normal at this age?? I thought he would be saying a lot more by now but I'm not worried.
He constantly babbles (talks ) and makes a lot of sounds like "T" "M" "K". He says mama, dada, ball, book, dog, consistently (as in every day).
He can sound out other words but doesn't use them regularly (if that makes sense), he's sounded out grandad , car, nana, cat, gorilla, tractor, duck to name a few.
He also knows all the animal noises and sounds them out really well.

I'm a first time mum but my friend said to me that he wasn't saying much considering he's 16/17 months. She also said boys are more "lazy". He's just started walking well within the last month also.
I have no concerns what so ever by the way as I know they all develop at different rates but I am just curious to see how other toddlers are around the same age.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Truestorypeeps · 19/05/2023 21:28

My second son is saying less than yours and he is 19 months old. He understands everything though and that's the most important thing developmentally. My eldest is now six and was the same as the first and didn't really get going with speech until he was 3. He's now a great talker with a wide vocabulary and speaks better than most of his peers. I wouldn't be concerned, they all get there in the end.

PinkButtercups · 19/05/2023 21:39

My DS is 3 and was considered a late talker. He would say the odd thing here and there but it was never raised as behind by anyone.
At his 2 year HV check I asked to be referred to speech and language. He had one appointment where she said he was absolutely fine by this point he was saying things like 'red car, blue car' etc.

His cousin is 3m younger and was talking away and I just mentioned it and the speech and language lady said, you will have kids that repeat every single word thrown at them and not know the true meaning of the word and understand. Then you will have the quieter children who will observe and listen and try to understand the meanings to these words so when they say it they know the meaning behind it. She said she finds this a lot with later talkers that when they start to speak more they can have more fluent conversations because they understand the meanings of the words. That was true with my DS and going to nursery really helped his speech too!

LaMadrilena · 19/05/2023 21:43

At 17m, my DD could say about 25 words (I kept track and wrote them down as I am a language geek!) But some of them she later seemed to forget, then come back to. I know plenty of kids who didn't talk till later. As you say, they all develop differently. It's fascinating!

DS, now nearly 2, is being brought up bilingual and it's been interesting to see how she started off mostly on English from my input, and now speaks mostly Spanish but can understand (nearly) everything I say to her (whether she takes any notice or not is a different question...)

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Behaviour & development Families General parenting
Original poster
swirly3468 · 19/05/2023 21:45

PinkButtercups · 19/05/2023 21:39

My DS is 3 and was considered a late talker. He would say the odd thing here and there but it was never raised as behind by anyone.
At his 2 year HV check I asked to be referred to speech and language. He had one appointment where she said he was absolutely fine by this point he was saying things like 'red car, blue car' etc.

His cousin is 3m younger and was talking away and I just mentioned it and the speech and language lady said, you will have kids that repeat every single word thrown at them and not know the true meaning of the word and understand. Then you will have the quieter children who will observe and listen and try to understand the meanings to these words so when they say it they know the meaning behind it. She said she finds this a lot with later talkers that when they start to speak more they can have more fluent conversations because they understand the meanings of the words. That was true with my DS and going to nursery really helped his speech too!

Wow that's really interesting and does make total sense.
My son understands everything and can follow so many instructions, he is more of a thinker too and absolutely Loves books. I mean I have to read about 100 a day 🥲😂. I find child development so interesting.
He's just started nursery , he does 2 afternoons a week.
Thanks for you reply

OP posts:
PinkButtercups · 19/05/2023 22:51

You'll soon see his speech pick up now he is at nursery. Well I find that is the case for most toddlers anyway.

My DS loves books too!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page