14 month old not talking? Behind milestones?

[Laalaalala]

Son is 14 months. First child. Crawling since around 11 months. Last 2 months standing and cruising furniture now last few days taking a few steps and standing without holding on etc

but at a push he says dadada no mama etc. I’m not sure he even knows what it means. Not the best at responding to his name but definitely can hear well. Doesn’t seem to understand what no means. Says no other words, if I ask for a ball etc he doesn’t know. Doesn’t point really either and can clap but not for a reason just seems a fluke he starts doing it.

should he be saying and knowing more by this age??

I think it's fine OP? What does the nhs say? I feel like a few words by 14months is spot on then they have these language 'explosions' where they can say another 5 words overnight, it isn't linear

@Alwaystired2023 thank you for replying.

nhs says one or two words like mama dada and maybe starting to put a few words together. It’s hard to know what’s normal etc and not compare!

Don't compare, adults are all different, babies are all different, the guidelines are just that, not instructions for humans. Enjoy your baby, they'll be talking every moment they're awake when they're 8 so enjoy the peace!

My 14 mo seems to understand quite a bit of what I'm saying but is no where near speaking himself!

14 months is definitely on the younger side to be speaking.

His understanding matters more than whether he can speak. Does he know any words at all? If you say ‘teddy/ball/doggy’ does he look at it?

Give the progress checker on Speech and Language U.K. a go, they have a hotline you can call for advice if you’re worried

https://progress-checker.speechandlanguage.org.uk/

In terms of pointing it matters because it’s a sign of shared attention. Shared attention basically means they draw your attention to something so you can share their interest/pleasure in it. Does he bring you toys, or hold them up as if to say ‘look at this’? Does he look at something interesting like a dog and look back to you and smile as if to say ‘look mummy’?

Oh I think it's fine, it is so hard to not compare but they all do things in their own time, my one didn't crawl ever, started walking around 14months (inside only) walking outside around 16-18months and now doesn't stop running at 4years old! It's like a little light switch when they decide they want to do something. Am pretty sure she only said door for the first two years of her life too...

I’m going to be honest and say you’ve raised a few red flags- no responding to name, nor pointing, clapping or waving contextually. I think it’s probably something to mention to your health visitor? My little one was similar at that age.

My DD has only just started talking at 24 months, I don't think she had any words apart from animal sounds at 14 months. They are coming thick and fast now. 14 months is very early for talking I think, I definitely wouldn't worry about that. They really do just do things at their own pace, he's still very young.

I would say there's still time to point, and do gestures and even talk. How is his eye contact?

These threads always attract people giving anecdotal experience that their children were the same and caught up... raising little talkers is a great insta account, she is a speech therapist and explains that most catch up, but some don't without intervention, and rather than wait and see (and potentially them falling further behind and not catching up), it's better to intervene early (even if the chances are they would have caught up). She has lots of tips for promoting speech development. I think no/ few words at this age is common, but the lack of understanding is a bit of a red flag for me

My first child did little more than that till she was two .... then spoke in sentences! They are all different.

Honestly? this was our DD... very physical could do a 1km walk at 14/15m was a confident climber but she didnt have 3 words at a year.

at 15/16m her "best friend" would come to play and say "hello greatgateauxsby. How are you? Can i have a biscuit please?" And could sing twinkle twinkle and other nursery songs....
My dd would point at my DH and announce "Mama!" 😅
However! She could def understand what we were saying, instructions lile "get your shoes" etc.
Now at 2 she's a chatterbox.

I'd keep an eye on it but i wouldnt worry.

Ds1 didn’t talk until he was 2. No learning delay or difficulties - he’s going to Oxford in the Autumn provided he gets the A Level grades. I wouldn’t read anything into your dc’s language ability now.

Development in children has a range, for speech it's 9 months to 2 years. At 14 months there is nothing to worry about

Both my children were slow talkers, just a handful of words at 18 months, although obviously understanding most of what was being said. Both were later at top of classes etc.
Don't worry they are all different

My DD had a few words by 10/11 months. My DS, now 14 months has “yes” and “no” and I’m still pretty unconvinced that he knows what they mean rather than just parroting. It’s a range and speaking early/late doesn’t mean they are a prodigy or that there’s anything wrong. If he’s still not said anything by 18 months maybe get him checked but even then I’d guess it’s still far more likely to be nothing to worry about.

That sounds like my DD when she was younger. She’s now 3.5, non-verbal and awaiting an autism assessment.

It’s not so much the lack of words that is concerning but the lack of gestures/understanding makes me think there’s no harm in reaching out to a health visitor for further advice/help.

Don’t want to over worry you but I wish I knew then what I know now.