[MissM86]

DD is 15 months and only says Mama and Dada and Do for dog. She understands everything really well (even complicated things like 'Turn around and sit down facing that way') and people often comment on how well she understands things. She can clap hands, knows where her head and belly button and feet are and can do things like turn on the tv and so forth. She started walking at 9 months and has reached all the other developmental milestones within the earlyish range but I can't help worrying!



The book I bring to the health nurse for the 18 month check up (the Blue Book) says that at 18 months she should say 5-10 words and I am wondering if she will catch up in the next two months. She babbles a lot but its actually just a lot of Doh Doh Doh and Lalala sounds and up and down intonations.

Do you think this sounds like I should be worried or am I being silly? I don't even know what this would indicate or what I should be worried about in terms of delays etc.

This post has been edited by MissM86: 10/01/2013, 06:40 PM

[HezzaB]

My DD is 15 mts and a bit and has only started two words used consistently in context, in the last week or two.

Like yours she understands a LOT.

I am not (yet) worried as she babbles mimicking speech and understands what you say to her.

So I wouldn't be too worried for your DD either, we will probably find they take off really quickly now they are getting started.

[OneProudMum]

It sounds to me like she is developing fine and I bet you will notice a big difference in a month!

[Eternally]

My almost 18 month old is the same, hardly says any words, but is very good at expressing her needs in other ways and understands heaps. She is good at animal noises, says mama and dada, and sings along with sounds, so I'm not worried.

The usual applies though, if you are worried, you can make an appoint,ent with GP or MCHN.

[OneProudMum]

PS you often hear of children who are "late talkers" and then you can't stop them! They are like parrots! You are probably in for a treat.

[Brownbear]

I was also worried when my son only said 2 or 3 words at that age.

About 2 weeks before his 18 month check-up, he had a sudden explosion of words and now (at 19 months) says several hundred words and has started stringing them together.

Your DD sounds fine!

[Madnesscraves]

Wouldn't worry yet. DD is 1 barely says much but understands so many commands. DH was the same and didn't speak until he was like 2-3? It was bc he was so good at featuring what he wanted there was no need to speak! His mum had to basically make him say the word to get what he wanted. Sounds like your child is fine and smart to me!

[AntiBourgeoisie]

Kids usually concentrate on a few developmental goals at a time. If she is physically active and an early walker, it follows that speech might be come later. Even bright kids are generally not 'ahead of the curve' in everything.
Her speech at 15 months sounds within the spectrum of normal. One of my children said his first word at 14 months (while his best friend could say 20), had a couple at 15 months , and by 18 months had probably 100 words and was speaking in 2 word sentences. You may find that your child is quick off the mark at this age.
The reason the speech milestone is set at 18 months (and not earlier) is because there is huge variability before this age. As long as she shows signs of being able to hear, it is unlikely anyone will be too concerned until she is 18 months.
Now that she has a few words, you can encourage acquisition of more words by pointing out and naming everything for her clearly.

[MissBB]

I don't think you have anything to worry about OP! She sounds fine!
I bet she'll pick up heaps of new words over the next 3-4 months. Just keep reading to her :-)
I have a friend who's child was born 1 week before mine, who said her LO was having full on convos by 18 months :-/ but they pick up words so quick, if she's still not talking at 2 years then maybe look into it, but honestly she sounds perfect.

[lsolaBella]

I had two late talkers.

One with less then 10 words at 24m. The other with around 15.

By three my eldest was "I think perhaps a train may be coming soon". By 5 was always asked "does he ever shut up"

In first grade he is reading years ahead and is doing 2-4th grade maths. A very bright spark.

DS2 we discovered at 2.5yrs when he finally talked more that he actually had moderate hearing loss. He had amazing coping abilities so it was not picked up earlier. Even with grommets in at 3 it still took until he was over 4yrs to return a normal hearing test. Al his assessor s talk about how bright he is.

DD didn't have much at 15m, but by 20m was saying Ds1Name give me ball back NOW,

So like PP have said just keep an eye on it and monitor. Also remember sometimes there are words which your child uses which you may not notice are words.