Print Page | Close Window

Talking - should I be worried

Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35860
Printed Date: 20 August 2025 at 11:20am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Talking - should I be worried
Posted By: Bexee
Subject: Talking - should I be worried
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 10:32am
DS is 13 months old and doesn't talk. He makes noises but has no real "words" as such - makes sounds like mamamama, dadadada and says duck and star after us, but nothing that I can really claim as a first word.

He's social, plays games, waves, certainly understands what no means (even if he doesn't always follow it) but I'm starting to get worried.

Should I be?



Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 10:35am
Nope, Daniel was the same. I was worried when he was 2 because he had no real sentences or really many words but now he can tell us stories. Just keep an eye on his progress


Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 10:41am
Freckle's the expert on child language but at 13 months, I'd be happy with what he's doing.

-------------
Mum to two wee boys


Posted By: Flutterby
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 12:00pm
My boy is almost 18mths and he has only really started using proper words in the last couple of months. And still no sentences that I can hear.

-------------
http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">


Posted By: Joscia
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 12:43pm

DS is nearly 16 months and sounds similar to your boy. He has said the occasional word, but nothing consistently. He definitely understands what is said to him though. I wouldn't worry at all!



-------------
http://alterna-tickers.com">


Posted By: Bel
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 1:21pm
My DD is nearly 18months and only just starting with words in the last month or so - my family were starting t question whether she should be talking yet, so luckily she started!!

-------------
Mum to two beautiful kids   
Luke (09.11.2007)
Amy (01.04.2009)


Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 3:08pm
Bec Bella is the same, she says Mama and thats about it.

Caden has only just started to "talk" properly he was still babbling up until about 18-20 months.

At 13 months, I wouldnt really expect them to be talking to be honest.

-------------



Posted By: catisla
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 3:53pm
DD has only just started to put two words together, and only just started calling herself by her name (instead of referring to herself as Baba). She turned 2 last week.

I am not so worried as she understands perfectly when we ask her to do things, and is able to make us understand what she wants with the laguage she has got.

-------------



Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 4:32pm
My oldest has only just started talking so others can understand him and he is nearly 3. I was worried about him as he seemed "delayed" in his talking but now I can't shut him up.

It appears #2 will the same as he isn't even babbling a whole lot let alone attempting any words at all!

-------------
       


Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 5:25pm
BecM - he sounds all good to me! Also remember those first words often don't sound much like the actual word cos at this age there speech sound inventory is very restricted... so sometimes it takes awhile to recognise that a word is a word IYGWIM... Just keep on talking lots (in short and simple phases) and he'll start repeating you more and more

-------------
mum to 3 lovely girls :D


Posted By: Shelt
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 8:06pm
I don't have this but I was reading a toddler taming book the other day and they said that toddlers can't tune out background noise. I noticed that G often ignores what i am saying when I have the radio or the TV on and even though some of the time its coz she is being a monkey sometimes its coz she can't concentrate on what I am saying due to the noise. The book recommended switching off all background noise for at least half an hour a day and talking/reading to them to encourage verbal skills.

-------------
http://lilypie.com">


Posted By: NovemberMum
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 8:29pm
I wouldnt be too worried at this age. At 13 months my daughter was barely stringing two words together she started talking (saying one word sentences) around 16 months and now at almost 3 I cannot keep her quiet

-------------
http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">


Posted By: Delli
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 9:30pm
Jude doesn't really have any words. He does sounds like woof, moo, nah, mum and dada but I couldn't really claim a first word either. He is very good at communicatng via baby sign language tho

I wouldn't be worried. Some kids just don't talk until later on - my cousin didn't say a thing 'til he was four! (and when he finally spoke, it was a whole sentence )

-------------
http://lilypie.com">



Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 9:45pm
Delli - if he is saying those words independantly they are common first words! it becomes a word when it has intention behind it which I assume they do... Also I would never say a child with only a few words at 13 months is talking later There is a big range that is considered to be normal for speech and language development. Generally first words start appearing around 1 and by 18 months they typically have around 50 words, but 6 months either side of this is still considered within the normal range... so to have a few words at this age according to developmental norms is typical development not late at all

-------------
mum to 3 lovely girls :D


Posted By: kandk
Date Posted: 22 September 2010 at 10:28pm
DS has no words at all yet - not even Mum or Dad! Or no! And he is 19 months. Oh well, one day...

-------------
http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">


Posted By: palomino
Date Posted: 23 September 2010 at 8:09am
DS had no words, no mum or dad or anything up untill about 2months ago, Now he is a parrot, and tries to say anything and everything. I was worried too, but they all seem to get there in their own time. Thats good that he has got an understanding and is social.


Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 23 September 2010 at 8:33am
This is nothing to do with the OP as I do feel it sounds like he is well within the typical developmental range... but I just can't not say this sorry - I did try ... comments like "they get there in their own time", and "some kids are just late talkers" (not picking on anyone sorry as I know it's said all the time!) are often true, but sadly not all the time (I wouldn't have a career if that was the case). Sometimes there are underlying causes for the difficulties, such as; hearing difficulties, oral motor difficulties, anatomical problems, undiagnosed disorders, specific language disorders and so on that are only discovered when a child presents with delayed/disordered speech and/or language. More often than not the former is the case and they go onto catch up but occasionally help is needed to facilitate their development. Also the implications both socially and academically need to be taken into consideration when deciding to take a wait and see approach, and often with a little bit of help children can make great gains in a short amount of time especially when intervention is provided at a young age. Delays in speech sound development often lead to later literacy difficulties as well. In my mind (being totally biased as I am a speech language therapist with preschoolers ) I feel that if concerns arise with children meeting their speech and language milestones it is best to have an assessment even if it is just for peace of mind, and then if there is any causal factors they can be dealt with early...

-------------
mum to 3 lovely girls :D


Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 23 September 2010 at 9:10am
Like

-------------
Mum to two wee boys


Posted By: Delli
Date Posted: 23 September 2010 at 11:30am
Originally posted by freckle freckle wrote:

Delli - if he is saying those words independantly they are common first words! it becomes a word when it has intention behind it which I assume they do... Also I would never say a child with only a few words at 13 months is talking later There is a big range that is considered to be normal for speech and language development. Generally first words start appearing around 1 and by 18 months they typically have around 50 words, but 6 months either side of this is still considered within the normal range... so to have a few words at this age according to developmental norms is typical development not late at all


Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that 13 months was late! It most definitely is not What I meant to imply was that there is quite a while yet before the OP needed to worry about bubs not talking. Although, if my child was almost four and not talking as my cousin was then I most certainly would be concerned and would have had an assessment well before then (even though he was one of the ones who had no underlying causes and had no problems speaking after that - and they think he may have been practicing by himself without anyone knowing for a while seeing as his first words were a sentence )



-------------
http://lilypie.com">



Posted By: kiwigal
Date Posted: 23 September 2010 at 11:39am

DD has just turn 2 and already saying just over 30 words and is started to put 2-3 words together. Up to a few months ago she was only probably saying about 10-15 words.

Boys do tend to be slower than girls but at 13 months I wouldn't worry about until he is 18 months or so and if you still have got lot of concerns then get him checked out.



Posted By: Bexee
Date Posted: 23 September 2010 at 7:14pm
I guess my concern is I don't feel like he has any words that he uses on a regular basis with meaning. Lots of ohs and ahs and sounds, but not a consistant word.

Thanks for all the posts. I'll keep an eye on it and see how we go. With aspergers in the family, I guess it is just something I'm super aware of.


Posted By: BlondeLady
Date Posted: 18 October 2010 at 3:30pm
My DD is 18 months actual age, approx. 15 months corrected. She was 15 weeks prem so we have kept a sharp eye on all of her developmental milestones for any problems.
We have only started getting distinct words popping through in the past 3 months, but she definitely understands the words & concepts we use with her and loves signing in which she has a great 'vocabulary'.
We were told there can be 3-6 months difference in milestones and age in different children and this can be so varied by the time they hit 3 that the corrected age used to assess prem babies becomes obsolete.
I seem to remember the term 'repetitive consonants' for around 13 months, so if you are getting those kind of noises I guess you are on the right track.
However, if you are concerned get a professional opinion - if there is a problem then you'll be onto it early, and if there is no problem then you'll be able to relax & enjoy those first words as they come!


Posted By: Mum_mum
Date Posted: 19 October 2010 at 7:58am
My DD is 13 months and she too doesn't have words as such. She says Dada regularly, sumtimes mum but nothing really else. She does babble a hell of a lot and does react with babbling (that sometimes sounds like actual words!) when you speak to her. I don't think she is slow to talk at all and would probably only become concerned if her speech hasn't progressed in the next 6 months or so.....

My Neice was a bit delayed in her speech, she didnt say a word till about 2 years and was never a babbler either. She did have speech thearpy and caught up quite quickly having lessons for a year. She is now 4 and speaks very clearly and intellegently!

-------------
http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
Angel baby - May 2008


Posted By: Natalie_G
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 9:29pm
If I remember correctly Arianne didn't say much at 13 months. I don't think she said any words.

Now she is a talkative little one, she hasn't said many sentences but she is getting there.

-------------
http://lilypie.com">



Print Page | Close Window

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2022 Web Wiz Ltd. - https://www.webwiz.net