Is your baby speaking yet?

Kay - posted on 08/29/2009

My 16 month old has said words since about a year old, but they come and go. One of his first words was banana, but I have not heard him say the entire word for several months. The majority of the time he only uses the first syllable of words. Other words have also adopted interesting names. For example, he says "bamba" for water at the moment. He also clenches his teeth while saying a few words - like "truck". Some days, 90% of objects are simply "ba."

Aside from the talking, he very clearly understands and follows directions. Even though it can be frustrating to not always understand what he is saying, I know he understands what we are saying. I use to worry about the inconsistency of his speech, but his ability to understand others' speech reassures me.

Latasha - posted on 08/27/2009

My oldest daughter was a late speaker and when she did start speaking words and trying to form sentences it was hard to understand her. As time went on my mother, sister and me started to understand her whereas other people still had a hard time. This went on until she was 3 years old. At age 4 I entered her into a speech therapy program through her school and it really, really helped. Now she's 14 yrs old and we can't get her to shut up...lol. My middle child started talking in full sentences at age 2 and could carry on a conversation like an adult or older child. My son which is my youngest is 16 months and he's still speaking gibberish with the exception of maybe 5 or 6 names and a few other words. So don't worry he'll be just fine because as you can see from my experience all children do things in their own time and if you can see that he's at least trying then be patient he'll be alright and it'll happen.

Amanda - posted on 08/26/2009

My son is almost 17 months and not saying anything clearly. Although he babbles like crazy, and in the last 2 days, we think we hear car and ban (van). He says mama and dada, but not directed at us. he can sign more, eat, book and sleep. He does love to do tasks and points at everything he is curious about or wants. My Ped says to start speech therapy, but think I will wait til he is 18 mths (am visiting family for summer and want to do it in my home state). I am not too worried, but can't wait to hear him talk!! :)

Sarah - posted on 08/21/2009

My son is 16 months and says no words..he knows what he wants by brining objects to me and taking my hand to what he wants. His pediatrician says if hes not talking by 18 months he'll need speech therapy.

Shelsea - posted on 08/19/2009

try getting his hearing checked. my nephew didnt really talk until after 2 because they found out he needed tubes in his ears and he couldnt really hear anyone

Christina - posted on 08/16/2009

My daughter is 16 months and mostly speaks gibberish too. She does say mama when in distress and dada when she's playing. She recently leared 'hi'.

Stefanie - posted on 08/15/2009

My little one can say a few words but not full sentences.

Desiree - posted on 08/14/2009

My friend is a speech & language pathologist and she said that the most important thing is that your baby communicates. So if he's pointing, babbling, and can understand you then that's good! My son talks A LOT of gibberish but we've recognized: ball, no, more, mama, dada, Izzy (our dog), and num num (his word for snacks).

Candice - posted on 08/12/2009

Quoting Erin:

He still does a lot of baby talk that we do not understand but he looks at us like we are suppose to.

i get that all the time now! like she has a whole story to tell me that i should understand! totally cute! also recently she learned to say "share" but she only uses it when SHE wants something someone has, or they take something from her. hasn't figured out she needs to share too. lol. we're working on that one.

Andrea - posted on 08/11/2009

My lil girl is 15 months and she speaks gibberish mostly all of the time. She will say ball, book, milk, juice but nothing too much more than that.

Erin - posted on 08/10/2009

My son who is almost 16 months (bday April 14th) can say many single words. His favorites are momma/mom, dad/daddy, mama(grandma), mawmaw, papa(grandpa), papaw, patches(our dog), almost all his aunts,, uncles,, and cousins' names, ba(sippy with milk), wawa(water), Hey, Bye, No, Thank You, Welcome(your welcome), and a few others. He has also started a few phrases like "Hey Momma/Daddy" and "I Love You". He also understand almost everything you ask him to do and 9/10 times will do it. He still does a lot of baby talk that we do not understand but he looks at us like we are suppose to. We never talk baby talk to him. He also recently started trying to mimic things that we say. One thing I have learned is do not compare your child to other children. I have 9 nieces and nephews and they all developed at different rates.

Tiffany - posted on 08/09/2009

we get mostly baby chat, but today we got bucket. Random. otherwise not too much in english, just baby chat, and significant people, like me, dad, sister and dorcas (our dog)

Dianne - posted on 08/09/2009

My son is 16 months old and all he says is Boet. Boet is our dog. I`m Boet, My husband is Boet and my daughter is Boet. Not to mention our fish and bird. But he did surprise me the other day. He said Teddy!!!!

Jade - posted on 08/08/2009

my youngest daughter Madilyn is 15 months (born April 27th 2008) and she can only say Mama. she understands what im saying; for example, if i tell her to go get something she will. her favorite thing is to take her dirty diaper and put it in the trash lol. she can wave bye bye & give you a hug and kiss if you ask her. she's walking and running now. she claps etc. but no words yet. she started saying mama months ago but hasnt tried anything yet. our Ped is sending her to have a speech evaluation next week to see where she is in comparison to other children her age. i just think that children develop at their own pace.

Cindy - posted on 08/06/2009

i dunno about that..Adele walked at 12 months and talks really well for her age, every child is different..the worst thing is to "compare" children to other siblings.

Jill - posted on 08/06/2009

My daughter has been saying words for a while now. She started two-word sentences a couple months ago (bye-bye papa, more please) and knows the animal sounds for bear/lion, cat, cow, fish, monkey... and knows where eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, chin, nose, tummy, toes, hand, head are but just recently we've been reversing it and saying, "what says meow?" and she says cat, and today she just put her finger on each of our noses and said nose to each person (same with eye and ear). Some of her words aren't clear but her actions definitely are! She says 'gook' then brings a book over to you and sits in your lap. She loves to sing e-i-e-i-o to Old McDonald and 'row row row' for Row Row Row your Boat and I find everything I sort-of sing she will repeat that way like a game. No worries when they talk...I've been told often: 'early walkers-late talkers, late walkers-early talkers' and Lily still refuses to walk around (she prefers to 'walk' on her knees and only truly walks between my husband and I - usually towards a cookie!)

Cindy - posted on 08/05/2009

My Daughter 15 mths...is speaking some clear words...thank-you..i want more..NO ..where'd ya go..peek a ba..and she is starting to try and sing..I have been told she is very advanced with her speech..this is the age that they really start to take off with their emotions and start to understand things, i just suggest that you look for sounds or even hand movements etc that he may be trying to communicate to you.

Alison - posted on 08/05/2009

My little girl is nearly 16 mnths old and she can say dad, mum, nana, dada (grandad), dais (cousin daisy), loz (older sis Laura), Lil (cousin Lily) shes v gud at sayin NO and can say Yes, Dog, Duck and Dink (drink) but she is learning every day so i wodnt worry bout it

Candice - posted on 08/02/2009

my daughter says ball, bye bye, hi, socks, ba-ba (bottle) wa-wa (water), if i say "puppy" she barks (lol), she says Up, i got her to say potty yesterday, says mama and dada and a word for grampa (like "ampa"), she said thank you (sounded like tank do) but haven't heard it in a while. she also says "ta-da!" like she performed a majic trick :) and of course "uh-oh!". some words she can't pronounce but when i say them she mimics the sounds or rythm of number of syllables. she also says the names of some of the kids in daycare.

Christina - posted on 07/31/2009

My lil guy is 15 months and just last month moved "up" a room in daycare...now he's with babies who ARE talking more and he's picking up more words but doesn't use the new ones consistently... he has "momma/mommy, da(for daddy), no(or no-no-no) and yeah and hi" down pat. He says "light, book and kitty" sporatically but always in context. He nods or shakes his head no to communicate as well as sign language for "more, hungry, please, bath, milk" to help us understand what he wants/needs.

He understands and responds to our conversations such as "Turn on/off the light" "hold out your hand" "get the ball" etc. We talk to him normally and have only used one or two "baby" words. I get the feeling he will turn into a little talking machine on a dime someday and then we'll just be overwhelmed with our little chatterbox!

As long as he's understanding and comprehending I'm content to let him move at his own pace.

Christine - posted on 07/31/2009

my girl is 15 months, all she says is "ta" and dad. she can say mum but when i ask her to say it she shakes her head and giggles and says dad. she has said bottle, nanna, shell(my sister), but i havnt heard anything other than ta and dad for over 3-4 months, but if you say something and you see it understood in your little ones eyes i would say not to worry, just because its not coming out there mouth dosnt mean its not going in there ears

Samantha - posted on 07/30/2009

my daughter can say just a few words. about every other day she will pick up another word

Jerica - posted on 07/30/2009

As long as your son understands some of the things that you ask or say to him i think your fine! my son says a couple of words but not many and there not very clear.. but when i ask him to go get something from his room or if he wants something to eat he nods.. sometimes it just takes a little time .... be paitent..one day hes just going to say something out of the ordinary and you'll be surprised!!!

Rachel - posted on 07/30/2009

my 15 month is only talking gibberish still too! everyday he is saying a new word so hopefully soon he will put words together and form sentences, he has every understand of what he is told to do and 9/10 he will do it! is your child speaking gibberish?? x

Maly - posted on 07/29/2009

My son is still talking gibberish, but can say certain things now such as juice, bottle, pacifier- no full sentences yet, but when you speak to him and ask him to do things, he knows exactly what you said and does it. Man! They do grow quick!

Maly - posted on 07/29/2009

My son is still talking gibberish, but can say certain things now such as juice, bottle, pacifier- no full sentences yet, but when you speak to him and ask him to do things, he knows exactly what you said and does it. Man! They do grow quick!