Baby talk

Christina - posted on 05/13/2010

i wouldn't be to concerned my daughter is 21 months old and just recently somewhat started saying things and also points which helps to know what he is saying. maybe try asking her pediatrician. god luck

Betty - posted on 05/12/2010

My son is 20mths and not saying any new words either. I am going to check him out with a Speech and Language specialist and hoping for good news. He points and uses a lot of body language for his needs. He does understand our directions and seems to want things "now" instead of working for it.

Katerina - posted on 05/05/2010

My daughter doesn't pronounce many words neither. She speaks her gibberish and it is so cute. I think that will eventually turn into proper words. She can say clearly hi, daddy, bye, dog, meow, wiggle, ball and two names of her friends. I think, she says what she really wants to say. The rest isnt important to her. I think the more she will be around kids the more she is gona copy their behavior including speech.

Tabitha - posted on 05/05/2010

Get your child evaluated... she should be saying at least 10-15 words by now... not perfectly but at least have some part of the word recognizable. My son says about five words perfectly (mama, dada, cat, dog, and go) but another bunch of words very imperfectly, like for "color" he says "o-lor" and points to a crayon. Nobody else would know what "o-lor" means but it counts as a word, or so my pediatrician told me....

if she's not speaking at all, like you said, I would be concerned. What did her pediatrician say at her 18 month old check up... Did you mention it?

Amanda - posted on 05/04/2010

i dont get it either! Abby use to say mommy all the time now she wont say it at all! why is that!

Angela - posted on 05/04/2010

My son is the same, and we had him evaluated. The therapist said NOT to withhold things just because he's not asking for them. To still support his needs and try to show him other ways. Even a motion (our son signs) in place of a word is good. Our son was evaluated at ahead of his age group in everything else but speech, even at a 32 month level physically at 20 months. Sometimes kids work on other things and come back to skills they've had before. Have faith and patience and keep reading and supporting your daughter. She'll get there...Good luck!

Hailey - posted on 05/04/2010

I have to agree with Kylie. My son is 4 years old and was the same way. I had him tested for autism and it turned out he wasn't autistic but he has a speech and language problem. He comprehended really well, he did whatever you ask of him but all without a word. So I say to check out her speech, its better to be safe than sorry.

Gina - posted on 05/02/2010

I am in the same situation, my son was tested for anything that could be wrong. Everything came back fine, was just told to not give him anything till he asked for it or a least made a effort to ask for it. He is doing so much better! He usually picks up 5-7 words a day. It takes alot of time for me to keep repeating myself and alot of pronunciation. But it is well worth the time when he picks up a new word. We continue to practice these, and then when daddy comes home we show him what we learn that day. Of course daddy gives him tremendous praise. Which our son loves! Good luck but you are not alone.

Barbara - posted on 05/01/2010

Hi Elizabeth... my son is 20 months as well and in the same situation... he began saying several words when he was around one year old... but then he stopped... I've considered getting him evaluated just to be sure but I will wait until he is two years old just to be sure its not something he will grow out of... :)

Paula - posted on 05/01/2010

I think unless there are real concerns (deafness, or behavioural concerns), and since she seems to understand and otherwise communicate, she is probably fine. My daughter doesn't speak really at all, and she is the same age. She communicates otherwise and does understand a lot (in both Greek and English). But when we encourage her to use words, she gets upset and starts to cry as I just don't think she likes to be pushed. So we won't do that anymore. She'll get there when she gets there. It never hurts to get an evaluation, but it doesn't sound like your daughter has any major 'red flags'.

Angela - posted on 04/30/2010

my son was the same even though i wuld encourage him to talk and not pass what he pointed to but over the last few weeks he seems to be suddenly coming out with all sorts keep encouraging and have patients it will come good luck hun

Nicole - posted on 04/30/2010

I agree with Kylie. You should really have your daughter's speech evaluated. I do not think it is a cause for concern because your daughter is communicating with your through gestures however, using words and then using none is a sign of speech regression. It could also be resource allocation which is when a child stops advancement in one area (like speech) in order to focus energy on a new learned skill (like walking or climbing). I think this is more common in younger boys but I'm sure it's still possible for children at 20 months. It is normal to stop using 1 or 2 words and begin to use others (they get bored is using the same ones) however, if she isn't using any it could be a sign of something else. I hope this could be of help. It may be nothing so please do not become upset, but if it is something them it's best to catch it early.

Colleen - posted on 04/30/2010

My son is also doing this, but I think they pick this up from other children. He is in a creche and I have heard the other children talking "baby" language, and he will come home and start talking in this "baby" language. At this age they like to mimic other children or anything you say. I think it's just a phase.

Kylie - posted on 04/29/2010

This has happened with 2 of my sons (i have 3) the first one was diagnosed with autism the second a speech and language disorder, i would have a development check done on her to make sure shes hitting all her mile stones speak to your local child youth and health or your GP, or like other people have said maybe she is just lazy! my friends daughter was like this too!

Diane - posted on 04/29/2010

My ds is exactly the same, He's just lazy, he can say words but refuses to lol. He doesn't even point and grunt. He will just whinge and whine until I guess what the problem is. Def gonna try to make him ask for things, instead of giving in.

Eva - posted on 04/28/2010

I agree with Sara and Christy. My DD is a "point and grunt" kind of girl! Her brother will speak for her but we have started telling her to use her " big girl words" and she tries. She has been getting better at trying to say the words and I would say in the last 3 weks she has at least 20 new words or parts of words.

Christy - posted on 04/28/2010

Thanks for the post! My little boy does, did, the EXACT same thing. I've started holding things back like Sara suggested, and every once in awhile I hear something that sounds like a word. It's nice to hear someone else having the same struggle! Good luck with yours.

Sara - posted on 04/27/2010

I guess then my first suggestion is to not just give her the things she points at. As her to tell you what she wants. She might be just figuring "why talk when they'll just give it to me?" Unfortunately, giving in isn't doing her any favors, so you'll have to re-train her. Encourage her to talk all the time. Ask her to repeat what you say. When she does use her words, make sure and praise her: "Big girl! Momma loves it when you use your words!" Be prepared for her to get mad and frustrated, but know that it's what is best for her, and it won't last long. She'll eventually learn to appreciate being able to communicate more easily.
Good luck momma!

Elizabeth - posted on 04/27/2010

Actually she does understand what Im saying. I ask her to do different stuff and she does it. When ever she wants something she'll just point at it and we'll give it to her. I've heard her speak with other people but when she sees us she'll stop.

Sara - posted on 04/22/2010

I don't know the answer, but I'm curious:
Has anything else changed about her behavior? Has anything changed at home? Do you think she understands you? Is she able to follow complex commands (pick up the book and put it on the shelf). Does she communicate with you in other ways (pointing, grunting, taking your hand and leading you toward something she wants)?