14 month old not using words

Mandy - posted on 04/09/2009

The only thing my son said at 14 months was "Mer"...he was calling the dog whose name is Merle.  I couldn't even get Mama out of him.  He was closer to 2 before words really started to become clear.  My daughter on the other hand is now 14 months and already says Mama, Bubba (for her brother), Mer (the dog) and Addi (her name).  I think boys just operate more on their own schedules.  My son is now 3 1/2 and I can't get him to stop talking!!  He talks incessently with a vocabulary that would put most adults to shame.  They all get there when they finally decide they are ready.  Hang in there!

Jaide - posted on 04/09/2009

my son is the same n i just encouraging him to talk etc.

Michaela - posted on 04/08/2009

Hi there :)

I really wouldn't worry at all , your son will speak when he's good and ready. All babies are different. My daughter says quite alot of words and she's 14 months old. But my nephew , Jay , didnt say many words until he was 26months old!

I think boys though are genrally slower at doing things as babies , I'm going by my friends kids there , all my friends with little girls are rather forward , and all the boys are lazy bugs hehe... But just give him time , he will speak when he feels like it hunny :)

Emily - posted on 04/08/2009

Your 14 month old is completely normal

Olivia - posted on 04/07/2009

My son babbles, but there are only a small handful of words he uses (mama, dada, ball, more, book, iddy (for kitty)...that's about it! I'm relieved to know boys are more delayed in their speech. Whew!

Becky - posted on 03/28/2009

My daughter is the same way. She doesn't really talk yet, but I'm trying to take it for what it's worth because I know once she starts she'll never stop! LOL

Darlene - posted on 03/28/2009

I work with children this age and my son is also 14 months old. My son and most other 14 month old children are at the same stage ( especially the boys). You are doing exactly what you should be doing. Keep labelling everything he points too and everything that you give him. You can also try imitating the sounds he makes and then see if he will imitate you back with a different sound. So if he's saying ma-ma, imitate him 3-4 times and then you can say ba-ba and see if he'll try to imitate you.

Kara - posted on 03/28/2009

They we spend this time dying to here their voices and most of the rest of our lives waiting for them to be quiet!

Cara - posted on 03/28/2009

Thanks for all the reassurance!  I know he will talk when he's ready.  He has over the last few days been pointing at everything in sight and looking to me for an answer as to what it is.  After  repeating it a few times, he moves on to something else.  So he's storing away all the info he can get!  He understands basically everything I say to him and can find his ball, monkey, sock, mickey mouse, giraffe, truck...the list goes on and on when asked.  He's a very observant boy....he investigates everything!!  So at least I know he's got a lot going on!!  I just can't wait to hear that little voice!!

Amy - posted on 03/27/2009

My boy is the same way, but I am not worrying about it. Keep doing what you are doing- he will start talking when he is ready. He is still learning, even if he isn't talking yet.

Michelle - posted on 03/27/2009

My son started out grunting more than anything. He clearly knows what things are (he will go get a car or shoe if instructed to), but still only babbles. I have a program called Early On coming once a month to evaluate him. My worker says that a lot of times babies can only focus on one development at a time and because he was working on fine motor and walking, talking has been "put on the back burner." She says it is normal, and just to keep repeating words and telling them what things are. Even though he hasn't verbally said anything I can understand, he is recognizing more words. He knows what "nose", "eat", "shoe", "dog", and "hat" are. He also understands "come here", "give me", and "no". It is very frustrating for me to hear my sister (a first time mom and this is my 3rd), tell me all the words her 16 month old is saying. I know it's a first time mom thing, because I did it. I don't know if this has been helpful at all, but I was told to give it time and keep talking!

Kara - posted on 03/27/2009

Looks like it is vastly a boy thing.  Mine is the same way, we've got things for hot, jayhawk, and mama.  I've heard boys just develop late.

Joann - posted on 03/27/2009

We are in the same situation... the only word he says is dada... once in a while he says mama

Janet - posted on 03/27/2009

my son doesnt even say mama or dada...or he says is baba (for milk) and no no no no no....he does make questioning sounds and babbles a lot. But he was crawling around six months and walking at 10months, now he runs and climbs up and down the stairs, and they say... early walker, late talker....if your son was an early walker he may just be using all his energy expanding his motor skills first!

Dawn - posted on 03/27/2009

My 14 month old boy is also the same. Lots of babbling, but no words. Mostly dada. still haven't heard mama yet. Friends have told me not to worry until 2 years old. I guess he will talk when he's ready. But it is hard to be patient.

Katie - posted on 03/27/2009

Hi Cara. My son is the same age and i'm in pretty much the same situation. He gets out sounds like mama and dada and what sounds like ball but apart from that he just make noises and grunts at things. Think what your doing is all you can do. I read to my son every day and point out the words, also say the name of all his toys etc when he picks them up but have just accepted he will do things in his own time. Think boys are a bit slower than girls for talking etc. Hope it helps to know your not alone.



Katie