how old was your child when they started to talk?

Bethanie - posted on 04/03/2010

My son said his first word around 10 months (da-da). He spoke about 15-20 words by age 18 months, short phrases, along with 10 animal sounds. At 21 months he knows upwards of 90 words, more phrases, counts to three, knows the color blue, more animal sounds and attempts to "sing" Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "Pattycake". We have always sang, talked and read to him a lot and until he attempted to say what it was he wanted instead of whining for it, he wouldn't get it.

Natika - posted on 03/28/2010

It varies greatly. I have 3 children (2 sons & 1 daughter). My sons started to speak "on time" but my daughter was speaking in complete sentences by 11-12 months. I think it was because she was trying to keep up with her brothers. My daughter actually prompted a child her age to start talking when they were about 3 or 4 years old. That little boy is speaking now but not as well as expected. However, we noticed that he spoke when he wanted to & he was very stubborn with who he spoke to. I suggest letting him interact with other kids & see if he will communicate more in that setting

Julie - posted on 03/27/2010

My little 5 year old started jabbering sounds but not real words up until he was 3 years old. At four not many people could understand him. His Doctor suggested early intervention through the school system and they have been a God send. He still has trouble speaking but is doing much much better. He no longer has his own language unless he gets frustrated and then we tell him to slow down and he can at that point get his point across.



If you are really concerned, ask your child's Doctor about early intervention. I am a strong believer the earlier the problem is identified and the sooner early intervention is initiated the better off the child is. My son Willy will be starting kindergarten this next fall. He was in preschool this year. I am still concerned regarding his speech, and cognitive abilities but very confident in his Early Intervention teachers. He actually sings clearer and better than he speaks at this point.

Megan - posted on 03/27/2010

My oldest and my middle child didn't talk until they were 3 yrs old. My youngest started when she was 15 months and she was born with extreme hearing loss. I did have all their hearing checked just to make sure there werent any problems. Just be patient he will talk when he is ready.

Chelsy - posted on 03/22/2010

Our Daughter now at 18 months says 27 word loud and clear. But that wasnt untill the last couple weeks. All of the sudden she just started comming up with words. i was driving the other day and saw a ladt walking a dog and shes outta the blue never before said puppy puppy puppy puppy. I think kids at this age are smarter then we think they are. Just give him time. Every child is different. Savor this time cause when he starts it will be like ...... mommy mommy puppy daddy baby baby baby baby baby baby baby mommy mommy mommy mommy mommy all freaking day long! lol Enjoy your time with him and remember that no 2 children are the same!

Amanda - posted on 03/22/2010

oh...i just read the post before me about baby sign language and just wanted to comment. we did this with our daughter and it was great...she picked up on it really early (we started very early with her) and it was really nice b/c we could communicate with her BUT i really think this was one of the reasons we have had some difficulty with her talking. they say that children who sign will usually talk earlier but that wasn't the case with us. they also say that babies who use sign language will have a larger vocabulary (we will see) we constantly talk to our child and would say the words to her as we signed but she would not even try to say them for the longest time. eventhough she is talking more and more she still uses some signs for certain words and we continue to work with her and try to get her to say them when she signs. i have also heard from other parents who used sign language who had the same problems.
we are expecting another baby in May and don't know if we will teach sign language again.

Amanda - posted on 03/22/2010

every child is different and you should also look at non-verbal communication, not just verbal. my daugher only had maybe 3 words by the time she was 18 months. between 18 and 19 months she really started saying a lot more words. she is 22 months now and tries to repeat everything we say and is talking better and better everyday. people would scare me when i would say she wasn't talking at 18 months old but really 18 months is pretty early for them to really start talking. just keep an eye on him over the next few months and mention it to your pediatrician b/c there are certain speech delays that children need help with but he sounds normal to me since he understands and responds to you.

Stefie - posted on 03/20/2010

Many babies don't start talking until much later. Milestones have become such a big deal in modern life, partially because it is not hard to meet children basic needs of nutrition, protection, and shelter. Milestones can indicate how a child will develop, but overall they are just an indication of how your child is doing right now.
That being said, many boys are less verbal than girls and milestones usually account for the mean of boys and girls.
If your son is communicating and shows that he can verbalize then he is probably just fine. I have read that doing things like insisting he says, "please" and "thank-you" may help him be more verbal overall. Also, you might want to look into baby sign language. I started baby sign language when my DD was born. She said her first words at 3 1/2 months and now at 18 months can carry on a conversation with full complex sentences not to mention sings songs all day long.

Beverly - posted on 03/20/2010

Hi,

My daughter was two and still not talking, her doctor suggested early intervention and they helped a lot. They suggested the she sign for some things so she wouldn't get frustrated, I asked it that would make her dependent on signing but they told me she would drop it when she talked..I She went to some classes and it was really fun for her and she had someone come to the house for an hour a week to work with her (health ins. covered it all). She went to pre-school at 4 with no problems at all. Today she is a very fiesty 13 year old who has always done well in school and I couldn't be more happy with her.. I often wonder if she would have talked without the help that we so much enjoyed.....Who knows? But I did have a friend who's son was 1 week older and couldn't talk.. She refused to get him help and he had problems when he got to school. If you talk to his doctor, you might be able to do something. I am happy that I did it early.. My sister also used to say to me "she doesn't need that", as if something were wrong with her. I guess people think of it that way but I'm all for what they need when they need it. Good luck....
Bev C

Tonya - posted on 03/20/2010

my child was about 13 months when she started taking .

Gretchen - posted on 03/20/2010

I have seven children, and they all started talking at different ages. My oldest said her first words at ten months, as is my current baby. My third child, however, did not say anything until she was 32 months. However, when she did finally talk she used full sentences. Her first phrase was " I want that cookie." Unless a child is over three and still not talking, I would not worry too much.

Gretchen - posted on 03/20/2010

I have seven children, and when they started talking was different for each one. Eve rywhere from ten months to almost three years. The one that talked at 32 months(did not even say first word until then.), started talking in full sentences. Her first sentence was "I want that cookie!" and ever since she has been a chatter box.

Opal - posted on 03/20/2010

Don't feel bad..my son is going on 5 and is in pre K and he needs a speech therapist to help him with some letters he has a hard time pronouncing. I too, was and still am a little worried why my son can not speak clearly.. but it is true when they say that kids will be ready to talk when they r ready. I am already seeing improvements with my son and trust me, he can talk and talk . So don't fret over this just yet...he is still young. Give him more time.

Tovah - posted on 03/18/2010

My 3 year old little boy doesn't talk all that much. He will chatter in his gibberish, but I understand what he wants for the most part, and what I don't understand is kind of hit and miss until I figured out what it means and then store it away for later use.

He is starting to talk way more then he did a month ago and will put together some sentences: "May I please have some juice?" But I have noticed that he is having a hard time with a handful of letters. Milk is milp, bike it bipt, uncle is uhn-huh. My nephew who is 10 months younger then my son is a chatter box.

Every child is different. But if you're worried, go in and talk to the pediatrician and see what s/he recommends!

Luisa - posted on 03/18/2010

I have to tell your question and the answers have help me. I have to boys. The old one had a problem with his tongue and he started to talk at 2 years, and has gone to therapist. the baby is 2 and a half and does not say to much, mom, dad, bottle, papo (his brother) and little things. So I ask the therapyst, she says there is nothing wrong with him, to give him time... he will talk when he is good and ready.... but to tell you the truth is it is very hard for me, because there is a lot of my froends kids that are younger or the same age and talk a lot... but The therapyst says that if I keep making a big deal of this... he will not talk. So I am trying o be relax, play with him, talk to him, use the card, but specially let him be, and love him! So do not worry to much!
HE WILL TALK! just on his own time. Hope thishelps

Melissa - posted on 03/17/2010

with my son he talked alot latter than his sister and i was very worried i took him to a doctor thinking he might not be hearing good but they did tests to reasure me and said he was fine and boys generally talk latter than girls and oldest childeren are latter talkers my daughter had him as a older brother so she had learned a lot faster don't worrie i asure you he'll talk before starting school but to be sertain you can go to a speach specialest in your area for your own comfort

Beatriz - posted on 03/16/2010

Hi Crystal,
My youngest son is 22months and he is just starting to talk. His had lot's of ear infections and has had tubes put in both of his ears. they've been in for 5months. He says little words like, no, more, mine, bye, hi. but understand everything i tell him. as long as his on track, and health that is all that matters

Michelle - posted on 03/16/2010

my daughter abigail is 18 month now and shes been says odd words from about 9 months now shes started joining words together

Tonya - posted on 03/16/2010

Try recording him, when he hear his voice he will. If that does't work get his hearing checked, my daughter has a mild hearing lost and has to wear hearing aids, but when she was a baby until she was about 8 months she wouldn't say anything in from of people, but at home she would make sounds and maybe a word or two, and when I would tell the audiologist they would look at me like I was crazy. They would say to me I know we want our children to hear and talk like other children do but they won't be able to. They will be delayed in speech, because of not be able to hear clear, so I recorded this child to shut them up. After my daughter heard her voice she started talking and haven't shut her mouth since and shes 15 now. .

Don't compare your child or their development to others. Don't put that pressure on yourself and don't let others do that to you either. I see and saw that so much, so I decided to take a wise woman advice and let my child be themself. If they don't have a physical problem then let the children be their selves, they will talk whwn tey are ready, and you will be saying be quiet, like me.

Jenifer - posted on 03/16/2010

My son didn't talk until he was almost 3 years old, but he had an older sister who would do the talking for him, and once I got her to cut that out, and made him say words like "drink" when he wanted them, because I was 100% positive he could, he finally started talking, and by then he could pretty much talk in understandable sentences. It was amazing. All that time not talking, and he hd just listened and soaked it all up. Good Luck and God Bless.

Christy - posted on 03/15/2010

Well, my daughter started talking in slurred sentences by her first birthday. I remember always saying when she pointed at something to tell me what she wanted and I stood there till she said it. LOL what was I thinking, she never shuts up! She is 4 now and is never quiet.
It seems to be normal for children to not start really talking until around 2. All of my friends children started talking between 15 months and 2 years. I wouldn't worry about it. Try talking to him a lot, but he will speak when he is ready.

Kimberley - posted on 03/15/2010

My son is almost 3 and only says a handful of words. Don't worry he'll talk in his own time, as long as he is communicating in some with you, then you shouldn't get too worried.

Rebecca - posted on 03/14/2010

my son is 26 months he only says about 3 words that i can clearly understand dad, mum, yeh
i was getting very worried about his speech the doc told me not to worry too much and just a few days ago before bed he said his first 2 words put together noonite daddy it was sooo cute what baffles me about doctors and midwives is that they all say kids develop in their own way in their own time but there is still a certain level of expectations in a childs development

just recently ive started using flash cards to help him say and understand new words

Nea - posted on 03/13/2010

My 2yr old was saying (or I should say mimicking) simple words about a couple of months ago ( about when he almost turned 2). eg.: cookie, no, yes, kissies, I wuv oo,.. you know. But, just recently he has started spouting off more words and sayings. And he's only 27months old. So I wouldn't worry. before you know it you'll be saying under your breath. " boy, you need to take a quiet pill."

Liz - posted on 03/13/2010

My son will be three in July and he still doesn’t talk. Like your son he will follow commands and shake his head. He points for things he wants and does some basic signs but he just doesn’t seem to want to verbalize anything. A few days ago I asked him if he wanted to go “bye bye” and he looked at me and said “yep reay go” but he hasn’t said anything since. I can only figure he understands and communicates in his way. I can’t make him talk but it is frustrating. Most mothers with kids his age and younger have children who are talking.
My son has been in speech therapy for about a year now and the suggestions the therapist had that were helpful was teaching him the signs to get us through till he was willing to use words. This cut down on a lot of frustrations and tantrums over lack of communication. Increase your hands on time with him where you are making good eye contact and cut out as much television and interaction with other media as you feel comfortable cutting out.

Terri - posted on 03/12/2010

Hey Crystal!

Don't worry about it If he's still "communicating" with you... just be patient. My son Ethan is 19 months old, doesn't talk or communicate in any other way and we are getting him tested for Autism. I've become very familiar with what is considered "normal" for a child that age.... just give him time and before you know it you'll be begging him to be quiet! ☺

Torey - posted on 03/12/2010

Hi Crystal,



My twin girls just started talking with in the last few months. As of today they are 27 months. I questioned their doctor about them not talking when they were around 18/20 months old. His comment is not to worry to much as long as they show signs of understanding what is being told to them. The time to worry is if they do not show any kind of sign by the time they were 24 months old. I say not to worry to much, but if it bothers you really bad then follow-up with his doctor for test. I hope that everything works out for ya'll.



Torey

www.Moms4HealthyFamilys.com