my 16 month old son not talking much

Brittany - posted on 04/05/2010

my son say dadda, dog, ball, juice, cow and car and that about it oh i forgot the newest one.. NO... but i wouldn't worry about it my niece didn't really start talking more than a few words till she was about 2

Victoria - posted on 04/05/2010

My daughter was saying baba instead of dada and then that turned into Bob which was weird b/c my husband's name is Jim then we had a week where she called everything she liked bob, so we decided that she must like her daddy too if she's calling him bob. Now she calls him dada and bob is a thing of the past. So I am guessing it's a phase. My daughter can say about 15 words clearly and she has a whole lot of babble that she probably thinks are words, our ped said she is just fine and she'll continue to pick them up fast.

Ashley - posted on 04/05/2010

my daughter only said dada for almost six months so i wouldnt worry about it too much. My daughter is exactly the same age as your son and she doesnt say much either but now she points to what she want. Me and my husband just keep working with her and trying to teach her. Kids will talk when they are ready so i guess its just a waiting game.

Tine - posted on 04/04/2010

Sounds pretty normal to me. Kids at this age do what's called generalising - they learn a new word then apply it to other things that seem to fit the category. He's just practicing! Please don't try to stop him doing it, because it's how he learns language.

The best way to help him learn is to name things for him, be pleased and accepting when he tries new words, and speak to him a lot - slowly and clearly - about what he is doing or seeing. I have been doing this and my daughter has about 70 words and growing - once they get the hang of it and know that they won't be criticised for trying and making mistakes, they learn really quickly.

The worst things you can do for language development are over - criticising and correcting them too much, and putting them in front of the TV! If he makes a mistake, just smile and say, 'yes, dad! This is a bottle!' in a happy tone. He'll learn! Do you know any normal adults who mistake a baby bottle for thier dad??!!

Danelle - posted on 04/04/2010

my daughter is the same way, if she doesn't have a word in her vocabulary for what she wants to say she defaults to "DaDa". she babbles nonstop but a lot of her words are DaDa and gibberish, I have faith that she'll be putting actual English words to her thoughts here sooner rather than later.

Lorisha - posted on 04/04/2010

Just a faze. He's getting used to words...he'll be yakking away before u know it.

Jazi - posted on 04/03/2010

my son Zander did stuff similar. using the same word to mean several different things. ie: "UP" means up to carry me, move the gate so I can go upstairs, let me down from the highchair, doggie come join me on the couch. ect. or Drink could mean, i want my bottle, my sippy cup is empty, i want a drink of your drink, here is a can of soda - open it for me. The list goes on and on.

we pull a double duty on him. he has both words we know he knows how to say, and ASL signs that he can do, and when he comes up and uses just one word he gets asked to use his words in an attempt to clarify what he wants. and let me tell you there is nothing more fun then listening to a 17 month old say "drink nanna" and sign 'please more" at the same time.

over the months he gets better, more words come out again, new signs develop and appear. Just be paitent.

Carol - posted on 04/03/2010

aoimhe has some words. she has mama daddy josh(her brother) dodi bobi(bottle) night hiya gone juice. so long as you saw the words for him he will remember them. that is the best you can do, but reading your mail, id say he is fine with what he has. you'll find in a few months hell not stop talking. if he has a dummy, maybe try and sneak it off him when you can so he gets more chance to be making and learning new sounds

Karen - posted on 04/03/2010

My son (11*11*08) is the same way. My daughter talked way more at this age,so sometimes I think it's just the difference between boys and girls. She also talks for him, so "uh-uh" is just his way of getting her to get things for him:) He shakes and nods for no and yes and waves for hello and goodbye. He has about 10 words he says on a regular basis, and several he says randomly. As long as they're understanding words, they will talk when they're ready.

Victoria - posted on 04/03/2010

My baby boy is also 16 months and I thought something was wrong but he knows commands and can answer me yes and no by shaking his head. He yells everything. He knows when he's hungry he says eat eat, he calls the cats kitty kitty kitty( he always says it 3 times) he calls his grandma mo mo, he calls me ma ma, he says hello every time the phone rings, and da da was his first word. So I just think every child has their own time to shine. Just so long as he understands you he will get the hang of speaking properly. Don't get discouraged. I say just keep letting him do him and you teach him along the way. Good Job Parents!!

Rachel - posted on 04/03/2010

My 17month old is similar, I was reading that "da" is usually "that", so if she wants something she points and says "that" which is "da". Does he understand simple commands and questions? If so there is definitely nothing to worry about. Just respond with "oh you want your bottle? OK here is your bottle" make sure you are just backing it up and not correcting and then they can be worried to speak and do not.
I think around 18-24 months they usually go from 10ish words to 50+ all of a sudden
c

Michele - posted on 04/02/2010

My almost 17 month old daughter says a few select words, she says hi, buh bye, nana, baby, then she says Hey Baby, and she likes to yell at the dog for barking or she will yell hey when she's done eating and ready to get down outta her high chair. She hasn't learned how to say momma yet, Give him time he'll start talking before ya know it

Heather - posted on 04/01/2010

my little boy is 10 days from being 17 months old and refuses to talk... though i know he can say mama and trink trink (drink drink) but he rarely says them... i figure he walked when he wanted to so if i keep reading to him and trying to teach him words he will talk when he wants!

Christina - posted on 04/01/2010

My baby is 16 months to and i seen babys do what your baby is doing just keep telling him what thing are when he calls everything dad one day he will pick it up it took my 2yrs 10 month old son to talk later when he was 2 i was worry but now he will not be quite. but my 16 month old can say, mama, dada, papa, outside, austin, that, hello, more, toto train and some more i guess every baby is different in different ways

Nayyara - posted on 03/31/2010

my 16 month old son does the same. he says baba for everything. we think it was his first word and we appreciated him on saying it. now he thinks if he will say baba it will be appreciated. when me or my huby try to teach him say 'mama' or anything else he keeps on saying baba and enjoy (he actually gives a radiant smile).

Jessica - posted on 03/31/2010

my 16 month old daughter is almost the same except everything is mam or mammy!! Like you I'm always correcting her and trying to teach her the right words but it is so frustrating as don't seem to be making much headway! We have 2 older boys and I remember being concerned about their speech development too but for different reasons, but from experience I now know that they will all get there in their own time and you won't be able to get a word in edgeways soon enough x

Rachel - posted on 03/29/2010

it's a phase :) don't worry ALL kids learn at their own pace. My 16 month old says 2 words with any regularity "no" and buggah". He can say other words, like bottle, mum, dad, nanna, brother, ae (Maori language) and a few others, but all you ever really hear is "NO" even when he means yes. Show him the difference/correct him by all means but don't stress, he'll pick it up when he's ready.

Kym - posted on 03/29/2010

my son is also 16 months old and he says mum, mama, jo for joseph, ja for jenny, jay for jessica, baba for a bottle. He also points to where he wants to go. He recognizes the sounds of cars coming up the drive way. And when his grandmas bus pulls in he dashes for the window or door to watch her board the bus. I too was wondering about this... thanks for your post really encouraging for me...

Tanya - posted on 03/28/2010

my 17mnth old son is talking around about the same amount as your son. trust me, it wont be long before he starts talking sentences and u will probably be telling him to be quiet. my older son, hes 7 now, but he was speaking sentences at 2 and a half years old. all kids are different. my 7yr old son now, never lets me get a word in. hahaha. be patient and he will start talking more when hes ready, just keep encouraging him.

Amy - posted on 03/28/2010

My son is 16 months and he doesn't say any words. Im not worried because he understands everything. He studies everything, but just doesn't say anything. At his 15 month appt. the dr. just said if he understands you then he will talk when he wants to, nothing to worry about.

Lisa - posted on 03/27/2010

LOL! My daughter does this too! I am daddy too :-) but as others have said, I wouldnt worry about it at all right now. Just sit back and enjoy the cuteness that is baby and save the worrying for another day.
Take care,
Lisa
Mommy of 5!

Melissa - posted on 03/27/2010

My son only says a few words too, but at this age my daughter talked like crazy. So I wouldn't worry about it.

Andrea - posted on 03/27/2010

I have a 3 year old son who never really started talking alot until he was 2 and half. Now he doesn't stop. So I wouldn't worry about it. My daughter who is also 16 months on the other hand talks quite abit for her age.

Ivy - posted on 03/27/2010

My daughter is the same age as your son and has been babbling word for months now. And like most toddler she does the same thing but not just dad-eee also use more or no more with other things. The best thing to do is aside from breathing and being patient is repetition. Let him know that the thing he is pointing too is not his dad but is....let say his cup. But don't hand it to him quickly repeat a few times while holding or touching the thing he is pointing at so he would realize that he should say the actual word of things just like you are doing. Then he will understand that he can't address everything as dad to get what he wants. Good luck! :)

Jen - posted on 03/26/2010

dont worry my son son does it too he can say mom dad nan grandad gone ta (at) for cat. bab bob n i think he is trying to say ello n bye but not all the time but rite now he mainly says bab at evrything like he wanted his cosuin n he knows her name as kirst but he went babs. we am trying to learn him pop he as got it to booooooooooooop screaming it at us lol

Jessica - posted on 03/25/2010

yeh thats nothing to worri about, my lil girl is that age and wont talk. all she will say is mama and baba somtimes dada but other wise she just talks with her mouth closed lol

Jessica - posted on 03/24/2010

mine is a few days shy of being 16months and all he says is..mom, dada, tick tick (tickle tickle) pup pup (puppy) even calls the cat pup pup. also says hi and bye and tink (which we think is thank you...because he says it after we hand him something.) from what my mom has told me i was a late talker not sure if thats hereditary but from what his dr told me at his 15month well visit to just give it time. be glad he is saying what he is and before you know it he will be talking up a storm. i was a nervous wreck when a friend of mines son ( who is just a few weeks older than mine....started saying his colors but shes a stay at home mom and i work so....)

Louise - posted on 03/24/2010

Hi,
This is nothing to worry about, most children say dad as they like the way it sounds and it is easy for them to say without to much effort. The fact that your child is making m,n,g sounds is good and shows that he is capable of making mouth shapes to form words. Within 8 weeks your child will flourish with a multitude of words. Don't worry.

Debra - posted on 03/24/2010

I would just focus on what he does know... and keep chatting with him and reading with him. He'll pick it all up when he's ready.

Allison - posted on 03/22/2010

My 16 month old daughter did that for a little while. She has an older brother who would translate EVERYTHING for her, so she refused to talk. I think what you're doing is right to correct with the proper name :) Even now, if she can get away with it she won't talk. It can be frustrating, but what I've been doing is trying to get her to say it before I give her whatever she's asking for. We taught her a few signs to let us know what she wanted. That helped also. Good luck!

Kim - posted on 03/21/2010

I would not worry too much about not saying a whole lot of words. While my daughter talks a lot and does say a lot of words, when she first started saying them because I was home with her for the first 15 months, I just continued to repeat those words and she continued to repeat what I would repeat to her. However, a friend of mine has a son that is just a month younger and he doesn't say many things either. He does use mostly sign language but doesn't use many words. He will get there but don't worry, the dad thing could be a phase but the more you encourage other words, they will pick up on them. At this point in their lives, they are totally into imitating everything you do so now would be great to increase vocabulary. Just continue to give him the correct term and he will catch on. Good luck! It will come with time!