Ugh, I'm still freaking out

kelseyhh

A few weeks (a month?) ago I posted on here about Emmett not speaking. It seemed like most of your LOs were saying a few words, but some were not, so I tried not to worry too much.

Well, he turned a year old on the 17th, and we still don't have any words. He mostly crawls or walks around all day saying "da or dada" for everything.

I'm really starting to get worried. We haven't had his 12 month appt yet, so I haven't been able to ask the doctor. I'm starting to freak out that he may be autistic or something. He seems to understand us, points, and claps, but I'm still so worried about the lack of words. I keep reading that no single words by 12 months is a problem.

Anyone else out there with a non-talker? Any advice?

HZ2012

At our 12 month appt our pedi told us 1-3 words by 15 months.
Talk to your pedi before you freak out.

sourpatchkids

N didn't clap, wave, shake his head, wave, point, or seem to understand what we were saying. No words at all. He turned 1 2 weeks ago and In the past 4 weeks he started STTN and was weaned from ebf to wcm. In that time, he started to clap, wave, shake his head, point (he's only done it twice) and when we say "where is mama?" he will look at me. He has come SO far in the last few weeks. He just had his appt a few days ago and the pedi wasn't concerned at all. He said he wants to see him with  a few words by 15 months though. Since his appt a few days ago it seems like he may have started saying mama...don't freak out. Your LO is just fine!

kelseyhh

Haha, no flaming @linegirl313‌! You're probably right. I deal with so many students with speech delays, behavioral issues, autism, etc., that I really worry about Emmett a lot. I worry about everything way too much though ">
Thanks for the encouragement @sourpatchkids‌. Hopefully Em will explode with language any day now :-)

sundaesprinkles

My DS is one of the less verbal May babies. The only thing I know for certain he says with meaning is mama. He says it sometimes when I walk into the room. But that's only happened three or four times that I know of for sure. He doesn't point, wave, or clap either. He says dada too, but without any meaning attached. 

However he babbles all day long. He understands when I tell him to turn the page of a book and he turns off the light when I ask him to. (I hold him up to the switch so he can do it.)

I told all this to the pedi and he didn't seem concerned. He said that as long as he's showing that he's understanding things we say that's it's fine if he isn't actually saying words yet. I didn't think to ask him when he should have more words and he didn't tell me either. I just assume it will happen soon. 

In the meantime I just keep talking and labeling everything, along with pointing, waving, and clapping. Honestly I think he is busy working on other things, like trying to stand without holding on to anything. I am a little worried too, but he's never been behind on any other milestones so I'm trying not to worry until 15 months when he has his next appointment.

LaxMOM44

C doesn't talk she doesn't even repeat sounds when I make a sound at her. For two days if you asked her what a duck said she would say KA but that stopped too.

Anyways our ped said by 15 months if she still isn't saying anything then we'll talk about it but he wouldn't even entertain me being worried about it.

JoJo716

I think it is also subjective too. The only word ds really says is "hi". Sometimes, he will say dada or mama but I am not convinced he says them with intention. However, he babbles all of the time and if you asked my MIL, she would tell you he speaks in complete sentences. My ped also said not to be concerned at this age.  

Boo0512

DD says just a few words but isn't completly consistent. Sometimes I think she gets it, other times I'm not sure.

I really think its too early to worry.

stephzrn

Don't worry, my Dr said only 1 word at 1 year is all he likes.

botanicalbliss

G doesn't wave, point, clap, talk, or a bunch of other 12 month milestones.  I'm not going to lie, I'm a little worried.  Our 1 yr appt isn't until June 12.  Even though I'm worried, I try to remember how fast babies can pick up on things.  Two days ago he could only take 3 steps.  He walked a TON today unassisted.  Some babies just take longer to pick up on things.  He's probably fine, but it's definitely worth it to talk to your pedi about it and get him into whatever therapy is needed if any is needed. 

BSanko

My daugher babbles and says BABABABAB but not mama, or dada or anything else. Pedi wasnt worried.

lizziebooper

Audrey is a May 1 baby and is much like the others lots of babble but that is about it. I know what you mean though about worrying I catch myself silently questioning once in a while but then remind myself she is likely fine. I too work in education as an EA and have worked with many kids on the spectrum over the years and agree that is likely a factor in why I tend to worry some. I am sure your LO will be just fine.

kelseyhh

Thanks ladies for talking me down off the ledge. I'm feeling a little better. I find it very interesting though that so many babies are by speaking yet. I've seen it stated in several places that a parent should see their pedi if their baby isn't speaking by one. That's why I got so worried. However, it sounds like it's pretty normal still.

caden1206

My pedi said that at one they should just be trying to vocalize something to you. That means they should just be trying to make sounds that mimic every day life. For example, my DD (who I wouldn't say has really many words) will try to tell the dogs to be quite when they bark. She yells "Daa" which we figured out is "Dale" the name of our dog. My DD tries to speak at times, but really has a language all her own right now. And, forget trying to get her to repeat something that she doesn't want to. I can't say that I haven't been worried because she is such a drastic difference from son, who had sentences down at this age. So, I know how all you worried mamas feel. I think that as long as we all keep encouraging language and communication skills that we will see a drastic difference in language over the next few months.

huzzahuzza

It's really hard not to worry, I know. We see the long term affects of a child with autism/aspergers/learning disorders. But also try and think about all the different learning abilities in your class. Not everyone of your kiddos learns multiplication facts the first time you teach them do they? (If they do, I need your skills) And sometimes, as teachers, we see them get it that year, sometimes we don't get to see the light bulb because they get it the next year! But just because they don't get it right away doesn't automatically mean they're LD. @kelseyhh‌ trust your kiddo. Give him a couple months. If he's not talking by 2, then you can freak out

FmrAFBrat

They really don't start to worry until 18 months. Anything less than 5 words at 18 month will qualify your child for an early intervention. My ODS has had speech due to a delay. He's fine now. Some kids just take longer but are smart in other ways.

fancefpp

FmrAFBrat said:

They really don't start to worry until 18 months. Anything less than 5 words at 18 month will qualify your child for an early intervention. My ODS has had speech due to a delay. He's fine now. Some kids just take longer but are smart in other ways.

This...ds1 went through EI for speech because he only had a few words at 18 months. He's now almost three and NEVER shuts up. He speaks better than kids who had a ton of words at 1. Ds2 has a few words, mostly B words, but he isn't really pointing yet.

rebaann

At 12 months we had one word with intent - "ka" for cat.  She just added "hi" this week and maybe means Dada when she says it.  Our pediatrician wasn't worried and I'm not either.  Although it sure would be easier if she could say what she wants rather than throwing a fit.

Lolalipsy

Try not to worry. Our LOs are still only a year old. I asked about talking and my HV said they dont even assess talking here until they're two years of age. By the time they reach two she said they would expect them to be able to say about 50 words and for them to start making short sentences. There's massive variation in children when it comes to language so please don't worry.

kelseyhh

Thanks everyone for your encouragement. I guess I'll try not to worry too much. ;-) I'll also try to stay off of google. Everyone time I "research" something, I come away convinced that something is horribly wrong!

huzzahuzza

@kelseyhh, I totally had a "OMG my child is autistic" thought yesterday! J was throwing a temper tantrum and kept repeating over and over "Ah du! Ah du! Ah du!" and shaking his head back and forth and then just started rocking back and forth! It was like a PTSD moment where I had flashbacks of dealing with this one student that would do that when he was frustrated.  It was scary!!!! 

Then, I realized he was trying to tell me he was all done... but for me it's not the language barrier that scares me with autism, it's the temper tantrums because of the communication barrier.  

D&S724

I'm a teacher as well, so I'll admit to being a little neurotic about this! DS isn't saying much yet, either. He calls everything a "cah" and will sometimes say "go." However, he is reaching all other milestones, so I am not freaking out yet.