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Attachment Parenting
My dad's theory on why Jack doesn't talk yet
Jack's almost 14 months and doesn't talk. He understands a lot of what I say, and is VERY VERY active (walking at 9 months, climbs into/onto/over anything he walks). I spend almost as much time stressed about that as I do about his sleep.
So, my dad called me today and asked why Jack isn't talking. I said it's probably a combination of him being so active and him just not being ready, but that we're working with him.
He says "Well, Lori and I think it's because you spoil him. If you quit paying attention to him and giving him anything unless he asks for it in words, he'll ask for it." So, I said should I quit changing his diaper and feeding him unless he asks? He said that he's only not asking because I'm doing it without and it wouldn't take long.
Um....somehow that's not my plan.
BFP 1/6/12
TTC#2 since June 2010
Diagnosed PCOS and started Metformin December 2011
DS1 - Jack 9/28/08
Birth Doula and ICAN Leader
DS1 - Jack 9/28/08
Birth Doula and ICAN LeaderThis discussion has been closed.
Re: My dad's theory on why Jack doesn't talk yet
Brilliant!
FWIW, DS is almost 15 months and still isn't talking. He babbles like nobody's business but has yet to say an actual word. I'm not worried. Like your DS, he's also super active and began crawling and walking earlier than most. I've heard that babies who are more advanced physically sometimes take longer to develop verbal skills. My neighbor's son didn't say a word until he was 2 and now he's 4 and never shuts up.
No worries!
First of all.... My nephew (he's a Jack too
) is 27 mos and is talking very little. He has just started to put 2 words together... he is just like your LO... VERY active but also understanding of everything we say. Just doesn't talk much.
His Aunt is a speech therapist. She said that when toddlers are that active and are that superior physically it is too hard for them to be exceptional verbally as well. Their little brains can only handle one extreme at a time... her professional advice would be that if he is still not picking up more words she would like to see him in 6 months.... but that it will (in most cases) eventually pick up and he'll "even out" So tell that to your Dad! 14 months should not be worrisome!
I do, however have some understanding for our parents generation... I mean these are the things they were told to do and how to raise children by pedi's and professionals and "our kids turned out just fine" (I absolutely HATE that argument... but I can see where they're coming from KWIM?) So our parents are just going by what they have always known.
My brother is 28 months and only started talking 4 months ago. I wouldnt worry about it
Nice advice, btw, hopefully he didnt do that with you
My dad was a traditional, hands off kind of dad. He worked CRAZY hours as a lawyer, and made money, and that was his job. House and kids were 1000% my moms. So, no, he didn't ignore us to make us talk (but I was an early talker...). But, apparently, that's what my stepmom did with my active/late talker stepbro (I think she cared for him, but wouldn't play with him or do extras unless he asked. So if he wanted to play with the ball, she'd just say ball without playing until he said ball.)
Blah. Thanks for the comments on his speech. For the most part I don't worry, then I get this stuff (and my stepmom telling me that I need to make sure he's talking by Thanksgiving...), and I worry. Then I calm down:-)
Hmm... I've taken college classes on speech development, and so far "ignore them until they speak" has not been one of the strategies explained to us!
FWIW, the little boy I nannied for was walking at 9 months and not really talking much at 18 months. When he finally took off verbally, he really took off. He memorized and would "read" books by 2.5, and by 3.5 he could read his older sisters vocabulary flashcards for kindergarten. He wound up being very advanced. I really think he knew how to talk all along, just didn't want to!
I wouldn't be worried at 14 months. If he doesn't have any words by 18 months, I would ask your pedi...but by words, I mean repeated sounds that mean something. If he says "du" when he holds a duck in the bath or "ba" when he points at a ball, those count as words. I think it is really common for kids to not have much language until they are somewhere between 2 and 3. Those early talkers just ruin it for everyone else. :-P