18 months and not talking.

Cgelske · August 2011

I honestly haven't been too concerned because he is smart, he understands me, and he understands me well. I've heard a few words come from his mouth like "good" or "cat" he knows "dada" and "mama" but hardly ever uses them. He's been shy from the get-go, so he's never opened up around strangers until after he got comfortable around them. We read to him and we sing to him. Today someone told me I should talk to my doctor about it. I figured I would talk to his doctor at his next well-child check up, but now I am worried. I've heard that boys will sometimes be slower to talk. Is anyone else having the same issue, is it really that uncommon for an 18 month old boy to not talk that much? Also, if you have anything special you do that you think has helped your child learn how to talk please share.

Thanks so much Ladies.

emjenkins715 · August 2011

My 18 mo old DS doesn't say much at all. I know he knows the words, but rarely uses them. He babbles a lot. I'm not worried at all about it yet and neither is the doctor. Our friends 18 mo old girl has said a full sentence, but again I'm not too concerned he follows directions just fine.

Abinormal · August 2011

There's typically a word explosion around 18 months, so I'd give it at least another month or so before I'd worry. Also, have you had your 18 month well check? If not, then it doesn't hurt to talk to the doctor at the well check, although I'm sure he/she will tell you not too worry at this point, as long as he is saying some words. If you've already had your well check, then I'd keep an ear out for new words over the next 2 months and call if he doesn't seem to have more than 5-10 new words by 20/21 months. The reason being, that I don't believe that there is a well check in between 18 months and 2 years, and I wouldn't want you to get to the 2 year well check and realize it would've been helpful to start having him evaluated several months before.

sophiet496 · August 2011

Lucas was not saying much at 18 months at all. Now he is 21 months and probably has around 40 words, maybe more. A lot of them are still very hard to understand for anyone but DH and I, but he is saying them consistently with meaning. We were concerned and he did start EI...he has seen the speech therapist 4 times in the past 8 weeks. Honestly, I don't think that had much to do with it. I think he was just going to be a late talker. He is a mover and a shaker...always has been...and I have been probably too good at knowing what he needs...why talk? I do believe he is on his way now, though. I still also tend to compare to my friends' with girls the same age talking in sentences, but I'm sure my guy will be fine...and yours too! GL

Cgelske · August 2011

emjenkins715:
My 18 mo old DS doesn't say much at all. I know he knows the words, but rarely uses them. He babbles a lot. I'm not worried at all about it yet and neither is the doctor. Our friends 18 mo old girl has said a full sentence, but again I'm not too concerned he follows directions just fine.

Aaaah, it feels good to hear someone else not worried about it. I think he is developing just fine, he is very smart, I think he is more interested in focusing on climbing stuff and playing with his toys than he is with talking. He even loves to read books with us. He brings them to us all the time and I sing to him all the time too, he loves it.

meg07bride · August 2011

My dd barely talked at 18 months. She had less than 10 words she said conistently but usually just babbled and pointed. I asked her pedi and he said if she doesnt learn any new words in 2 months call for an appt. We didnt need to- She is now 22 months and says probably a couple hundred words (i lost count)and starting to use 2 and 3 word sentences. They arent kidding about the word explosion between 18-20months.

Cgelske · August 2011

sophiet496:
Lucas was not saying much at 18 months at all. Now he is 21 months and probably has around 40 words, maybe more. A lot of them are still very hard to understand for anyone but DH and I, but he is saying them consistently with meaning. We were concerned and he did start EI...he has seen the speech therapist 4 times in the past 8 weeks. Honestly, I don't think that had much to do with it. I think he was just going to be a late talker. He is a mover and a shaker...always has been...and I have been probably too good at knowing what he needs...why talk? I do believe he is on his way now, though. I still also tend to compare to my friends' with girls the same age talking in sentences, but I'm sure my guy will be fine...and yours too! GL

My DS is a mover and a shaker too, haha. Also, I think I understand him well enough that he doesn't need to talk. Every time I am responding to him telling me what he wants I do try and repeat what it is I am giving him and talk to him about it. I didn't get the hang of "talking " to him until he was crawling and walking, so I feel like that might have something to do with him not talking as much.

fallplanner · August 2011

I just posted a similar question yesterday. My 18 month old son says, "tickle" "dada" "Mama", and makes a few animal sounds. Like your son he understands directions, but just isn't using the words yet. I have been worried because I have been looking stuff up on the internet (bad idea:) ). That just stresses me out more. My doctor isn't concerned, but if he isn't saying more words in the next month, I may schedule a hearing test, as he's had quite a few ear infections. I think its normal for some to talk late though...Good luck!

ESD_0707 · August 2011

At 18 months, DD maybe said 5 words. Now, at 20 months, I can't even count all the things she says. Give your LO some time.

Kingston54 · August 2011

I wouldn't worry too much - he might be focusing on a different skill right now. Bring it up at your well visit! I have also heard boys are slower to talk.

spring_time · August 2011

It is so hard not to be worried. DS isn't 17 months yet, but one of his friends already says three word sentences and she is about a month or two younger. Somehow "ball, uh oh, and buh-bye" pale in comparison to "giraffe, peacock, and Elizabeth." I have also heard that boys tend to speak later. If your LO is very active, that can contribute to delayed speech.

Are you a SAHM? I have heard that children of SAHM can sometimes be slower to start talking because their parent is always there to anticipate their needs. My friend's grandmother watches her child and the pedi said they almost need to force the LO to start talking by not immediately satisfying/anticipating what she wants. My friend who is a speech pathologist has also mentioned this as a contributing factor.

Cgelske · August 2011

spring_time:
It is so hard not to be worried. DS isn't 17 months yet, but one of his friends already says three word sentences and she is about a month or two younger. Somehow "ball, uh oh, and buh-bye" pale in comparison to "giraffe, peacock, and Elizabeth." I have also heard that boys tend to speak later. If your LO is very active, that can contribute to delayed speech.
Are you a SAHM? I have heard that children of SAHM can sometimes be slower to start talking because their parent is always there to anticipate their needs. My friend's grandmother watches her child and the pedi said they almost need to force the LO to start talking by not immediately satisfying/anticipating what she wants. My friend who is a speech pathologist has also mentioned this as a contributing factor.

I don't stay at home anymore, but me and DH pretty much switch off. He doesn't go to a sitter often. I've heard boys are slower to talk too but I do have 1 friend who's son just turned 1 and he says some words I'm like WHAT!? Haha. I do feel like Andrew has focused a lot of his attention on being active. I feel much better after this post. I feel like he's a thinker more than he is a talker. I'm going to work on having him TELL me what he wants.

THANK YOU! to everyone. I love that I can come here to get opinions from other moms who's lives revolve around their children as much as mine does. Most of my "friends" who have children, I don't think they are all on the same page as I am when it comes to my job as a parent, so THANK YOU!!

Lynn07 · August 2011

I know you've gotten a lot of responses, but I just wanted to add one more "try not to worry yet"

DS1 had maybe 4 or 5 words at 18 months. The pedi wasn't concerned, and said she only looked for 3-5 by then. Lo and behold, his word explosion started at 21ish months, and hasn't slowed down since then! I swear it seems like he picks up at least one word a day now, and says 2 (sometimes 3) word phrases all the time. I know it's hard not to worry!

MamatoJackson · August 2011

I would certainly check with the pedi - If there is an issue, better to know about it as soon as possible - I am sure it's no big deal, though - All children are different, boys are usually a bit delayed compared to girls (verbally), etc, etc... But still talk to him.

sunnybrook. · August 2011

My twins are 19 months and are still not really talking. When prompted, they will try to say the word but that only started happening recently. At their 18 month appointment, the pedi was not worried. He said they like to see 7 words at that age (animal sounds count as words). Honestly, my girls are healthy and smart. They have a huge receptive vocabulary, can follow 2-step directions and are signing about 30 words so they're not frustrated. I'm not concerned. If the pedi starts getting concerned, then I will be too but not until then.

My former foster son was not even trying to talk or babbling. We had him evaluated at 21 months. All of his results came back above average except for expressive language. We had his hearing checked. It was fine. Right after he turned 2, he just started talking. It seriously seemed to come out of nowhere.

If you feel better talking to your pedi, then do so, but I bet your LO is fine.

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