Baby expectations

AmySmolos · September 2013

My pedi told us at ds one year appointment that by 15 months he should have 20 words, understand certain commands like "go get your shoes," and be able to name some body parts such as eyes, nose, mouth, etc. my ds is smart but he is 13 months and looks at me like I'm crazy when I try to name body parts with him. Maybe I underestimate the developmental milestones that are coming but did anyone else's pedi tell them this?

jodegaard · September 2013

That sounds advanced even for 18 months.

mmknightly · September 2013

That's nuts. My kid knows about 2 words tops. I don't see her picking up 18 more words in 2 months.

cedenton · September 2013

No. She asked about words. I told her not really. She asked about mama and dada (yes). I told her he points at the Dog and says da. She asked if he had a name for his bottle. I told her no. She didn't really seemed concerned.

102007 · September 2013

That sounds like a lot. We may be almost there on the words, but no way on the body parts. Every time I try to tell her where her nose is she freaks out because she so hates getting it wiped lol.

AmySmolos · September 2013

I misspoke on naming the body parts. The pedi said pointing to them when asked where they are!

rjacques · September 2013

My DS is nowhere near this. In fact he is on a talking strike and won't say anything!

amaite · September 2013

My pedi asked at the 12 month appt if he knew his body parts. I said no, and she said I should be practicing by saying "where's your nose?", etc. Since the early interventionist has said ds has great receptive language, I asked her about it and told her what the pedi said. She said that babies usually learn body parts somewhere between 12 and 15 months, and that they only get concerned if they can't identify a single body part by 15 months. And she said not to do the whole "where's your nose?" thing, but just to continue using language naturally in context. And again, this is receptive language, not actually saying them.

Ds is starting to learn them. He puts his hands up on command, and when I'm changing his diaper or clothes, if I say I'm going to kiss his foot, he puts it up in the air and starts giggling. Same if I say I'm going to kiss his hand. And he's really taken an interest in my stomach lately. He likes to pat it, so sometimes I ask where my bellybutton is and he'll lift my shirt and put his finger in my bellybutton. So, in the 2 weeks since I told the pedi he didn't know his body parts, he seems to have learned some.

Grins04 · September 2013

I would say 18 months is more average, but you'll be *amazed* what happens in the next few months. I'd expect it to be more like, "where's your shoes?" (with them being in view) vs. "go get your shoes." But it wouldn't surprise me that many 15 month olds could do this. And DD went from 0 words to 10 words in one week....so 20 words in a few months is entirely possible. Once they start, things often pick-up fast.

My son was delayed with speech and receptive communication, and didn't talk or communicate/understand until 2 years old. It was like it went in one ear and out the other...he just wasn't understanding anything we had to say. You'd ask him to point to everyday things or people (like myself) and you could tell he just wasn't understanding. But I will say it took him no time at all to catch-up (0-100 words in a couple months), I guess it just needed to be on his terms, and to be in a group therapy setting. Soo...all that to say, every kid is different and there's still time.

TechieGirl1 · September 2013

I know Lucas says only a few words, but understands a lot of things we ask him to do. Such as: shut the drawer, put your hands up, put it back (this is applied to a lot of things!).

piphigirl · September 2013

On the body parts thing, my parents noticed about a mouth ago that Charlotte grabbed her foot when someone said, "feet." Then we started trying to teach her "head" and she got it this week! So, I think they could pick up a few before 15 months.

I also think the simple command thing is possible, but best if you break it down. For example, "Go to your shoes. Good job! You found the shoes. Can you bring the shoes to mommy? Thank you!" Charlotte can get her water cup if we break it down this way.

rp-chicago-mom · September 2013

I think Howell knows head because he points to it when we sing Head shoulders knees and toes. Toe Knee Chest Nut is a great body parts song too. I try to glance at those and think that's what we should focus on and leave it alone. Development, in my experience happens in leaps and bounds flanked by long periods of stagnancy. It's a good guideline but by no means is it the Bible.

JayandEmm · September 2013

Uh, the only thing W's Dr mentioned was if he could babble ma, da, ga, ba, and if he's associating me and H as mama and dada (and if he was associating other words and things, but totally not worried if he wasn't).

I don't think she's worried about actual words and naming body parts, and counting to 100 in Japanese or whatever crap until much later.

Honestly, I think some pedis put too much pressure on us and our babies to learn learn learn, and if they're not advanced, we did something wrong. How about we let our babies be babies?

Toni79 · September 2013

Baker_Bride said:
I think Howell knows head because he points to it when we sing Head shoulders knees and toes. Toe Knee Chest Nut is a great body parts song too. I try to glance at those and think that's what we should focus on and leave it alone. Development, in my experience happens in leaps and bounds flanked by long periods of stagnancy. It's a good guideline but by no means is it the Bible.

So ... I know the song "head shoulders knees and toes" but am I the only one who has never heard of "toe knee chest nut"? I read this and my mind started signing those words to the beat of "head shoulderes knees and toes". But then I got confused when pointing to body parts ... nut? I need to google thia song! Lol.

AmySmolos · September 2013

Toni79 said:

Baker_Bride said:
I think Howell knows head because he points to it when we sing Head shoulders knees and toes. Toe Knee Chest Nut is a great body parts song too. I try to glance at those and think that's what we should focus on and leave it alone. Development, in my experience happens in leaps and bounds flanked by long periods of stagnancy. It's a good guideline but by no means is it the Bible.
So ... I know the song "head shoulders knees and toes" but am I the only one who has never heard of "toe knee chest nut"? I read this and my mind started signing those words to the beat of "head shoulderes knees and toes". But then I got confused when pointing to body parts ... nut? I need to google thia song! Lol.

Me too! DS just noticed his male parts so I thought this song would be interesting:)

vic8504 · September 2013

DD doesn't really talk much other than the usual Mama, dada, that and some other things. I think our pedi told us she should be able to say 10-15 by her 15 month appointment. As for the other stuff. I can tell her "where is Eeyore? Go get him" and she will and in the past week or so she knows and points to her nose, ears, eyes, hair and tongue. It just sort of happened! Like others said you will be surprised how fast they pick things up.