14 Month Old Boy Not Talking Yet?

I didn't say anything at all, even mama or dada, until I was almost 3. My family will tell you that I haven't shut up since. :) My oldest daughter was a total perfectionist even as an infant, and wouldn't say a word until she felt she could say it perfectly. The numbers the doctors use are averages; don't panic!

Hi N.,
I haven't read the many responses you got, but I thought I'd post a quick note to tell you my 18 month old just recently (within the last couple of weeks) started using mama as a way of calling me. She has always said or repeated mama but never used it to refer to me. She didn't call anyone anything (dad or her big sister). She has said a few to several different words from just under a year old to now, but it wasn't until recently that we can really understand her and that she is "getting it". My almost 5 year old was/is a huge talker and had a tremendous vocabulary by a year old so it was so different with my youngest who is probably more on the average scale (whereas my oldest was/is advanced). My point being everyone goes at their own pace. It concerned me to about her not calling me mama, but it has finally happened and it is just the cutest thing. Unless you are seeing several indicators that she is developmentally delayed, I wouldn't worry about this. K.

You should definitely be concerned. Please call Central Valley Regional Center (CVRC) the number is ###-###-####. I just finished up my intership there and believe they are doing wonders with Early Intervenintion. You can tell them S. sent you.

While I wouldn't "worry", I also wouldn't use the "wait and see" attitude many parents and pediatricians advise. If you are having any doubts, call your local regional center and get him evaluated. It's free and it can't hurt. The worst that will happen is that they say he is not delayed and they can give you suggestions for any of your concerns if therapy isn't warranted. As I have said on here before, the wait and see attitude gets many people in trouble and many pediatricians are big advocates of that approach. If there is a delay and it keeps being a delay with no intervention, the doctor often refers the person for services around 2 1/2 and by then, you might get 6 months of services for free and then the child goes to the school system where the services are not as direct and the scope of the services is limited.

Ahh darling, don't worry so much yet... ALl my kids didn't talk until they were well into two... some babies are just thinkers. Did you know Einstein didnt utter a word until he was four? My son is 22 months old and has a limited vocab, he knows his words, but because he signs, he gets his language across, try baby signs.... it'll help ease his frustrtion, the fact that he knows to retrieve his football is a great sign, it's jut a fact that he's a thinker, which is a GREAT thing in the long run. NEver compare to what other babies are doing.I'mm a deaf mom, so my kids naturally drop off the ends of their words, because I dont hear them, so they do it too, all babies will catch up. One of the worst things you can do is compare, compare, compare. Your baby is FINE.... in fact more than fine. He's listening to commands at QUITE an early age, you should be proud. It could be he's content, and is just thinking carefully and absorbing what he hears, and when he's ready, dont' be surprised if he starts talking in complete sentenses!!! My son is 22 months old and while he's got an extensive vocab, spongebob has become "bungbom" so, it's just a matter of listening more carefully, you might be surprised that he talks more, but it's just no coherent yet. Dont give up hope, he'll talk. He's not delayed. They say babies don't really talk well until two anyway. They say the basics for what they need... or they point. if their needs are met as yours apprantly seems to be, he doesn't need to verbalize as much because he's a consistent happy baby and knows that you understand him. BE proud that your baby can communicate without verbalizing his needs. I thought at first my kids were developmentally delayed because of my deafness... now my seven year old is using words I can't believe he's even using! The other day, he was writing in his diary, and when I asked what he was writing about he replied "Mom, it's personal, it's none of your diarrhea"..... *laughing* But it's getting there.... Don't stress, it'll happen.... 14 months is VERy young to have an extensive vocab, I think my youngest only said mama and baba and ball and doggie at that time anyhow... and now, everyone and everything is MOM! MOM! mom! MOM! hahahah.... He'll catch on... no worries. He's absolutely perfect and normal.. you're doing fabulous!Try the babybee knowledge tapes.. They help with simple words, and they come in sets of I think nine, and if you play them, he will catch on like you wouldn't believe, I bought them two days ago, and my son is already saying truck, car, cup, bottle, train... *although truck is something sounding like a curse word, so I have to keep saying TTTTTTruck.....hahahhah my kids get a hoot out of it* but it's amazing how fast they learn... Keep up the good work momma you're doing great!!!!!
S.

Hi,
I'm a mom of 4 boys and only my oldest started talking "early" at 18 months. Our second didn't start until 2 1/2 years and I can't believe we let us talk into having him evaluated for speech delay and for his hearing even though we knew everything was fine. Like your son he followed directions and pointed at everything he wanted. Our 3rd boys is now 21 months old and the only thing he started to say recently (like 2 weeks ago) is "ba" when he waves goodbye to daddy. The baby is only three months old but I'm pretty sure it's going to be the same with him.

When kids start talking they're using the new word they learned to describe everything. My oldest would say "dada" and point to a banana and a toy car and a book.... (and occasionally to dad).

Don't stress yourself out over this. Most importantly don't let your pediatrician put pressure on you.

If he is talking, or at least speaking some words that you may be the only one that understands...don't worry!! He is vocal and that is the main thing, even at 14 months. He follows direction so he understands and although the pediatricians have timelines for ALL things...not every child is the same and some take more time than others to reach milestones. My daughter, 20 months, says ALOT but most of it only her father and I understand. She did not use alot of words by 14 months either, I think it was along the same lines as you, and she is fine. Give your child time, no pressure on you or him. He is verbalizing and contecting words to follow directions...so he is on the right path! If your ped. is truly concerned and puts the pressure on you then maybe you should get another opinion...they should know that although these milestones are important...every child...thank goodness...is unique and sets there own pace in life! Take care and listen out for the ways your child communicates with you...he may have a larger vocab than you give him credit for...sometimes it is just hard to figure out the words they are trying to express when you want to hear a clearly spoken legible word. Don't worry...give him some more time and listen closer to his style of vocalizing.

Take care and be well!

Hi N.,

I wouldn't worry if your son doesn't know you are "mama" and your husband is "dada"--beginning talkers can apply those words to a variety of people and objects. I think it is a good sign that your son says those words.

Boys often take longer to develop language. My son had a speech delay and did not have 10 words by 22 months. On a recommendation from our pediatrician, we had him tested through the California First Five Program. Five months later, by the time his speech therapy was approved, he only received 8 classes since he had caught up on his own. Within a few more months he was beyond his peers. Now he is a very, very talkative four year-old.

I worried for nothing! I wish I had listened to my intuition more at that time--although my son didn't have words, he did comprehend and he did "jabber" appropriately, making statements and "asking questions". My pediatrician was right to suggest testing, yet a couple of the tester-psychologist people went overboard in their assessment--which was so weird, because they never diagnosed my son with anything. One lady thought he didn't have words because I am a stay-at-home mom--she wanted me to put my son in daycare!! Didn't happen. Another PhD thought my son might have ADD because he kept wanting to play with toys he saw in the next room during the TWO-HOUR test. Again, she didn't diagnose him with anything, and he so does NOT have ADD.

Sadly, with autism on the rise and this age of litigation, I think we live in a society that is over-cautious and doesn't always appreciate every kid for who they are and how they develop. We freak out over developmental milestones--why? Not every kid is going to be an extrovert or develop at the same pace and that's okay. (Any elementary school teacher will tell you that by the time kids reach third grade, they are pretty much on the same level.) Our society can't accommodate just extroverts--and frankly, I don't want to live in a society with just one type of person--do you?

:-) I think your son will be fine. Talk to him, sing to him, read to him, expose him to a variety of people of various ages in various situations. It will turn out okay.

Receptive language and expressive language are not synonymous, nor do they develop at the same time. Boys especially are slower in the whole language department than their female counterparts. It sounds like he is just where he should be, for this age. If he can understand your request and do it, he is doing great! My baby is 16 mos. and I feel he too doesnt know that we are mama and dada. But if I ask him to go put the tissue in the trash, he does it. Or where is your sippee cup, he goes searching for it. So I know he is doing just fine. I have quite a bit of experience with this as my twins were micro preemies and were followed by every kind of program and therapist you can imagine. I was concerned about their speech, and learned quite a bit during that process. Your son sounds TOTALLY normal!

My son didn't say much till 16 months. Be bery verbal around him. Talk and describe what you are doing, seeing, touching etc. Talk non stop to help him build up language skills.

I'm speaking as a peds nurse as well as a mom of 2, one of whom has been in ST since age 20 months for an expressive language issue. My son said 4 words at 20 months and we had him evaluated and he qualified for services. He wouldn't have made as much progress as he had w/o it. Also, we had noticed it was affecting his behavior b/c he was becoming frustrated. Also,as he was learning to talk but was not intelligible yet, we found this very social boy was withdrawing b/c other kids didn't understand him. We wanted him to have help before entering kindergarten.
Fast forward to now-- fully intelligible at 4.5 years, tests 2-3 years ahead in language ability, is learning to read, speaks in paragraphs! Our peds asked us if we felt that he would've done this on his own and perhaps he would've made some progress.However because it was affecting his self esteem at an early age we felt it necessary to get him help and give it a jump start. I had worked with him at home a lot and we did use sign language which helped, but it wasn't enough. And now we don't have to worry about it when he starts elementary school.

I'll also add that my kids were adopted from Korea and came to us during the prime time for language acquisition (6-9 months of age)so language was on the back burner so to speak for a while for them.

My daughter is 15 months old and she has 3 words-- mama, dada, and uh-oh, and they are said with meaning. She had a very hard transition with her move to us,so a lot of things she's catching up on and just blossoming daily. She doesn't point yet, but she will do other gestures (such as "no" and she will also use some sign language). I asked our peds about it and he said she is still within normal range and there is no concern about her receptive language or autism so he's not real concerned. We will reevaluate at 18 months and if she is behind we'll get Early Intervention then.

I will not go so far to say your child is 'normal" because that's providing a diagnosis and your concerns might be valid and he may very well have a language delay. Then again he may not. The amount of words he is saying are within the typical range so I might give it some more time UNLESS you are seeing other developmental concerns or possible delays. In which case, I would call your local Regional Center and ask for an evaluation (it's free)

Is your son's hearing okay? Is he around other children and how does he interact? Does he attempt to communicate? Does he babble? Typically if speech is the only concern, the EI folks don't evaluate until 18 months of age.

Just keep an eye on things, assess if you have any other concerns, and take it from there.

Also, a very good reference re. speech if you want to do some google research is Carolyn Bowen --she is a well published speech pathologist and puts out a lot of good information

good luck!

I have heard that Einstein didn't talk until he was three.

N.,

You have gotten alot of the same advice, so take it from the rest of us. Your boy is smart, he is just taking his own sweet time, and if you are understanding to him then why should he talk. He gets everything he want's without asking. Start playing little games with him, for his snack point to you and say mama then point to him and say his name. Then you get a treat then try to get him to say mama and his name for a treat. My son was stuborn and wouldn't give in to this game. So a friend of mine told me that the school district has a program for late talkers. At least your Doctor isn't telling you (it's ok, don't worry, boys are just slow). I refuse to think that boy's are just slow
some children are just slow but you can't blame just the boys. My son was 3 when he started speech therapy. By kindergarden he was completely normal and the teacher couldn't beleive that he was ever in the program. I know they start earlier then 3 so call your school district and see if they want to wait till he is 18 months or they want to test him now. None of this hurts him and the earlier the better. The teachers are great and wonderful with the kids. They usually come to your home for a half hour or so, when they are that young. They are better at this then we are, simply because your child knows that you understand and will give in. But don't worry yet he's still really young. Best wishes to you and your little guy. J.

Take a deep breath, relax. He's just a baby!!! My first child did not speak until she was fully two and she is six now and has perfect diction, an incredibly rich vocabulary and she just does not have alot to say. Her delayed speech was due to her observational personality. She is the kind of kid who will speak when she has something to say and not a moment before. My second, however, spoke two word sentences right after her first birthday. She will not come up for air during a sentence and she has a severe stutter because she has so much to say and can't get the words out fast enough. Both my kids had speech therapy, which was interesting and fun for them.

You can teach him sign language, which is pretty easy to do. Read one of the many books out there to get you started. You start slowly with just one or two signs so that you learn them as you go too. This will help his little brain form those synapses of communication even before he has the mouth coordination to form words. It will also help you to understand what he is thinking.

Bottom line, I think it is too early to intervene. If you are concerned, ask your pediatrician about the state agency that handles early intervention. You should be eligible for free services if he truly has a developmental delay (which I am sure he does not, but if you go for another 6 months without talking, maybe you could have him evaluated). Don't worry mom.

I just wanted to let you know that I know how you feel. My son is almost 18 months old and he just started calling us Mama and Dada about a month ago. Our pediatrician wasn't worried at his 15 month check-up because he seems to understand almost all of what we say to him and he gestures to us. In fact, we've been teaching him sign language for a few months and he knows about 10 signs. The pediatrician did say that if he wasn't using about 8-10 words by his 18 month check-up, then he wanted us to consider speech therapy. I have a good friend who took her son to speech therapy at this age and he really enjoyed it and it helped him a lot. Try not to worry. I think if he is able to understand you and follow directions, the speech will come along in time. Good luck!

N.,
Some children do not talk very much. As long as he is understanding what you are telling him to do, and does say mama and dada, don't worry. My husband didn't talk much until he was two years old. He listened a lot and watched what people did. One day my mother-in-law said he was watching a neighbor go to work and said, "Hello Shorty!" That is the man's name by the way. She usually asked my husband what he wanted and he would respond by a head nod or go stand by the sink and she knew he wanted a drink of water, etc. My husband is very bright and articulate now. He is still a listener, but definitely can hold his own in a conversation and an argument.
My daughter has three sons, and the first one talked early. The middle son, didn't talk for a long time and she was worried. Even when he talked you couldn't understand him very well. Now he is in kindergarten and doing fine. The last son, talks his head off and he is three years old. All children are different.

Enjoy your beautiful baby boy and your family.

E.:)

I have a 2.5 year old boy. Last year we were in a momy & Me class. All the little girls were talking up a storm and the boys hardly said anything. My son started talking just before he was 2 and now we can't turn it off!

Be patient. Enjoy the quiet.

M.

I've known several boys who didn't say any words until between 18 mos. and 22 mos., and then they started talking non-stop. I wouldn't worry at all. Boys are usually later than girls.

All kids are different, don't worry he will talk...I have a 18 month old who says mama and that's about it, but he cleary understands everything I say. He is just now starting to mimic things people say

He probably knows more than five words if he can respond to commands, it's just that he has not chosen to use them himself yet! I was worried about my son around 18 months - and I had another friend whose son didn't say a thing until 2 - and now they are both chatterboxes. I don't think there is a need to worry at 14 months. Also, I believe that boys don't develop their verbal skills as quickly. My daughter was using full sentences well before 2, and we used to joke that our son was just a grunting caveman by comparison.

Hi N., at 14 months old, I would not worry, but you can always join a play group where he has other kids around him, who are talking. In my experience little girls talk more and sooner than little boys, tht was the case with my 3 kids and that has been the case in my daycare, I have a 14 month in my day careand all's he says is mama. I don'[t see it as a problem. J. L.

girls talk at 12 months, boys at 18 months

My children didn't speak until 26 and 27 months respectively. They are extremely bright and talkative children now at 3 and 9.

Hello Mama N.~

My name is C.. I am a mother of 2 boys, almost 3 & 5, with a girl due this week!

My first boy started saying basic words around 13 months & was starting to form sentences by 15 months...it seemed to advance pretty quickly after that.

My 2nd son was barely saying anything even by 18 months, but he was hearing & understanding me just fine. I could tell that the communication problem was bothering him because he would get very frustrated when I could really only understand maybe 1/2 of what he was saying...even when he turned 2.

This was all a bit disconcerting for me. People kept saying I needed to get him screened for autism, but I really didn't think that was the problem. So finally we went on vacation this last summer & something just clicked with him & he started talking so much more!

I did have a picture book that I would sit & go through with my first son all the time. I sort of forgot about it with my 2nd until this last summer, & once I started doing it with him he really started saying more too. But even now he doesn't speak as clearly as my first did.

My first is the spitting image of me & our 2nd is just like his dad, so they are very different kids. I have just had to remember that he is a different kid than my first son & stop comparing them so much. Because he's doing just fine now & he's about to turn 3.

So I guess what I'm saying is I wouldn't be worried just yet! There is a huge range among boys that is "normal".

Be encouraged!
~Mama C.
www.dimplebaby.com

I wouldn't worry until he's much older. At our third child's five month appointment, her doctor told me that if she knew one more word, she would have "passed." She's 20 months now, and is learning new words daily. If he understands you, that's the most important thing. He's the first child, so he only hears you and his daddy talking. Make sure you're talking to him a lot, and it might sound silly, but talk about what you're doing so he can hear language as much as possible. For example, "Mommy's changing your diaper now." "Mommy needs to do the laundry." etc.
Listen to your pediatrician, but I wouldn't worry too much unless he gets to be around two and still isn't talking. :)

Contact California Early Intervention Services. My son is 18 months and only has one word. Of course I freaked out because by 18mo most are putting two words together and i can't even get a 'mama'! I made an appointment for my son and he was evaluated by 2 different therapists. They have given me many new ideas to try at home as well as offer speech therapy. This is a free service and I can't tell you how comforted I felt after meeting with them. I was thinking the worst, reading everything on the internet about development. By the time I was done I had diagnosed my son with every disease or disorder there was. At the end of the day my son just has a hard time forming sounds. We are making progress but more importantly I'm not freaking out anymore so I can actually help my son.
Almost everyone will tell you to contact Early Intervention because it REALLY does help.

I wouldn't be too concerned. my son was 18 monthes before his ped was concerned. I called san marcos regional center and they did an evaluation but you can also call and just talk to them. rthey have good information. I wouldn't be concerned until he is at least 18 monthes and then see what happens.

Hi N.,
I know you have got alot of responses so far but I just wanted to share my experience. My son started walking at 14 months, never mind talking. The first time he said "mama" was at almost 2. Of course, he said "daddy" and a few other words but for the longest time he had friends younger than him that were saying alot more words. I started to get concerned because of all these milestones that they are supposed to reach (Phooey....that's how I feel about milestones!) and now he is 25 months and won't stop talking! I realize that all children develop differently and I don't try to push him into anything. Of course, if you REALLY feel something is wrong, have him checked out. Otherwise, just be patient and let time run it's course.

Hi There! To be on the safe side, you may want to have your son's hearing tested by an audiologist. Your pediatrician can give you info on where to take him. He could just be a late talker or it may be a sign of hearing loss. If so, it is really important to find out as soon as possible. I didn't discover my daughter's hearing loss until much later which is extremely unfortunate for us. She did also say mama, dada and seemed to follow some direction as well... best of luck

don't worry - my 18 month old girl is barely talking. but she understands everything. my oldest daughter was the same way. but my middle daughter spoke from a very early age. they're all different and approach milestones at different times. don't worry.

Hi N., I am a very proud mommy to two amazing little boys with speech delays. I've been in your position twice, worried and concerned about both of my boys speech development. First, know that boys generally talk later than girls and your son is still very young so don't worry too much. Having said that, you have every right to be concerned about your son's speech and language development. If you are concerned, listen to your inner voice and get him evaluated for speech therapy. The evaluation will let you know if there is a reason for concern or not. Both of my boys used a few words before the age of one and then stopped using some of those words and didn't really gain any new words from age 1-2. They both started with speech therapy at age 2 and have made such amazing progress. Early intervention is the key. It is completely your call if you want to take a few more months to see how is language progresses or get him evaluated now. With both of my sons I was concerned before they turned two, but both times I listened to family and friends saying that they were fine, which is why they didn't start therapy until after their 2nd B-day. If we ever have any more children and are concerned about their language development I will get them started with Speech Therapy at an earlier age. The earlier they start the easier it is to get them back on track and get their speech to be age appropriate. Now my oldest is 4 and he is doing Fantastic!!! His language skills are now age appropriate. My younger son is 2.5 yrs old and is also doing Amazing. He didn't have as much ground to make up as his older brother so he is already getting close to age appropriate speech and language skills. I predict that by his 3rd Birthday or shortly there after, he'll have age appropriate language skills. Now, the other thing I would like to share with you is that when you make arrangements for your son to receive a speech evaluation, they will also schedule a developmental evaluation. This way they can assess if your son is on target in other ways as well. With my oldest son I thought he was going to ACE the Developmental Assessment and he didn't. I knew that he had a speech delay but had NOT A Clue that anything else was going on. That was when I learned about Sensory Processing Disorders which often, but not always go hand in hand with Speech Delays. In our family I've spent the last two years taking my kids too and from ST, OT, and EIT and then spent a lot of time working with my kids at home once I learned what to work on. I knew that the best time for progress is before the age of 4. My oldest son, began to show signs of being on the Autism Spectrum. He always lined up his toys, was obsessed with letters and numbers, began spelling words with magnet letters at age of 2.5 yrs and taught himself how to read just after turning 3. Today at 4 he can read simple books, loves school and is learning to make friends. His Autistic like traits are almost non existent and are not obvious to strangers. My younger son also talked late, but has struggled and excelled in the exact opposite ways as his older brother. He has never once lined toys up, instead he prefers to not have anything in any particular order at all. He doesn't show any Autism signs at all. So, I guess what I am trying to say is that EVERY Child is different and I'm trying to stress the fact that a Speech Delay can be just that, a Speech Delay with nothing else being associated with it. But, also keep your eyes open and watch to see if anything else develops so that those issues can be tackled as well. The brain is a funny thing. In my case I am fortunate to know that even though we had a stressful couple of years my boys are both very bright and excel in academic ways over their peers and may even be found to be gifted one day. They are both on track to begin typical Kindergarten classes when they turn 5. I really believe that by getting them the assistance they needed at a young age is what will prevent them from needing special services in elementary school when they are older. And one final thing... the word Therapy is kind of scary. It sounds 'negative' but is in fact the best 'positive' you can give to a young child that needs it. Think about Gymboree or My Gym... that is kind of what Therapy is like for these little guys. They get to play in ball pits and jump on trampolines and swing and climb and play in messy stuff and so much more. Instead of being in a large class, they will work one on one with the therapist and you. Yes, you get to participate and be there the entire time so that you can learn how to work with your child at home, get feedback from therapists, share your concerns, and brag about your son’s amazing progress. It is actually very fun and I know a part of me will miss it when it is all over. I wrote you a novel, when you probably wanted a short simple answer. Feel free to contact me with any questions... I've been there. Take care and best of luck!!!

-T.
Jared 4
Joshua 2.5
At the age of 29, I am about to go back to college to work towards a Master's Degree in Speech and Language Pathology.

You should absolutely not be concerned. Many of history's most intelligent people were late to talk. It most likely means your son is THINKING more. Do not judge your son by averages. They are just that. Averages. Your son is a unique individual and he is on his own schedule. Chalk this up to first-time-mom anxiety and just enjoy him!

2 of my three maybe had 3 words by 15 months and now I can't keep them quiet. Relax and reevaluate at 18 months. You're doing fine. : )

Boys are typically "slower" in talking than girls.

I went through the EXACT same thing as you... our Pediatrician said the same thing when my son was 14 months old. But, my son knew the proper names of things and has good comprehension and follow through upon requests.

You can try and wait until he is 18 months old, then see. Sometimes at 15 months, they make a developmental leap.

For me, through the "free" program we have here locally for "0-3" year olds... my son is getting Speech Therapy. My son was assessed, and clinically, there is nothing "wrong" with him... but his willingness to talk or his talking is delayed, and he is also bi-lingual. I am going the Speech Therapy route with him because it can't hurt and it's free. And the Speech Therapist says that even though he is not "talking" up a storm... my son is actually ahead in other developmental areas. The Therapist says that 85% of her clients are boys... and this is generally the gender differences in speech. Parent's take advantage of the service because it is "free" and it's useful... they give the child AND the Parents tools and tips to use to encourage talking.

I wouldn't worry.... this happens a lot. Especially with boys.
You can teach him sign language so he can communicate without getting frustrated, as well.

Try and ask your Pediatrician about this "free" Speech Therapy service in your area... each state seems to have it, and have own Regional Center for it.

But, a child isn't going to talk until they are ready. But my son gets "tips" and instruction on how to form his mouth.. and the accompanying sounds for words. There is a lot of information that they give you and the child. It's interesting. And my son enjoys it.

Good luck,
Susan

At 14 months, my oldest son and my daughter did not talk much either. However, they both understood a lot. It's definitely something to follow-up on with your pediatrician at his 15 month appointment, but you probably shouldn't spend too much time worrying about it yet if that's the only problem he's having. My oldest son is now 3 1/2 and speaks very clearly in full sentences. I believe that he is very on par with his peers in terms of his speech. My daughter is 23 months and is probably still a bit behind her peers in speech, but not tremendously. I'm confident that she will catch up on her own in time. If not, we'll work with the doctor and see what we need to do. My youngest son (also 23 months) was an early speaker and talks a lot. So much just depends on the child's personality. I do have to admit that it's much easier to have a child who can communicate their desires earlier! Best of luck. He may surprise you and suddenly come upon a language explosion in the next couple of weeks. It does seem to happen that way sometimes.

My son is 15 months and still does not have any words. He does not even babble mama or dada. In every other developmental capacity he is right on track. The state of California has a program for kids with developmental delays. It is the Early Start program. All of the services are free. They will evaluate your son and then provide the services in your home. The other thing you can do is use your insurance to get a speech language evaluation. We have done both of these with our son. I would start it soon because it takes some time to get through all of the bureaucratic rad tape with the state and if you have HMO.

My dd didn't speak until she turned 2. i mean she had a few words at 18 mos. Shortly after 2 it was pararaphs. Don't worry- it'll happen. I was worried at 20 mos like you are. She now reads writes and can spell also, and she's only 5. Best H.

You know, a lot of first-borns (and siblings as well) don't like to do things until they really know how to do it well. This may sound strange, but you might keep this in mind as you watch him grow. Does he like to wait to try new things, until he watches others do it, so that when he DOES try it, he can do it well? My first child never tried to ride a bike (which drove me crazy) at all until one day, at 5 1/2 years old, he took off down the drive way and never needed me to even hold the seat. He waited til he knew he could do it right! It might just be he's learning so much by listening, and maybe even "practicing" on his own, until he can say a whole sentence. Often with kids that wait, when they DO start talking, they can say many, many things, in whole sentences. So really, unless there are other signs that he's not developing properly, I wouldn't worry a bit. But encourage, encourage, encourage - just don't let him know it stresses you (at all!).
Hang in there,
M. C.

I don't think either of my boys had five words by the time they were 15 months. My oldest is 3 1/2 now and most people think he is 5 because he has such great vocabulary and speech. My youngest is 2 1/4 and I think his speaking is coming along great, even though he was a little slow at the beginnning and he is not speaking as well as his big brother was at his age. He is unique and he is perfect just the way he is. Don't worry! I remember with my first baby that I was concerned about his speech and how slow it was. He was possibly a little slower than the average, but I seem to remember that it happened rather suddenly, though a little late, but now he seems to be advanced. 14 months old is too young to know, I think, and definitely too young to be worried. Just keep talking to him (normal talk, not baby talk) and I'm sure he will come along just fine, at his own pace, in his own time.

Don't worry at all. 5 words is just a guideline or an average of what other children do. I have heard boys are not as chatty as girls so he's quite normal. My sister-in-law has both of her kids in early intervention for speech delays. The main concern is that they comprehend what you are saying and are able to communicate with you (even without words). If your son understands what you are saying, then his comprehension is right on target and he would not qualify for help, which means he is on a completely normanl learning curve! I bet one day out of no where he'll just start talking up a storm!

I had the same worry, and my son was not super verbal at that same age and he called everyone 'mommy' and still does now at 2 sometimes when he's in a hurry to get out his point. But, after talking to a bunch of friends who already had kids, I found that boys are just in general delayed with almost everything...talking, potty training and who knows what else!

We started goin to the classes they offer through the local parks, Gymboree and found a playgroup in our area that me on the weekends to find something that worked for us. We've stuck with the playgroup and classes at the Zoo and Park. I like them cause they're education focused, but such a variety of people. In no time, my son was experimenting more with sounds and mimicking what other people said and heard. It was awesome to see. I also got sing-a-long CD's for the car with nursery songs and stories...he loved those.

Good luck!

It's hard not to overreact when it involves your child, and I think all this advice on evaluations is unnecessary at such a young age. The only response so far that made any sense was the one posted by Laurie D. My son did not start speaking until almost 3 1/2 years old. His vocabulary was very limited until then and he was vey quiet. He is 10 yrs old now and is a very bright, articulate and social student. His vocabulary is above average. Developmentally, they tend to catch up. Just keep talking to him and read aloud to him. Most importantly enjoy him, don't stress and just monitor his progress on a casual level.

When they tell you that a child should know "X" number of words by the time they are 14 months old, that is just a guideline. I have a child on the autism spectrum and I have had a lot of friends express the same concern about their child as you have for yours. In most of the cases, my friends just needed to be a little bit more patience and to tweak how they spoke with their child. Some suggestions that helped them are:

-- Make sure that you are speaking to your child in a loud, clear voice (I tend to be soft-spoken).

-- Speak in 2 to 3 word sentences.

-- Talk, talk, talk a lot to your child and label everything.

-- When you child is going to reach for his sippy cup, for example, give him the words by saying clearly, "Want juice."

-- And here's the tricky part, while doing all of the above, you have to be careful not too do too much talking for your son. You need to give him the opportunities to try to learn to communicate by not jumping in there and talking for him all the time.

The only time that I had cause for concern with what one of my friends was telling me was when I asked her these key questions and her answer was, "No" to each of them:

---Does your son make eye contact with you and other people?

---Does your son look at you when you call his name when you are standing a few feet behind him?

---Does your child look at an object that you are pointing out to him and commenting on (this done while you are cuddling or you are holding him)?

You gave an example of your son following a 1-step directions so chances are he is probably just fine. But if you are still concerned after reading my post, then please act on your concerns immediately. If there is a speech delay going on with your son, the sooner you start seeing a speech therapist for it, the better it will be for you and your son.

You already have a lot of advice, so I don't want to be redundant. Just thought I would ask, how does he communicate with you? Does he point, wave,or motion for things he wants and needs? If so, he is doing fine, because he is getting the message across. If not,then he may need speech therapy. You can get it free through your local Regional Center.
My son had speech and now that he is three, is still in speech from the school district. It really is a world of difference.

I would starty working with him on some words. If this doesn't work, I would start to worry. Even though he can hear, doesn't mean that something else is wrong. Like fluid behind the ears.

I would also buy a learning book on sign language. It will show you how to sign main words like drink, eat, and so forth.

Make sure you push the doctor into getting some tests done, even though he doesn't think it is necessary. Your child might need to be seen by a speech therapist, and get his hearing tested.

J.

No concern till 2 years in terms of speech therapy. Relax he's fine.

Both my boys never talked that young. Ask your pediatrician for clarification on what they mean by him "knowing" words. I have heard that they know the word of they know what it is, not if they can say it. By their 2nd birthday, they were supposed to know about 10 words, and they did by then. I thought they both talked a little late, but they are boys, and they were in the normal range. Now they are almost 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 and I can't get them to stop talking! :-)

Hi N.,

Here are a couple of other things to look for (developmentally), does he wave hello & goodbye, and if you point to something does he look (joint attention)....does he always respond when you call his name, or does he sometimes seem as if he is hard of hearing?

If any of these are things you notice, I would take him for an assessment by a Developmental Pediatrician.

Best wishes,

N.

While I agree with the other parents that your son is very likely to be just fine, I think you are smart to keep an eye on this. My son is autistic and I began to worry about him when he was your son's age because he wasn't talking. The pediatrician kept saying he'll be fine, but there were several signs she missed that indicated he was autistic. The most important was that he wasn't pointing. (I ended up ignoring her advice to wait it out and had him evaluated through C3 and the San Diego Regional Center after he turned 2, where they confirmed he was autistic.)

There are great checklists your can use to monitor your son, including this one:
http://www.sd-autism.org/autismChecklist.html
This web site and this group can help you if you suspect something is wrong.

I don't want to alarm you, but I can't emphasize enough how important it is for early detection of autism. A child diagnosed at 18 months has an opportunity for even better progress than one diagnosed at 2. And the services are most intensive before a child turns 3.

Good luck! Your son is so lucky to have a mom who is so on top of it.

Please don't be worried! 14 months is still very early to talk- my son was closer to two years old before he was consistent with any words. He probably knew 5 or 6 at his 2 year check up, but by age 2 1/2, he was able to carry on a full conversation with me. My daughter is 16 months now, and she only says Dada and Aiden (sort of). She has said mama, but only a few times. I am not worried- like you said, she knows what I am saying to her, I am able to give her a 2 part command and she is able to understand and do it. (example- go pick up the train and give it to your brother) I bet by 18-24 months he will have a vocab explosion!

Hi N., one of the things I have done for my grandchildren so they learn the people in their lives is make a family photo book. Buy a cheap photo book preferably a large page one. I print the family member's name (either by computer or block lettering), then I paste the picture under the name. It's easily accesible to them, and on a daily basis sit with them and repeat the names. Then ask them to point as you say the name. Who's that? That is daddy. Change the pictures as you get new ones. You can also do this with his favorite toys.

Sounds a bit like my son at that age. He had about 6 words at 16 months old, which was on the lower side of average, and then at 17 months he got 3 or 4 new words daily and at 18 months he had about 50 words, which was over the average. Try not to worry. This is normal and they develop at different rates. Just talk to him constantly, as I'm sure you're doing, and it will happen.