Advice - Belleville, IL

My oldest didn't talk for the longest time. I finally took her to the doctor to find out she had a sever ear infection. She ended up get tubes in and within the week she started talking full sentences. Just a thought.

I wouldn't be concerned about that. He will talk when he is ready. My youngest son turned 2 in October and didn't have a very large vocabulary. Now he is talking in sentences.

M. give him a little more time he is still little he will talk alot when your not expecting him to then he will do alot for you.. Have fun with him now that he is little they are sooooo cute at this age good luck

I wouldn't worry to much. My daughter(17 mo's) had very few spoken words for quite some time. Then one day she just started saying new words. In about a week she has added at least four new words that you says.

Don't worry too much about it but also don't ignore it. My oldest didn't say anything at 18 months but we never did anything about it until his doctor was concerned and later he was diagnosed with a motor speech disorder. My youngest didn't say much when he was 2 and now he is 2 1/2 and he doesn't stop talking. So all kids develop at different times. But we use Parents as Teachers through our local school district and they really keep up with the kids and where they should be developemently. It is a great resource and there is no charge. They come to your house or the day care center. My kids love it.

Is he enrolled in the birth to 3 program at the local school? They come into your home or will also meet at the sitters for a monthly session with your son. They are certified teachers who work one on one with a child and evaluate strengths and weakness and can recommend activities for you to do with your son. Is your son around many older children or are the children at your day care younger?

i would talk to my my babys doctor about it

I wouldnt worry just yet, due to the fact that each child develops individually for example, my oldest was 10 months and started talking more then just the normal baby words off mama and dada and those, my youngest is fixing to turn three and she just now started talking, in full words and sentences, it happened over night. So just give it time. Hope this helps

Im a 2nd time mom who also works full time. with your first child you worry about everything! I wouldnt worry just yet. It sonds like your doing all the right things but cildren sometimes develop in their own time. If you are still comcerned when your baby goes to his next checkup just express your concerns with your pediatrician. It never hurts to ask.

Dear M.,
Keep a watchful eye but don't be overly stressed about it. On his 18th month check up voice your concerns to his pediatrician. Like someone else said.. every child develops at their own pace.
That said, my now 18yr old son was slow to talk, and never really babbled and cooed as an infant. We did not discover his hearing loss until he was going thru pre-kindergarten screening. Imagine my surprise to learn that my 5 yr old was completely deaf in his left ear. Looking back we saw all the signs that we should have noticed, but his overcompensation ( always sitting with his right ear toward whoever was speaking to him was the biggest sign we missed) never allowed us to make a connection.
Hearing loss runs in my family ( my sister started wearing hearing aids in highschool and my father and paternal grandmother wore them at early age too ), but my son's hearing loss has never progeressed to his "right" ear sadly there is nothing that we can do about his left ear. The nerve damage is inoperable and cannot be helped by any sort of aid. Now that said... he is a strait A student, Outstanding Athlete, got letters from colleges all over the country and just recently signed with his first pick. ( He is however a VERY typical teenager!!!! )
What I am trying to say is.. don't worry.. but check with your doctor so that if there is something wrong.. you catch it early and can deal with whatever the underlying cause might be!
Good Luck!
~ m

It may be nothing to worry about, my youngest didn't really talk until he was 2. A lot of the time his sibblings would talk for him so he never felt the need to talk. His Pediatrician suggested he meet with a speech threapist, she was awesome she came to our house once a week and worked with him, now we can't get him to stop talking. I would sugguest you speak to your dr. at his next check up and see what options he could give you. Good Luck and best wishes E. J.

My son didn't talk too much either and like you been your first child and working mom . I worry a lot of people gve me different opinions and doctors too. They told me do not talk in spanish to my son because I was confusing him with two languages , also they told me to do not respond to his sounds to make him talk, well was different things.I really cant tell you when my son start talking clear but I can tell you something for shure know he is 4yrs old and he doesnt stop talking, funny I have to tell him to be quiet.
Read to him like you do all the time I dont belive in baby talk and also use music, nice tv shows talk to him , he will talk when he is ready .
I did a hearing test to my son becuase I was concern he did need tubes but the really was not the reason he wasnt talking.
Kids are smart I belive he sees he dont have a reason to talk because you understand him .
I hope the will help someway.

It sounds like everything is going just fine. Look for him to start pointing to pictures in books soon. Kids understand words long before they say them. He'll be able to point to items and follow directions before he can name them.
Do you know about Parents as Teachers?? Every school district in Missouri has a program. They have educators that come to your home, talk about development, assure you everything is going fine, or if not, will give you things to work on with him. They also do screenings and workshops. Just call the early childhood center in your district.