My DD is 20 months old, and doesn't seem to talk much. She has a decent vocabulary, but I have a hard time getting her to use it. I have to prompt her to use her words for almost everything. Sometimes I can get her to say 2-3 word 'sentences', but not very often. She is our only child, and unfortunately we don't know anyone in the area that she can play with. Besides us, her only other socialization comes from her grandparents. I would love to take her out more, but hubby needs our only vehicle for work and there is nothing within walking distance. I'm kind of worried that her lack of other kids is a part of the reason she doesn't talk well...
We do talk to her quite a bit, and I have been making her ask for items by name lately. I read to her quite a bit as well. She talks a lot of gibberish when she's playing by herself. I'm mostly wondering if she should be doing more 'real' talking... I see people responding to questions about 2 year olds, sayng to ask them this or that, and realize that it wouldn't make any difference to ask my dd anything, because she isn't able to answerr me yet. Or is this something that could develop a lot over the next 4 months?
Also... Everything else seems to be developing on schedule. She can run, jump, climb, etc. with no problems. She is progressing very well with potty training, and is able to physically answer questions. (If I ask her where something is, she will go get it or show me, as opposed to telling me.)
Am I worrying over nothing? I guess I'm just curious about how other kids progress with their speech, so I have something to compare her progress to. Thanks! :)
Sounds like she is right on par with developement, and don't forget when people say a 2 year old...they could be referring to a 20 month old or an almost 3 year old ;)
My son's talking didn't really take off till after his 2nd birthday.
And then it was non stop chatter chatter chatter every waking minute.
I think she's fine.
I think you are obsesssing. For real. What does a "decent vocabulary mean? When she says 2-3 word sentences, is she repeating what you say or saying them on her own. Honestly though, it doesn't matter. Only at age 2 should kids really start putting 2 words together and there is a huge language jump between 20 and 24 months for most children. At 20 months, a kid should be saying about 10 words in addition to Mommy and Daddy. You sounds like an educated person...have you looked up milestones online? Do you have the book "What to expect in the Toddler years"? To answer your question....yes, you are worrying over nothing.
I really do not see anything wrong with her or her speaking.
Keep in mind... that children this age... do NOT have "conversation" skills.
They don't even have fully developed anything, yet. Emotions/cognition/coordination etc., is still developing.
They do not have the vocabulary of a 5 year old.
Words and talking is developed in spurts. Not in one constant stream of increase.
Kids this age, also pretend play and say "gibberish" when playing. It is, imagination. Which from this age, develops.
Or, see your Pediatrician. Your child should be having a 2 year check up anyway. Or should have had an 18 month old check up.
And keep in mind, that just like adults... not all children are constant chatty talkers. Not all people, talk constantly.
Here is a web site that describes milestones including those in language. It sounds to me that your daughter is right on target.
http://www.nncc.org/Child.Dev/mile2.html This address is for the 18 mos to 2 yr age.
Here is the address that will allow you to check other ages. http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/devmile.htm
She's doing just fine. My 7 year old son who gets in trouble for talking in school and is shushed by everyone all day because there isn't a thought in his head that doesn't come out of his mouth could speak not one word at 20 months, and only 10 words at his 2nd birthday. We really thought there was something wrong with him, had his hearing checked, etc. At around age 3 he started talking a blue streak and hasn't stopped since.
If she can say 2 or 3 word sentences at 20 months and can understand what you say when you talk to her (responds to simple questions and commands like "do you want milk or water" and can point to what she wants or "pick up the book" and she does) then she's doing great.
Socialization under age 3 or 4 is over-rated. She'll probably have a stronger vocabulary because she is talking to adults instead of peers all day. If you don't have any other children around by the time she's 3 or 4 then I would suggest finding some way to get her into preschool for a year or two before Kindergarten but as far as language goes, I don't think you have anything to be concerned about.
I don't have any advice but your post made me smile :). Once my kids learned to talk at all they NEVER shut up! LOL.
I think it's still okay for her to not talk too much...keep doing what you're doing and she should be fine.
Talk to your baby whether she can answer or not, she understands. I even talk to my friends handicapped son. His responses are nonverbal. Every day teach her primary words or subject words, such as, shoe, hair, cereal, teeth, etc. She will pick up.
Everything will be this way by means of, just when it seems they don't get it, TADAA! My six year old just mastered tying her shoes. I thought we were going to have to tie her shoes until she was 20, but she got it last night.
Well my daughter just just turned 2 and she has impecable vocabulary. She always has though - she said Mama at 6 months and Dada was less than a month after that and ever since then she has been a little chatter box. I really dont think it has anything to do with the kids that she does or doesnt hang around though because just like you she is my first and we dont get out much due to lack of a 2nd vehicle. I always assumed that it was because I constantly talk to her and we never used baby talk with her. Im always saying how incredible her vocabulary is and that she even manages to use proper grammar. But like others have said all kids develop differently and even you said that she is on par with all her other milestones so I wouldnt worry - My daughter has amazing vocabulary but she out right refuses to start potty training and shes 2 compared to your little one who apparently has started and is 4 months younger so I wouldnt worry
Good Luck =)
Since she is able to communicate by showing you things and getting you things I think you are okay. I was amazed at how my daughter's vocabulary grew from 18 months to 2 years. I think you are doing the right thing by reading to her and asking her questions and making her ask for stuff. A favorite saying in our home is "use your words". It really helps. I would wait until her 2 year well-visit and talk to your pediatrician, or if you are really worried you can go now, and definitely ask then.
Yes, you're worrying over nothing. =) I have 5 children. One of mine was talking excessively at this age. Trust me, you don't want that. When they talk A LOT this young, then you're hearing what a 2, 3 and 4 year old is REALLY thinking and you do not want to know...LOL Anyway, besides my excessive talker, my others weren't really talking until between the ages of 2 and 3. Two of mine were closer to 3 and one of mine was closer to 2 but not like my excessive talker. I have a 20 month old now and he'll say some words and repeat some words but nothing major. Most of the time, he prefers not to talk a whole lot, just little bits here and there. He'll be talking more after he turns two, I'm sure. My other children are now 18, 16 (my excessive early talker...LOL), 11 and 8 and they're all totally normal and average and possibly extra bright! LOL I hope that helps you feel better. Good luck!!
Trust your gut and schedule an appointment with your pediatrician. Remember they can help with all sorts of concerns, not just shots and fevers but also behavior, language skills, fine motor skills, etc.
No need to worry---she's fine. Kids develop at different rates. My oldest hardly said a word until he was two, my youngest was speaking in complete sentences by two years old. You're doing everything right!!
J.
My kids all hit their physical milestones (sitting, standing, walking) very early, and were late talkers. Only one of them was really actually speaking before her second birthday, and she blew everyone away with her very adult chatter-it was definitely not normal! lol My others have all waited until after turning 2, and usually closer to 2 1/2 before really speaking much at all. Only one of them has ever needed any sort of help, and he just needed articulation therapy when he was about 3 1/2 because though he tried as hard as he could to speak to us, much of it was unintelligible. A little training on how to pronounce certain sounds solved it fairly quickly.
There are some who will push intervention as early as possible, some who will say wait and see what happens. Go with your gut instinct-if you *truly* feel like something is wrong then check with your pediatrician. But if she is stringing words together, it sounds like she is fine.
Also, keep in mind that when people are talking to their "2yr olds", that could be a child who is 24 months, or it could be a child who is 35 months. There is a massive development period over the time span between 2-3 years, it's shocking how much kids really change over those 12 months!
My grandson didn't talk at 20 months either. We had the state do an eval on him and he was delayed but not enough to warrant assistance since everything else was on track or ahead of schedule. The funny part of this is that a week later he started talking in paragraphs. It was stinking funny when he walked up to hubby and said something totally "older" for his age. He just started talking and has never looked back.
Be patient with him and he will surprise you one day. If he doesn't talk just keep on it with the pediatrician and have them do a referral to an ENT for an eval. One of our other grandsons was deaf. He had ear infections that the antibiotic never healed. Once the ENT went in to put tubes in and he cleaned out the old debris the boy could hear just fine and is up with other kids his age.
PROBABLY worrying over nothing-- my son was evaluated twice for speech and came in at the low end of normal both times. Now at almost 4 he WILL NOT SHUT UP!!!!
However, having her evaluated by Early Intervention (through the public schools) is free, FUN for the kid, AND informative so if you're at all worried go for it!
To develop language, you could read to her A LOT and sing kid's songs. The range of "average" for this age is a very wide range. she should know about 50 words by 24 months and be putting two words together. I dont think socializing with other kids would really help her develop language because they don't interact verbally like older kids. Just keep reading and singing!
