My Son Isn't Saying Much.

I found with my kids, since my older one was so talkative and "helpful" my younger one didn't have much need to talk. It took a lot of direct questions and telling my older daughter nicely to hush and let her sister answer her own questions.

I know you're not asking this, but you may want to get a speech evaluation if his talking doesn't get much better after his 18 month appt. We did for our son and I kept hoping someone would say he didn't need it and I was worrying too much. Well....we got him into early intervention speech therapy(state program) and he is talking so much better at 3 and will transition into the school district in Sept. We are so happy we did it for him, because as we discovered his issues were not ones that would have easily worked themselves out on their own. All the best to you!

Unless you have concerns about a learning disability I'd say it's perfectly normal. Especially since the older sibling is there talking up a storm your son probably doesn't have much to add! A lot of times when things are being said for a child they realize they don't need to say anything. You may try reading with him and doing a lot more questioning, though. For instance in a book read part of the page and then ask him what the picture is (of)..what's that and wait for him to say, "dog". Or when reading a book he's familiar with ask what happens next? so you get his verbal skills cooking....

Since every child hits their milestones at different times I wouldn't be too concerned. Talk to the doctor at his 18 month check up. If the doctor is concerned then you can have your son evlauated and they'll be able to tell you pretty quick if he needs therapy. Don't freak out...he's still a little guy!

Hi! I have five children and I can tell you that each child is different in every way - but definitely in the way their speaking emerged. My oldest child has Down Syndrome, so I was very well versed in speech issues when the other ones came along - although all my other kids have no issues. My fifth child did not say more than 10 words until 3 weeks after her second birthday. At her two year check up, the doctor suggested an evaluation of her speech, which again I was fine with and familiar with from my oldest. But three weeks later (before I scheduled an eval) she started talking in FULL SENTENCES. Paragraphs. It was just that being the fifth child, she had all her needs taken care of... if someone else got a snack, she got one, and so on. Her brother right in front of her always did the talking for her too... so she really had no need to talk. If you really feel like you need to prod him along, you can sing silly songs with him and reward him with praise when he does talk. I wouldn't worry about it! The rule of thumb is at one year they should be saying one word "phrases" like "cup" for drink and at two years they should be able to put together two word phrases. If you still are concerned, talk to your doc.

You probably don't have to do anything. My son was the same way. He understood what was being said to him, but barely talked. Our pediatrition said not to worry about it. If he got to 2 1/2 and still wasn't saying much, we'd look at it again.
We didn't have to wait that long! Just after his 2nd birthday he started talking in sentences (he was just learning and saving up!!). Literally, sentences!!! Now we can't find the off switch. :)

Relax - each child is different. He'll talk when he has something to say and is ready to say it.

C.

My kids did not really say much until they were 2 and a few months then talked in full sentences. So they are all different you are just tuned into him so does not need to say much yet. He will talk when he is ready. Good Luck!
J. O

Get a speech therapist if you can. I would start with words that he needs to say to communicate with anyone. He should be saying 10 words by the time he is 18 months (according to speech therapists) or he is "technically behind".

Have him ask for "help" and "more" for one week. Work with him to say the words...if you work with him diligently you will be surprised. I have done this with my daughter (she is a triplet) and it has worked like a charm. I repeat the words rather than allowing her to grunt when she wants something. I won't get it (whatever the word of the week is) unless she tries to use it. It is working and NO she doesn't cry or scream at me.

My son didn't speak much until he got tubes in his ears and had his adenoids removed. Now he can actually hear...and now he is NEVER quiet..unless he is sleeping :)

You can teach him to sign, if you don't know how to do sign language, you can get a book from the library or a dvd (that is what we did) and teach him some simple ones. My 17 month old did milk and dog and ooh on other one at about the year mark. It was really cute when I went to give him a drink of water and he shook his head no, and did the milk sign, and milk is what he wanted. It could also be that his older brother does talking for him, or someone else is.
My youngest talks soo much (the 17 month old) but my older 3 didn't utter much more than a small handful of words until they turned 2... Once they hit that 2nd b-day, oooh man, I am still trying to get them to quiet down and stop talking (lol, kiddin', sorta)...
Don't worry about it too much. My older 3 were behind in that department, but now, you'd never guess, and I read to the older 2 all the time.
Relax and keep up w/ what you doing, one day, one day you will look back when he talks back, and wonder what were you thinking teaching him to talk! LOL! OOH, don't force him to talk, but just help him out a little, like if he wants a drink, say ooh, you want a drink?! then when he drinks, say drink drink like that-ish. Have fun, and enjoy the no talking back stage! LOL

2 is a more realistic age unless you have other concerns

If his you or his brother are doing everything for him or filling in his words, he wont speak. When he wants something, encourage him to say what he wants (if he points to a bottle and you usually give it to him, say "bottle" and have him try to say it).

He'll get there, just keep working with him.

if he wants something make him try to verbalize... don't just get what he wants... ask him what... do this a few times.. my son didn't talk a whole lot until he was 2.. and then wow... he really talked... my daughter was 8 months old and already talking and still hasn't stopped...