Talking - Davis,CA

My nephew is a year and a half and still not saying more than single words, of which his vocab is still pretty limited. I know he learned sign language so I wonder if he's more behind than most since he's learned an alternative way to communicate. Boys may take a little longer than girls too.

I am a great-grandmother and I was worried when my g-grandson wasn't talking clearly when he was 3 but at 5 is a great talker. So, I would say don't worry, and I am told boys are slower than girls so don't have too much in the way of expectations until he is 2 or 3 and in the meantime ask his doctor what he thinks. Good luck G. V

Hi S.D.

I have three children: two girls and one boy and from experience I can tell you that boys learn to speak at a slower pace than girls. So, don't worry. He will be speaking complete full sentences by the time he is 15 months; hopefully sooner if you speak with him often and he watches some educational programs.
Enjoy motherhood! I did!

Most don't get truly full sentences until they are 18 months to 2 years. As long as he's "speaking" he's probably fine. If he doesn't progress for a long time learning new syllables/words you might want to have him evaluated. My baby is 10 months and does pretty much the same (he has about 3 words and can do most sounds, but not all combinations). At about a year they start to be able to use 2 or 3 word combinations. I hope this helps to ease your mind! Oh, and if he's learning a new skill that will slow his speech. Once the skill is mastered, he will be able to focus on speaking again.

My 2 year old didn't start saying words consistently until he was 18 months old. In the last two months he's gone from saying a word at a time to 4 word phrases. (He just turned 2 this month.) Talking takes time, and I've learned that once the vocabulary starts developing, it develops QUICKLY. :) At least you have a little time before he starts repeating EVERYTHING YOU SAY! Enjoy!

I think that your child's speech skills seem right on track with his age. My kids didn't start speaking in sentences or at least connecting words until the age of two. Trust me, speech is nothing you want to happen too soon. Before you know it your child will be argueing with you and talking back; you'll miss the babble.

Hi, I am the mother of four grown children with children of their own (12 to be exact.) I think that makes me somewhat of an authority. I'm also a registered nurse. There is no set time when a toddler speaks in full sentences. Some kids don't care to talk at all until they get to be 3 years old and around children they can relate to. The important thing to remember is... as long as they understand words you say to them such as 'get away from that' or 'come over here to me' etc.... that means they DO understand the spoken language and can speak it themselves if they so choose. Lighten up and enjoy all the sweet baby sounds. Too soon that phase ends and the less than polite phase begins. Sincerely, J.

Hi,

Most kids do not say complete sentences until about 1-3 years of age. As for my children they started complete sentences at about 18-24 months. So not to worry. As longs as you understand most of your childs needs, you should have no problems... take care. Just a funny thought... When they are not of speaking age you want them to talk and when they get to about 9 you wish they would sometimes stop talking sooo much.

OMG, don't even worry about it! My now 8 1/2 year old son (who is in the top of his class) didn't say a stinkin' thing until he was 23 months old. He was looking at my ID and he looked at me and finally said "mama" - I almost cried with happiness. Now I have to offer him money to get him to keep quiet! : ) Seriously, language can come quite late and it doesn't have to mean anything. You need to pay attention to how well he hears and a bit later, to how well he can follow your verbal directions. If you ask him to point to his nose, and he does, then he can hear and understand you - he may just not want to talk yet. Shortly after saying 'mama' my son was speaking in full, clear sentences, almost as if he'd just been saving them up for the right time. Your 10 month old sounds like he's on track and quite normal.

Every child is different. It depends on the child, their temperment, where they are in the family (older siblings talk before younger ones) and many other factors. My daughter and neice (both the oldest) were talking at 18 months. My nephew did not talk until he was almost 4 and he was the youngest of 3. Don't push your child but if he is not using sentences by the age of 2 or 2.5 years then just check with the dr. He just may want to wait to wow you with his words.

Hi, I'm not an expert but from my experience, my daughter was 16 months when she began speaking in full sentences. She is now 9 years old and very bright. My son is 18 months and just starting to copy any words we ask of him. I've heard boys speak a little later because they are so focused on their large and small motor skills. It doesn't sound like you have anything to worry about.

Hello.

I have a son and he is 2 now. It has only been within the last, maybe 6-9 months that he has started putting words together to form sentences. In my inexperienced time as a mom I find that alllll children are different. Diego started walking at 10 months, some say that's early. I say he was motivated because he was in daycare for sometime and had to keep up with the other kids. My other friends say that their kids didn't start walking until 11-12 months. Some say boys differ from girls, but don't worry. I am a HUGE beliver in stay at home with the kids, but I have seen the great things daycare has done for our son. When they have older children to "compete" with they tend to get motivated! And trust me as soon as they start talking...you won't be able to keep them quiet. You will pray for the "good ol' days"

K.

At 10 months old it would only be a genius who spoke full sentences. I believe "average" is for a baby to start one or two words around this age, and maybe full sentences around age 2. But every child is unique and different and being ahead or behind of average at this age proves to have very little to do with IQ and future achievement, so it isn't worth thinking too much about. It's such a lovely time, discovering all the firsts with your baby. Simply enjoy it!

That sounds about right. They don't really start talking to you in sentences until they over 2 years old. You can get books on babies development. It will tell you what your child should be doing at what age....

As a mother of a 34year old and a 6 year old granddaughter and a retired teacher and early childhood specialist this is my experience. Some children start speaking in single words adding one or two new words every once in a while. Others suddenly start speaking in complete sentences. This is frequently the case of children who start to speak later. However, 10 months is not that late. In fact I would say he is right on track.

As I remember, my son took his time to speak and is doing very well for himself now.
D.

Do fret -- they say that by 18 months a child should be able to talk in 2 word sentences... "Mommy up", "Mommy read". Sounds like your son is doing great!

Hi there,
Not to worry, your son is right on track. They really won't have a vast vocabulary until well after 1 year old. And even at that, it will barely be two or three words together. ~j

Hi,
I am a stay at home mom also. I have had the priviledge to be home for the first time with my 4th child. He is 13 months and he is saying little words also.

My other children were different. As with all children, they all start to say full sentences when they are around 2. Older kids have a tendency to "talk for them" and while if they are an only child or have a sibling close in age, they tend to want to talk alot faster than others.

Good luck and have fun with motherhood. It is a wonderful journey!

Have a nice weekend!

Stay at home mom,
L.

OMG! Your child is fine! According to Babycenter, 13 month-olds should be able to "use two words skillfully," and it gives "hi" and "bye" as examples! Your child is doing just fine for 10 months. It also says that most kids should be able to use two or three word sentences at 24 months. In reality, I've found that milestone charts don't mean much. The average child doesn't exist, and our kids develop in different areas at different rates. For example, I spoke in full sentences way before I was two (before age one if you ask my mom, but I think she's too biased to be trusted!) but my husband barely said anything before age two. We both turned out just fine, and my husband, despite being a later talker, has two Ivy League degrees (not that his degrees make him all that, but clearly he did fine academically). The milestones can help if you suspect your child might have a real problem, but otherwise they just make you crazy. Relax and enjoy your son. They already grow up so fast!

Oh goodness. for 'real sentences' it depends on the child. It can be anywhere between 2+ and 4.

In my child development class, my child psychology class and my lifetime development class we learned that children don't even start putting 2 words utterances together until they are about 2 years old. Your son is doing great already. Don't worry about him, as long as he keeps gaining words it sounds like you may actually end up with a son who is ahead of the curve not behind. Enjoy yourself, and if other people don't understand things that he says as he gains words and you do its OK when I took my son into the pediatrician for his 2 yr check up she specifically asked if I could understand what he was saying because they are still trying to form sounds properly so those of us that are around all the time may understand them but people who are not used to listening for their particular speech patterns may not understand them.

Hope that helps,
C.

Patience!!!!!!! These things take time & savor every moment of baby talk. those are the most precious words that you could ever hear. The day your baby can hold a conversation with you will be the day that you realize that he's no longer a baby.
Each child is different and speaks on their own timetable. When my 7yo was at that age, he babbled, but didn't speak much. He was a quiet one. On the contrary, my 3yo just will not stop talking. Because my son didn't talk much, it didn't mean that he didn't understand anybody. He did. And your son does as well. Keep talking to him. He'll respond back.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. If I remember correctly my daughters didn't start speaking in sentences until 2 maybe even 3 years old. Obivously I don't remember excatly when it happened, but 10 months is too soon to start worrying about it.

Hi there,

Your child sounds perfectly normal. I remember taking my daughter to her 18 mo. well child check and the DR said that she should be speaking about 10 words by now. I counted, mama, dada, cookie, kiki (kity) a-nana (banana) (The DR said that they may not be pronounced correctly but you know that that is the only word that your child uses for that item, so the child it is a word. She knew exactly 10 words at 18 months. Then we went back for the 24 month visit. It was so strange, by 24 months she knew what must have been over 1,000 words and was just starting to form sentences, "me out" for "I want out"

So be patient, 10 months is young. Before long your child will be talking up a storm and you will be wishing the child would be quiet for a while because once they get started, it goes on for the next 18 years or so.

Enjoy all of it!

I will recommend that you always talk to your child correctly, and not in baby talk. My daughter is an only child so she conversed with adults on a daily basis and not with children on a daily basis. Our neighbors and friends could not get over how well she could converse with a room full of adults on their level at a very young age, like 4 or 5. When their own kids barely had anything to say to the adults and were not capable of continuing a conversation much past the initial hellos and what is that? Or, How old are you? I knew it had to be the fact that she talked with and to adults on a daily basis. We did not know that she was different in this area until it was pointed out to us by surprised people that told us no way could their kid converse in that manner with a room full of adults. It wasn't just the speaking skills but the confidence and lack of shyness as well that made her stand out.

I hope all these posts have helped.

Uh, he is way WAY to young to even be putting to words together yet, much less sentences! The fact that he does use more than one or two words on a regular basis is exactly developmentally correct for his age.
Most children are putting 2-4 words together by age 2. It's gonna be a long time before he even has enough control over the anatomy of his mouth to make certain sounds, much less words. Read up in your baby book.
The best way to teach him to speak is to talk to him, constantly, describing everything to him in great detail. Read to him every day, so that he is exposed to as many different sounds and words as possible - and thats all you do to encourage speech. In typically developing children such as your son, the part of the brain that allows him to acquire speech is fully functioning, and will learn his language FOR him. So don't rush him, please. He is a BABY, and babies most certainly do not talk in sentences.

My son barely started words right before he turned 2. I was a bit concerned, but the doctor said to wait until after he turned 2, and if he still wasn't saying words, then we'd talk about him going to a speech therapist. Well...literally, just days before he turned 2, he started saying more words. Now he's 3, and he says things and articulates things that I have no idea where he got them from! They will learn, and it will be in leaps and bounds, not gradually. Just enjoy the quiet, because my son yammers at me all the time now! Gotta love 'em!

A LONG TIME! :) My son will be 3 in May and he has just recently started to speak in sentences (and not always ones that make much sense). It sounds like your baby is just about average for his age. I wouldn't worry at all. Even at my sons 2 year check up he was just barely starting to put two words together.

Probably will not make full sentences for a couple more years unless you have a genius on your hands. Sounds like your baby is right where he should be. Remember not to compare your child's development to others - all children develop at different paces.

At about 18 months old all that baby babble will finally make sense and come together into complete sentences. They will say little phrases over and over that make no sense and then one day that same phrase will be said and you will go " oh thats what he's been saying all this time". It's crazy, funny and exciting how it all comes together almost over night.

Jenn Abel,35, mother of Jake, 9, and Sierra, 4

Your baby is right on target if not early! Don't worry! Kids all start saying full sentences at different ages. Some as early as 18 months (as my friends' kids) and some as late as 3 (some of my other kids). If your child is not speaking by 3, they recommend you seek advice about your child, but other than that, you should not worry. My son started saying 2-3 word sentences at age 2 (he didn't speak much before that) and suddenly, 4 months before his third birthday, he had a HUGE growth spurt in his speaking skills and over the course of 3 days (yes, THREE!) he started speaking in paragraphs. At 3 years now, he says complete sentences with articles and adjectives. He has completely caught up with the other kids who started speaking 1.5 year before him.

Relax. You are just fine. My son was doing full sentences by 20 months and he hasn't stopped! Count your blessings. Boys take longer too. Relax. Your pediatrician is a great resource for these types of questions. Usually by 18-20 months is average.

He is only 10 months old give him a break. What might be helpful is when you read to him ask him to repeat small words, then add 1 or 2 more words to make small sentences. Over time he will improve. Be patient, because before long you might be wondering how to make him be quiet.

hello SD. I recommend reviewing the milestones & take notes. What your child is saying & when. ie. 10 months & 3 words, some letter sounds. Watch his actions. Is he easily frustrated? Does he point to things. Can he identify animals? ie: pick up the blue elephant... does he do it?

omg... this gets long but I think it's worth a read. It is VITALLY important that if YOU think something is not right, that you keep at it - no matter what anyone says. yea... he might grow out of it, but why make him struggle.

My personal experience is w/my son. Being in playgroups & socially active, I could see/hear that he wasn't keeping up with the others verbally when he was about 2. He had tons of nouns, identifying everything, but wasn't making sentences, or back & forth conversation for at least 2-3 statements.

I started going over milestones & making notes. Scheduled an appt to discuss THIS w/his pedi - rather than just scheduling a reg appt. I went with notes & some books I had referenced.

She said "he's in the normal range, but if it really bothers you, here's a number to call. I'll be happy to give you a referral if you need it." We called.
w/in 3 months of that appt we were seen by Early Start, a Fed funded program & his verbal/language skills were evaluated. Paperwork was a bear but worth every minute.

He was diagnosed w/both receptive & expressive linguistic delays. at 2.5 yo, he was IN/attending a program of special needs. Wasn't easy, I cried often but we did it.

He had 6 months of that program. At 3yo, it was the school districts responsibility to continue services w/that diagnosis.

He had 2 yrs special needs preschool - 6 kids, 1 teacher, 2 aids - wow!

He had 1 yr special kinder w/some mainstream time.
School wanted to advance to 2nd gr special needs. We didn't. Teacher agreed w/us. We declined (refused) to sign paperwork.

The following year, he went mainstream kinder w/pull-out for special services. 1st gr was mainstream at what would be our home school, the one where we lived in it's boundaries. We ended that year graduated from special needs.

He is now 4th grade. Has a tutor for math (those elusive receptive linguistics) but is your typical 10yo, cub scout, ornry (sp?), loving, silly, loves potty jokes kinda kid.

no need to worry, I'm a speech therapist in the public schools and at 10 months he should just be saying single words. Between 18-24 months is when they will start to put words together. Also, he's a boy and boys tend to speak later than girls. Hope this helps.

Dear S D,

Your baby is right on schedule! Learning to talk is one of the most incredible learning experiences children have!

Typically, children around 1 year are starting to form single (nouns) word, then double word (noun and verb) sentences.

The best thing you can do (which you probably already are doing) is talk regularly, but emphasize what he is trying to say. He says, "Mommy eat" so you say, "Do you want to eat? Mommy will make some lunch." When you use simple, but grammatically correct sentences, he will learn to talk over time. Never correct him, just restate what he is trying to say. Language learning is very complicated and takes quite a bit of mental energy!

If you want to learn more about how it all works and what you can do, I suggest reading T. Barry Brazelton's book, "Touchpoints." It explains the milestones children go through in all areas, language, social and emotional and physical development, and how parents can support their child's development.

It is a pleasure to read, and to see what is coming, as well as what you can do.

Happy talking!

I'm concerned that you may have a skewed sense of what is normal for a child your son's age. Do you know other 10MO's who are speaking in complete sentences? If so, they are *very* advanced! I think the rare (usually female) 18MO might speak in sentences of more than two words, but a 3-word vocabulary for a 10MO boy sounds very normal to me, and I wouldn't be expecting him to speak in full sentences till sometime after his second birthday if I were you.

I really apologize if I sound condescending -- I don't mean to! I have a son whose speech I worried a great deal about when he was a toddler because his older sister had very delayed speech due to autism, and I just want to save you that kind of stress and worry if at all possible. Your son sounds very normal to me and I'm glad you are enjoying him! Take care :-)

He is good to be saying what he is. My 11 months old is only saying hello. She just is a quiet by nature child so I expect her to be a little slower in speaking naturally. Some kids are 2 before they start putting sentences together.

I have two boys one was really FAST with everything, walking, talking, running, and best of all potty training.
The other one was really slow at everything. He was born with falure to thrive. Long story short I was in active contrations for a month and they gave me all kinds of meds to stop it. Between the contractions and the meds he was getting from me he was to tried to eat but at the same time he was starving. That put him about 6 months behind. He was a year and 4 months before he started walking and talking took longer because his brother talks for him. My brothers oldest is a Year and 3 months and he is saying the samething your son is. So I wouldn't worry when he is ready he will tell you everything. Good luck

This is a sore subject for me. My daughter and nieces when they were little were very talkative. My one niece is such a communicator you would not know how old she was when she talked.

My sister kept saying I should take my 2 year old in because he just said syllables and there must be something wrong. When I asked the doctor and told her the concerns, she told me that I should get new friends (obviously I had not disclosed the person).

What she said is important to understand:

He will talk when he is ready, right now other things in the world preoccupy him, like moving around or studying something very intensely.

Within a short time, my son literally did not start using words, he used complete sentences. The lesson is, just because your kid is not as verbal as another, it does not mean anything sometimes. He is busy with the world and with so much to see, he has to prioritize what he can do, so he is just having the time of his life and you most likely won't worry. Just note it and talk to the doctor when you take him in.

My son today is 8, he struggles with communication, but that is his maturity. If you look at his report card, he is off the charts (all E but one S+). He just has to learn such a difficult language and relating to people is his weakest point. Yet he got over 95% in English. Not an intelligence thing, his weakest subject: Communication related to behavior. Wow that fits. Boys also are behind in maturity vs. Girls, so if you must compare ask another mom of a boy.

However, like my sister, she has two girls and boy the difference, the oldest should be a law graduate as she can communicate better than some adults!!

Good luck and just enjoy him without pressuring him with your expectations, we still don't have really defined timelines as each child is so unique and they come into their own. Think about you or ask your husband so you can think about what you were like.

Only thing is, don't talk baby. Talk with the correct language and grammar.