Talking - Santa Cruz, CA

hi E., im a mom of a 20 month old little boy, he says a lot now but what you can do is praise him for at least trying to communicate with you even if its with his fingers!!!but what i did was everytime he would take me to something that he wanted i kept saying for instance "ball, do you want the ball?" and just kept saying "ball" and at first it didnt sound like he would say ball and just jibberish would come out but i would say "thats good you said ball." i know it sounds corny but it motivates them to speak i think. so give that a shot, another thing that i recommend is this toy from leap frog its called "fridge phonics" i love it! its a little toy and has the alphabet, they are all magnets and go on the fridge, the good thing about it, is that the song gets stuck in their head after hearing it all the time that he says a lot of letter sounds... maybe that will help him get sounds out one letter at a time, well good luck with him and let me know how it goes....

Not to worry. Walk at one, talk at two, I always say. He is right on track! Babbling is wonderful. Try speaking to him in his language. Back and forth mirroring is fun. Actually I know a little boy who didn't talk util age three but he is doing very well now.
S.

Jolene,
I had a son that did that. Didn't say a word until he was three. Lots of love, keep talking. Now that he is seventeen, he hasn't stopped talking.

I am a grandma who has two adult children, two grandchildren, and many years of teaching. Don't worry about whether your child is talking yet. Every child learns things on his/her own timetable... not the timetable of your friend's child who is the same age. The worst things parents can do for a child is push, push, push. Be relaxed, give your child lots of opportunities to learn by handling everyday household objects, speak clearly and lovingly to your child, never with baby talk, don't plop the child in front of the TV. Read to your child several times every day. Point to various pictures and say the names of the things pictured, the sounds the animals make or sounds the objects make. If you watch TV with the child and talk about what you see, that's a help---but NOT if the TV is a baby sitter. You'll find your child starts speaking clearly all in good time.

You need to ask your pediatrician to asses your child and or refer him to The Regional center... for speech delays... Love, G.. :0)

Hi E.,

My name is T. Caldwell. I live in Felton, CA. I have two boys one is 15 years old and one is 12 years old. Both my sons have an IEP with the school that they are in. My oldest son has CAPD (Central Auditory Processing Disorder). Which is he doesn't process what he reads as fast as everyone else does. He has had this since he was in kindergarten. His kindergarten teachers knew something was up so they got me in touch with the Special Education Speech Teacher. They did an assessment on him and he was able to get services for it. They also notice that my youngest son wouldn't talk very much. He only said 2 word sentences and most of the time it was only me who could understand him. They got me in touch with Special Education Department with the School District. They said I they would need a letter from me what my concerns were for him. I did that and then he was assessed by the County of Education. He was a candidate for the Pre-school through the School District that I live in. He was assessed over the summer and that fall started in pre-school. Within 3 weeks he was saying full on sentences. I know that they have programs for children you sons age. I would contact the County of Education where you live. Explain to them what is happening with your son. They will lead you in the right direction. I hope this helps. My son's have benefited from the help that the school gave.

T. Caldwell

Dear E.,
At 24 months, our daughter was doing the same thing. We made an appointment for our daughter to be evaluated at the Golden Gate Regional Center here in San Francisco. (If you don't live in San Francisco there are equivalent centers all over the Bay Area...actually they are all around the country.) It is a nationally funded program that is run locally. It's free! Paid for already through your tax dollars.

So to get back to your question, we had our daughter evaluated. We were told that she was not autistic, totally fine emotionally and excelling with motor development; however, she definitely had a delay in speech development. Through this service we had her evaluated by a speech therapist too. The Speech Therapist recommended speech therapy 2 days a week, but the GGRC recommended once a week. Within a few weeks, we had a therapist coming to our house once a week for one hour. We saw rapid speech improvement in our daughter.

I would get him evaluated. The worst thing is that nothing is wrong, you feel better, and you get some tips on how to move forward with encouraging his speech.

Do a search on google and find this place. If you need more help, I can search around and find the phone number for you. It's around here somewhere! Oh, and the service ends at 3 years old. At that time if your son would need more help, you would be transferred to the public school system for an evaluation to ascertain if he needs more help.

Good luck!
T.

Go into the requests and response section and see if you can find other responses to this question. I have responded a couple of times to other moms with similar questions. Even if you think he's responsive, get his hearing tested. My son was almost 2 and didn't say anything except no and ma. He pointed a lot and often growled. Had hearing tested-no problem. Had an early intervention specialist come from the local school district (yes, starting them at 2 isn't too early) and by watching him and asking me questions about his habits, what he ate, etc. she determined that he need speech therapy. It was the best thing we did. Basically what the speech therapy did was teach me to help him learn to speak. We'd work in front of a mirror and every time he made the sound I wanted (letter sounds then simple word sounds) I'd reward him with a fruit loop or baby M&M. He'd get frustrated and then we'd try something else. We'd put bandaids on his stuffed animals and I'd try to get him to say "ow" or "owie" and then "bad bad", then "rip" when we pulled the bandage off. He loved this game! We'd go to the park and fill up buckets with sand (a whole row of them) and stomp on them and say "bang" or "down", I'd make bubbles and say "pop". I did these things with my older son when he was the same age, but he spoke--we did it for fun. When my non-speaker was 3 (actually on his birthday) he spoke his first sentence. From then on when we played our games, he made the noises. He's 13 now, can't get him to stop talking. No speech problems from about 4 on (worked on his enunciation for about a year)--thanks to early intervention. Also, listened to a lot of Disney music tapes in the car, and the one day he started singing along. Hope this helps.

My son is "speech delayed". (Not a big deal... they all learn at different times) His pediatric doctor noticed that his vocabulary wasn't where it should be when he was about 18 months old. He told me to just be aware and if by 2 years his speech wasn't improved, we should consult a speech pathologist. However, you might consider pursuing it now, if your pediatric doctor thinks that his speech might be delayed. There are services available free through the state of California. You should first contact your pediatric doctor and talk to him/her. They should be able to provide you some speech service contacts (free through the State) if they think it is necessary.
My son is now 4 and sees a speech pathologist 1/week. This is his second year and he's doing well.
Remember that all children develop their skills at different times. Be careful not to compare your son with your friends' sons or daughters. As parents we tend to do that a lot with our childrens' development-- compare. Each child is uniquely special and will grow/develop at their own pace.
Good for you for asking the question. You are a good mom for looking out for your sons' best interest!
-P.

At 18 months my son new only one or two words. One of which was ball. My doctor gave me the number of a speach thearapist if I wanted to get him checked out. I chose not to do so. I am not a doctor, but I think the "experts" give you things to worry about needlessly. My son is fine. He's 7 now.

Remember Albert Einstein did not speak until he was 5. "They" thought he was retarded.

Please excuse any spelling errors. My son can talk, but I can't spell!!

E., Don't be too concerned about the timing of his verbal skills. It seems that he understands what is going on and has learned to communicate his wants and needs. He will be talking your ear off before long. Each child develops at his own rate. I know that with my first child I was unsure and so compared her to the other children around. By the time my other children came along I had enough experience and confidence to just let them come along at their own pace. I encourage you to talk to the pediatrician if you are really concerned, but really it sounds like he is just developing normally. I suggest that you enjoy him and don't compare his development to others.

my son didn't talk until he was 2 years old. He is now almost 3 and talks all the time. Some kids just choose to take their time :<).

-A.

My youngest of 3 girls is 24 months and still only saying mamma, dad, ouch, and no. She is way behind other kids, especially my other two who are now 6 and 7. Please let me know if you hear any helpful advise. Others say my 2 year old will do it when she is ready but I think they are just being nice. She also points to things and understands what I tell her like go to time out, get me the diapper, sit down...the brain is working, but still not talking.

I know its hard-- especially if its your first, but don't worry. Both of my kids (now 2 and 4-1/2) had some "speech delay"-- its quite common and generally resolves itself (and its more common in boys than girls). He has "expressive language" skills (pointing, etc.) and is babbling so that indicates that he doesn't have any cognitive problem. He'll talk, he just isn't ready yet. I know how hard it is to wait for that first real word-- especially if you have friends with kids the same age who are talking.
If you want to do something proactive, read to him. Kids really do pick up on the language that they hear from their parents. The only thing that you can do "medically" is have a hearing test done, but if he responds to you when you talk to him (looks at you, comes over to you), his hearing is fine.
Good luck

My second-born son, now 19, didn't talk at all until he was over 2 years old. His first word was actually a complete sentence. He did however have some hearing issues due to ear infections that could have contributed. He is now a very articulate young man.

Hi E., I wouldn't worry about it too much. All kids develop at a different rate, but they all get there. A friend of mine had the same worry with her little boy...not a word until two and then he started talking in full sentences! I would talk to your pediatrician about your worries, make sure there isn't something physically wrong that is preventing him from making words. Then you can be proactive with the pediatricians help with helping him along.

Hi E.-

I am a pediatric speech-and language pathologist in the Bay Area. It sounds like you are very aware of your child's needs. Many children get their first word around age 1 and then most children have 50 words around age 2. Children also begin to put 2 words together around age of 2. Therefore the time between 1 and 2 is big for speech-language development. Always remember there is a wide range for normal development. I would suggest that you check in with your son's pediatrician regarding his speech-language skills. I always believe that parents should go with their gut feelings and it is always helpful to have more information regarding your sons skills. There may be some things you never knew your son was doing above his age level and there may be a few skills that require a little additional support. The best place to start is with your pediatrician. If you live in the Bay Area you can always call the Regional Center of the East Bay to have your child's speech-language skills evaluated. It is at no cost to you and it can provide you with more information regarding your son's communication skills. It is wonderful that your son is babbling and pointing to things-it sounds like he is on the right track. Just remember that there are resources out there to determine if your child may benefit from a little extra support. I work with a number of children ages 18 months-three years old. Your concerns are valid and remember there are resources out there if your son needs it.
I hope this helps!
J. W.

What he understands is a much big indicator of his language abilities for the future then what he says right now. Lots of children especially boys don't talk until 2 to 2 1/2. Does he say momma or dada? If he is saying no words at all not even momma or dada, I would talk to a speech and language specialist.
This could still be totally normal but they can help you with the best ways to encourage language.

Hi E., I have an 18 month old son and he's not talking as well. My 3 year old talks enough for the both of them (big smile). But I'm sure this behavior is normal for our 18 month olds. It takes some babies longer to say their first words than others. I'm taking him to the doctor on Friday and will ask about the non-talking (so to speak). But again, I'm pretty sure there is nothing for us to worry about.

Hi E.,

Every baby is different and your son may just be one of those kids who wants to be sure its right before he says it. Out newphew was the same way... said almost nothing until almost three, but then was talking like a normal three year old.

Try supplying him with lots of accurate, simple language. Like when he drags you over to something say "Oh you want the ball? You WANT the BALL." But don't push him to repeat it... some personalitites just don't take orders :-)

That said, you should certainly talk to your son's doctor. He may have an expressive speech delay (fits with understanding but just not speaking). Ask the ped what she thinks, she may send you to a language specialist.

Hi - I have a 18month also and he does the exact same thing and he is my 4'th. At first I was concerned that his hearing was off - but since he understands everything from simple instructions to what a item is, I know he comprehends so he can hear. His Dr. is watching, but allowing time. Since he can say Hi or Bye I have him say "Hi ball, Hi _____" its very slowly working.

Your son is still quite young. The important thing is that he has receptive language (understands you), and that he can and does communicate with you in some form. That being said, if at his 2 year check up he is still not talking and your pediatrician expresses concern, you should have his speech evaluated. The federal government mandates services for children at no charge (your tax dollars at work). Assuming you're in Lamorinda, you would call a speech & language therapist from the Early Start Program, San Ramon Valley Unified School District, ###-###-####. If your son should end up in speech therapy to develop his language, he would go to this County-provided service until age 3, at which time he would transfer to your local school district. Is it clear that I have done all this? My son just turned 7 two weeks ago, is excelling in 1st grade and is no longer in speech therapy. Good luck!

Listen really carefully to his babbling. What sounds can he make. Require him to make one of those sounds by way of communication before you give him what he wants. If he doesn't say it after one or two prompts, he doesn't get the toy. Don't stress over it or prolong the prompts. Just don't reward the non-verbal request.(if it isn't food or drink or comfort)He has to have success at a verbal communication to want to use it. The other, easier way has worked well so far. It is also a good way to teach manners, that he needs to say please when asking for things, except please is too difficult a word. My step mom's family all used "Ta" instead of please. It was something very young children could say.

At this point it is too early to know if there is a problem. The babbling is a good sign. Be aware of any changes and/or advances in his speech over the next few months and if he remains the same, you may want to contact a speech therapist. My son had a severe delay but at 6 years old he is now doing great.
Good luck to you.

Hi E.,
I would advise to take your son to your pediatrician and ask about seeing a speech therapist or speech pathologist.
K.

Try sign language, They say (if I remember correctly) that children can learn 60 sign language words by the time they can speak 10. It's all about how fast the vocal cords develop. There are many things out there on teaching babies sign language and what words to teach first and if you look on PBS 9 (I believe) on your TV there is a show called signing time and it is wonderful, my youngest loves it. You can also look them up on line. The bonus to all this is that your children are less fussy because they can tell you what they want and when they start school they learn faster and better. Good Luck.

DO NOT PANIC!!!

Sounds like your son is developing normally. My son said maybe one or two words at 18 months but didn't really start "talking" until about 21-22 months. Experts say that kids begin talking between 14 and 30 months. Your son is babbling so he shows signs of normal speech development. Just give him some time, but if you are really concerned or there are other compounding signs about his development, talk to your doctor about it.

first of all don't worry. a friend of mine is going through the same thing. her son is 16 months and she brought him to an evaluator. what the evaluator concluded was that in all other areas her son was at his age level or exceeding the average, but in speech he was at the 6 month level. the fact that he could communicate just fine without words shows high intelligence. the only thing that they did notice was that her son does not purse his lips in a way to make a consonance...so he is going to get speech therapy.
i would just be sensitive to my child, get him evaluated to ease your mind and wait. you can teach him sign language to give him another communication tool...but don't freak out too much...my younger brother did not speak his first word until 2 years old.

take your son and have him tested for autisim. i have a nephew who is now 11 and that is the same thing he would do and for 2 yrs they didn't know. ask your pediatrician. good luck!

I'm not a mom, but I am an "Auntie". My love-related nephew didn't speak until almost 3. He would point to things and say, "Ooos!" The parents took him to a speech therapist, had his hearing checked, the whole nine yards. Nothing was wrong.

But when he did start speaking it was like a light bulb turned on. You couldn't stop him. In fact, they had to enforce "time when A doesn't talk" every day.

Not to make light of your situation, but this is something that always comes to my mind whenever I see anyone trying to get an infant to say something. This, as far as I know, is my own little epiphany: We spend the first two years of a child's life trying to get them to walk and talk - and the next sixteen years trying to get them to sit still and hush.

My suggestion is just to keep exposing your son to verbal input, not baby talk but regular conversation. Continue to speak to him normally. If there's no physical reason, like deafness or some vocal condition, he'll talk when he's good and ready.

And you might just have to impose "no talking" times, too! Good luck!

Hi E., I would ask you Dr. But my 2.5 yr old didn't start talking until he was 27 - 28 months. Now he only talk when he feels like it.

A little about me:
I am a stay at home that does in home wine tastings. I have a 2 and 3 year old.

some toddlers do not consider verbal communication to be important, especially when their needs are being met anyways.
Encouraging toddlers to verbally communicate when they do not perceive a need to make this effort requires a willingness to stay the course and accept the process involved which often is requiring them to make the effort to get what they want from you...I've observed some parents be quite harsh within this process and do not believe it helps, but like dangling a carrot before a donkey, encouraging the toddler to use words does need to be focused, and i personally think, a creative effort. Remember that A. Einstien did not verbally communicate until he was 5yrs old...Lan.

hi E.,

there is nothing to worry about. there is nothing wrong with your son. my son didnt start talking until he was about two years old. if he is not already, i recommend that you put in him a daycare facility where there is older kids. once they are around those kids you will see the difference. boys are alot slower than girls. i had my daughter first and she was talking when she was 11 months old. so when i had my son i thought something was wrong until somebody suggested the same thing to me that i am suggesting to you. he is fours years old now and he wont stop talking. i really see the difference between raising a girl and a boy. boys do things when they want to. my daughter is seventeen years old and my son is about to turn five in april. you are so blessed to have a boy. i love my daughter with all my heart but my son is my heart. just to let you know that boys are very protective over their mothers. my son wont allow any man to even speak to me in public! you are young. i feel bad if you are in the dating world!

good luck

My 3rd grader (who does very well in school) didn't say a word until he was 23 months old. Like your son, he was able to follow directions, which indicated he could hear and understand, so the doctor said not to worry. He said some kids just don't talk until they are good and ready! Once my son said his first word, he spoke in complete sentences almost immediately. Now he talks all day. : )

Hi E.,
I would take him to the Dr. for a hearing test. Alot of children that do not hear can mimic very well their needs without really hearing your words. I wouldn't talk baby talk to him. Point to what he wants and continue to say the word. "Milk" and point to the glass of milk or sippy cup. Any and all foods I would definately always repeat, and ask him to say yes. Even if he doesn't say it he will eventually.

Some boys are late talkers. He's pointing. That's an important clue that things are more okay than not. I'd just bring it up to your pediatrician and keep an eye on it. Do you spend time together watching Dora or Sesame Street...one of the language-based TV shows? At this point, if you point and repeat words in "fun" settings, it will make a difference over the long run. Some parents object to TV-watching for kids, but in my case, doing it TOGTHER with my child and having a running "dialogue" (I was talking to myself) made a difference. Be patient. But, as I said, keep an eye on it.

I don't think you have anything to worry about at this point. When my son was 18 months old, he did not talk much. He said certain words. He was getting close to 2 years old when I started to worry, because I did not see hom forming too many sentences. Just about a week or two after turning too all of a sudden he was talking away. He is now 3 years old and I constantly get compliments on how well he talks and how large his vocabulary is. I have always talked to him like an adult, rather than baby talk, and he communicates very well.

Obviously your son is communicating with you in other ways that is great, that means he understands and wants to communicate. I bet around 2 or just over two you'll hear a lot more words.

E.,
My daughter is 21 months old and also refuses to speak. I know she can because she will say words sometimes but it is like a one time thing, and she won't repeat or talk if I ask her to. When I realized that she might not be speaking for awhile I got a book on sign language for babies and toddlers. We have found that this really works well for her and us because it cuts out some of the confusion and frustration of not being able to understand her(she understands everything we say). She loves learning new signs and catches on really fast to new ones that we introduce to her. The book that we use is Teach Your Tot to Sign, by Stacy A. Thompson. I got it on amazon I think for less than five dollars. I think this one is better then others because the author has taken ASL signs that would be common signs/vocabulary for toddlers. Hope this helps, it has for us!
Good luck.

i wouldn't worry about it int he least. my son is the same age and does not say any word clear. sometimes he tries but doesn't even come close. your son is babbling so at least you know he can make noises. i am sure it will just take time.

Hi E.,

Don't worry. He can understand what you say, I think he will talk to you very soon.

Hi E.

I am the mother of two daughters, and I have three nephews and 5 grandnephews who all started talking late. The point and grunt thing was very normal. I think that boys sometimes talk later. In my newphews case some of them did not start talking until three years old. When they pointed to something and "grunted". I would say the word over and over again. They do learn to talk!!! Hope this helps. K. A.

Is your pediatrition aware of your concerns? In February's issue of Good Housekeeping a story on page 161, written by parents of a child who at 18 months also was not speaking. This does not mean your son has what she was diagnosed with, "polymicrogyria, a rare brain disorder that affected her ability to articulate words." He may simply be slow in speaking because he gets what he wants by other methods. It is obvious that your child needs further assessment by his physician and probably specialists who can determine exactly what the situation is. I wish you good luck and urge you to proceed with inquiry as to his condition as soon as possible. G. V By the way, you and my mother share the same name.

Dear Paula,
My son is 16 months (my second child) and only says two words (Dada and nana) and I find that a concern. But everyone, from my parents to my husband, are very much against seeking any help. They all say he's normal, he's a boy, give him time, etc etc. My attitude is this: I'm his mom, and I would rather look back and say, "oh, it all turned out just fine after all" than "I wish I had done something when I could have."

The point is, until you get him assessed, you DON'T know if it will be just fine or not. And since all these services are free usually until age 3, why not check into it? I have one brother (of seven) who struggled so much with learning, and it was only until he was in his 20s that they realized he was dyslexic.

So while most of the time things do work themselves out, you're the mom, and if you're concerned, look into it. I'm having my son assessed, and hopefully it will all be fine. But if not, I figure I'm ahead of the game. Good luck to you.

About me: I'm a 34 year-old former high school science teacher with two boys (five and 16 months).

E.,

It is good that he seems to understand you and is trying to communicate with you by using sounds and gestures. There are many developmental charts that you can refer to. Here is one from my company's website: http://www.cwtherapy.com/milestones.html. I always tell parents that if they have concerns, it does not hurt to talk to your pediatrician and/or a speech and language therapist. You can email me directly at ____@____.com if you like. Your son is lucky to have you!

E.

Lots of children, especially boys, do not talk until they are two years old. Also long as he has passive language...that is understands you when you talk, don't worry. You can encourage him to talk by not responding to his every need when he pulls you. Say the word for him that he should be saying to help him learn.

If he doesn't talk by two, then you can contact your local school district. They have free speech therapy for pre-schoolers.

Have you ever thought of teaching him Baby Sign
Language? You SAY the sentence as you sign it,
and the results have been great. Kids even start
speaking younger and better than those who have
not learned it. It appears to speed up their
speaking, strange as it seems.

Grandma N.

Boys tend to work on gross and fine motor skills before verbal ones. A good rule of thumb is 20 words by two years old. If he doesn't have that then you can talk to your ped. about the possibility of speech therapy. It sounds like he is communicating pretty well, you can always try to not anticipate him too much, sometimes that will garner a verbal response. Hang in there!
-K.

The most important thing is the thing you should NOT be doing here...and that is giving him what he wants without him at least trying to say the word for it. When he points at something stand firm and not give it to him until he tries to say the word for that item. Say it's a cup of juice...just say to him "ask "Juice Please" and I'll give it to you". See, he understands more language than you think he does but why should he work on using that language if you don't make him use it. In the meantime, in between requests, use a repetitive language pattern to reinforce it in your house. Pick things up that he's playing with and say the word a few times and ask him to say it. Make it as fun of a game as you can and in no time he'll be using his words.

Last word on this...having his hearing checked. Many children who are speech delayed actually have a hearing issue.

C.

He is still young. Give him some time. He is babbling and that is good. He is communicating with you and that is good too. Just say the words for things when you know what he is talking about and give him time. THere is no solid time table for talking. Each child is different. It will happen.

All kids develop at different ages. In fact depending on the way you look at it, it is very positive that he is not talking yet. It could mean that he is absorbing more and is a more critical thinker. Einstein didn't talk until he was 4. My husband who is now a chemist didn't talk until he was 4 either. Personally if he seams healthy and understands, i wouldn't worry about it.
Also if kids are processing two languages, they usually talk later as well. My son who is over two now, he talks some, but not as much as the other kids, but he is learning english and spanish, which of course is a great skill and really helps brain development.
Anyways, hope that helps.
-Jess

My daughter who is now 11 was like that. She didn't talk until she was almost 2 1/2. I remember being worried but not to worry she is a talker!!! When she started talking all of a sudden it seemed and with complete sentences. So don't worry he's just taking it all in.

Hi E., I've raised 3 boys and I am assisting with raising my 1st grandson. I noticed that each boy was totally different. I noticed that my grandson did not really want to talk until almost two yrs old. He would rather baby talk and babble. Now that he is four and is speaking in perfect sentences, I realized that he was already displaying a willful attitude. He is sometimes till this day, very stubborn and strong willed. He has his own mind and will do things when he wants! Obviously, he is getting quite a few time outs due to this display. I feel that your son displays that he is smart and is just not wanting to speak yet. Just one suggestion, make sure to get his hearing tested just in case. If that's ok, then he is just displaying that speech will come when he feels it's time.

Have him evaluated by a developmental pediatrition. This is an area that you do not want to "wait and see ". Everyone told me my son was fine, even his Dr. and his speech delay was due to he was a boy and the 3rd child. He had spoke few words by 2 years and did alot of hand pulling to things he needed. My son was diagnosed with PDD at age 2 1/2 then autism at 4 years. Because of early intervention he is in a mainstream classroom and seems no different than any other of his peers. My point is IF there is anything wrong and that is a big IF, you are so much better off to get your child the help and services he needs so he can live a normal, happy, life. Also everyone had told me about Einstien too.

K.

E., dont worry that your child isnt talking yet, mine didnt talk that early either one did and now i cant get him to stop he is now 19yrs!haha. Every child is different, i have four kids ages 19, 16, 13, and 3. They all started talking at different ages. Just read to him and sing to him and when he is ready he will be talking in no time at all. Love him all you can, he will be asking for the car keys in no time!hahaha god bless you and dont rush him to get grow up too fast,let him be a baby for awhile.

My first child started talking so early, by 10 months he was putting (slurring) three word phrases together. When my daughter came along, at 18 months she was very non-verbal and quiet. When I asked the doctor about it, he practically got angry with me! He said it is NOT AN ISSUE until she was 2 years old. During the next 6 months, she did begin to speak quite a lot. Her vocabulary by 2 1/2 was huge. At the end of the "school year" (of preschool) the teachers in her preschool said to me, "It's obvious she's really, really smart." And I responded, "yes, she has a huge vocabulary" They said, "Oh really? She never speaks!" I was flabbergasted, speechless even! I went back to the dr. and they told me again not to worry about it. Now she's 9 and, by most teachers estimation, a "gifted" child. I think that kids just develop differently. We never put our children in front of the TV, but we did let them play Jump Start Toddler on the computer. We gave them only creative and intellectually stimulating toys, no barbies or bratz. read to your child every day and the standardized test scores will prove it was worth it.

A. B.

My son was the same way. Even after he was 2, still barely said a few words. They tested his hearing but it was fine. He is now almost 3 and talks constantly!! I think some just start talking later, especially boys. The one thing that I think did help though is that we started him in a daycare/preschool just a couple of mornings a week and it helped him not only with talking but also with interacting with other children since he is an only child also. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it too much, especially at this young of an age. He will talk when he`s good and ready.

Hi there. So for an 18month boy this is relatively normal to not quite be sure of his expressive language yet. You have quite sometime before its considered any kind of language delay. Some things you can do are to just keep talking about what things are when you point at them and keep asking him to tell you what he wants when. Label things for him and ask him too. Just keep persisting and practicing with him and more than likely his language will come to him. After about 2 years is when you can start talking to someone about the possibility of any kind of delay, and even then, its really only a possibility. Hope this helps.

J.
www.yourwholefamilywellness.com

My 19 month old only says a couple of words. Our 3 year old didn't really start saying words until 19 or 20 months, and then all of the sudden busted out with phrases and soon after, sentences. He blows everyone away with his vocabulary now and knows his letters and the sounds they make, and his numbers. He begins sentences with words like "Actually" and "Surely" ! I know it's hard not to worry. Both of my kids were late walkers and talkers and it's easy to worry, but with our second child I knew he would do things when he was ready and that he'd be just fine. Enjoy the baby babble while it lasts, because surely it will be gone soon!

Was he a very early walker? If so, he just may be working on one big developmental milestone at a time. I'd just continue to work with him, point things out, repeat the names of things clearly so he can understand. If you're really concerned, you can have him evaluated by a neuropsychologist, but this early on, it's often hard to tell if there's really an issue.

Also, try getting him some flash cards or picture books, and just continue reinforcing the names of objects. Read to him constantly. He'll get it. :)

My son didn't talk until he was three years old. He's now 4 1/2 and is reading The Hobbit on his own. Yesterday he told his dad that dinner was "magnificent!" Our pediatrician was very reassuring as we went along: three years was the first milestone where he even considered worrying. The main things we focused on when my son wasn't speaking were (a) was he hearing OK and (b) how was he communicating: we taught him "Baby Signs" which he used extensively, which helped reassure us on both those fronts. We also have a fabulous resouce in Sacramento called the Scottish Rite Language Center, which is a non-profit, free to families, and helped get my son over the hurdle into "verbal" vs. sign-talking.

I would not worry about it. My nephew is now 2 and he babbles and only says mama daddy tutu bye bye. I also have another nephew who will turn 2 in one month and talks almost perfectly normal (He plays w/ older children and has a 4 year old sister. Full sentences. The one that does not talk is the oldest child, has a pacifier and does not play w/other children except his 9 month old sister.

My kid's father didn't talk at all until he was 2 1/2, and then he suddenly told a joke! And now he won't shut up.