https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 13 Jun 2026 22:55:10 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192846 Sun, 17 Jun 2012 09:00:10 +0000 looch 192846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I asked my ped what we should expect at 18 months, and she basically said if we don't have more speech by the end of the summer, we should come back for a visit.</p> <p>We're a two language family and while my son understands both, he is not talking as much as I would feel comfortable with. So, I try to do speech activities with him, mostly animal sounds and lots of repetition. Fingers crossed, let's see what happens.</p> <p>eta: What about getting a book with photos or pictures of things, and having him point to the objects to help with recognition? We have a great book that we use with our son, he can find Mommy's coffee and Winnie the Pooh's honey in two languages, so we don't have a comprehension issue. It could ease your mind a bit, it did for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192252 Sat, 16 Jun 2012 09:11:49 +0000 Cchoi4 192252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is the same age and I was wondering the same thing! </p> <p>He seems to understand a few questions that I ask him (like "where's the light" and he points to the ceiling) but there aren't too many other indications that he knows what I"m saying and he certainly doesn't say words with intention. He has yet to call me mommy or his dad daddy. Just speaks gibberish. </p> <p>this makes me feel better :)</p> <p>btw - we read everyday but i have a feeling LO just likes to turn the pages and isn't trying to understand words. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192241 Sat, 16 Jun 2012 08:58:20 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 192241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: Baby sign counts as words :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192225 Sat, 16 Jun 2012 08:21:43 +0000 brownie 192225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our son is pretty much the same age and we just realized he is saying words. They don't necessarily sound like words. All dogs are "Casey" which he pronounces like a mix of kissed and I don't know. We just realized he does that. He doesn't use mama or dada consistently. I am worried but we have decided he just doesn't want to talk. He can communicate just fine with baby sign and pointing. So he does what works. I am a little concerned personally but he has decided to work on motor skills instead.</p> <p>So, he may have a word that you haven't figured out. If you are worried, see about a developmental test. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192202 Sat, 16 Jun 2012 07:31:05 +0000 chopsuey 192202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My boy cousins started speaking a lot later than the girls in my family. We speak 2 languages at home so I was worried she would have delayed speech, but Lo's done pretty well picking up words. I did a word count the other day and she knows about 40 words and can say about 15.<br /> We point a lot of things out and do word repetition when we show her things. I'm always talking to her like she's an adult too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192201 Sat, 16 Jun 2012 07:26:35 +0000 Mrs. Pen 192201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrstilly: does he say mama or dada yet? The 14 mos old I watch says mama, gook (book), ba (ball), mo (more) and maybe one or two others. They don't necessarily sound like words but I know what he means. Usually mama or dada comes pretty quickly.<br /> But I wouldn't really worry about it. 14 mos is still young and given that he "talks" to you all the time, it doesn't really seem to be a speech delay - as he IS talking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192198 Sat, 16 Jun 2012 07:23:40 +0000 pelikila 192198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a late talker that will likely have to be involved with early intervention in the next few months. At my son's 15 month appointment we were asked if he was saying 3 words (including mama and dada), which he wasn't. He'll parrot dada but doesn't use it as a name or anything. He also shakes his head no and seems to say "yah" at the right times but we weren't sure if that counted or not. Our pedi said by 18 months he should be saying 8 words (including mama and dada) and if he isn't we'll be referred to a speech evaluation. We are starting month 17 and not much improvement so it is looking pretty inevitable. Our son did get tubes in his ears at 8 months and before the tubes his ears were constantly filled with fluid so he only had 40% of his hearing so we know to expect some developmental delays but it will be what it will be and we'll work with that. Do you have a perfectionist? We seem to as he doesn't complete a milestone (crawling, walking, etc) until he can do it perfectly and we think talking will be similar for him. There is something called the einstein syndrome that seems to be a possible fit for why our son may be a late talker (the whole perfectionist thing fits in here). Now I don't think we've got a genius on our hands but it may be a contributing factor. I would say take a deep breath and continue to do what you are doing, reading, pointing things out, describing them, etc. Many boys are later at talking than girls so keep that in mind too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192178 Sat, 16 Jun 2012 04:56:52 +0000 Andrea 192178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think DD said many words at 14 months. I remember that her word explosion started at 15 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192164 Sat, 16 Jun 2012 01:17:41 +0000 lemondrop 192164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrstilly: your mention of pointing things out while reading brought this story from NPR to mind (I know you are discussing talking, not reading, and the article is about disadvantaged kids, but it may still be of interest) I've found myself pointing out words and following the words with my finger after hearing this story: </p> <p><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/29/153927743/small-change-in-reading-to-preschoolers-can-help-disadvantaged-kids-catch-up" rel="nofollow">http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/05/29/153927743/small-change-in-reading-to-preschoolers-can-help-disadvantaged-kids-catch-up</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192156 Sat, 16 Jun 2012 00:38:16 +0000 mrstilly 192156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: We read every day, but DS hasn't realized there are words on the page and likes to just flip through. We use a variety of tactics to slow him down and point things out. I'm pretty sure he has said barn (bah) and moo (mmmmm). DH's parents still have a working dairy farm and DS's favorite book is about farm animals, so that makes sense. </p> <p>I don't think I'll worry too much just yet. Sometimes it's uncanny when he babbles and it sounds just like what an appropriate response would be. (ie it sounds like he's saying "I'm right here mommy"). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192155 Sat, 16 Jun 2012 00:38:04 +0000 BoogieBea 192155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son wasn't saying very many words at that age either. At 18 months he was able to say about 10 words maybe? By 2 years, he was saying maybe just 20 words. We had contacted early intervention by then and has been workin with them since. His speech and vocabulary has improved a lot. He probably just had a natural speech delay but I found the EI services to be very helpful.<br /> I would wait a few more months. If you're still concerned then, talk to your doctor about early intervention evaluation. If anything, it will give you a peace of mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192137 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 23:28:27 +0000 Mrs. Bee 192137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>pediatricians seem to suggest early intervention at 18 months if they only have a couple words. but i have several friends whose 18 months old toddlers weren't saying a single word. they turned out to be late talkers. if at 18 months my lo wasn't saying a single word, i'd def pursue early intervention. 14 months is still pretty early </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192129 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 22:55:25 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 192129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The mean age for 1 word is 12 months. I know they say that kids who speak 2 languages aren't delayed, but at least in my work experience, I've found it takes a little longer to sort anything out.</p> <p>If my 16 month old still wasn't saying a single word, I probably would have pursued it with my pediatrician, because the earlier the intervention, the more effective. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192115 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 22:30:32 +0000 mrbee 192115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't worry at all!</p> <p>How much reading together do you guys do? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192113 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 22:27:02 +0000 Sweet T 192113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've read that baby's first real word(s) can come as late as 18 months. My LO is only 9.5 months old, so we're not quite to that point yet. I think I would try not to be worried just yet but it might be worth a call to the pediatrician if you think it would help calm your nerves. I think it's a positive thing that he understands things you say and that he nods 'yes' or 'no.'</p> <p>Sorry I couldn't be more helpful! Hope he starts talking soon! I know it'll ease your mind so much! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/14-months-and-no-words-yet#post-192109 Fri, 15 Jun 2012 22:13:02 +0000 mrstilly 192109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is a little over 14 months old. He "talks" with vigor just about all day long, but he hasn't really started saying real words yet. His talking is just gibberish. He will respond when someone talks to him and he uses a lot of inflection in his "talking" but no real words. He understands a bunch of words and he's starting to shake and nod his head for yes and no. </p> <p>I don't know if I should be worried yet or not. </p>