https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:52:07 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781768 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 14:01:40 +0000 Becky 2781768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD1 had two words at 17 months: mama and dada. Between 17 and 18 months she clearly said "purple" and "waffle" so we knew she was just being a perfectionist (she has an incredible vocabulary--by 2 she was speaking much more clearly than some of the 4 year olds in her class now). She was just very quiet. DD2 (18 months) on the other hand has a lot of words and started out probably around 15 months (not yet strung together in sentences), but most aren't understandable to people other than me. She is pretty vocal!</p> <p>But ohmygosh, please don't be concerned--15 months is barely 1 year! She will most likely be just fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781728 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 12:14:23 +0000 MrsGeePerez 2781728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son just turned two and is not talking. He can say mama, dada, baba (grandpa), yaya (grandma), and some other specific sounds for names. He only says names. </p> <p>He makes up his own sound effects and gestures for other words and strings these together to tell stories (he's never, ever quiet - always trying to communicate). Starting at 15 months we have tried so hard to get him to copy us or say letter sounds and simple words and he gets so frustrated. He screams in frustration so we no longer push the issue. </p> <p>Despite his impressive library of signs and sound effects (none of his animal sounds are the standard cutesy sounds like "neigh" "oink" "quack", etc. He actually sounds like a real pig, a dog, a cat, a chicken, etc.) he is still extremely frustrated with not being able to communicate as effectively as he should be, and as a result has many more tantrums than a typical toddler should have. </p> <p>EI therapy sessions finally begin this week. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781646 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 08:22:15 +0000 Mamatimes3 2781646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't worry yet. All kids are different and reach milestones at different ages. I would just look for continued improvement even if it's small. Both of my boys were late talkers. At 2, DS2, really didn't talk much. The pediatrician asked if we saw he was improving at all. Which he was, just slowly. She said if we didn't see any improvement in a few months, she would refer us to speech therapy. Well he did improve slowly over the next few months. But his explosion didn't really happen until closer to 3. Then it was fast. Full clear sentences in a matter of a couple of months. He's a little chatterbox now at 3.5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781607 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 21:42:16 +0000 Calibee 2781607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter did not have her language explosion until 26 months. At her 18 month and 2 year appointments she just barely hit the bottom range of “normal.” Now she never stops talking. </p> <p>I only mention this because I kept waiting for that language explosion at 18 months and it never came. I was totally stressing out. But she started talking when she was ready! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781480 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:58:34 +0000 misolee 2781480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD was an early talker and great talker (still is). She never even said "baby words" and was talking full on sentence mode at like 15 months.</p> <p>So...when my son at 15 months could only say mamma, I was worried. Then at his 18 month checkup, the nurse was going through a checklist and asked me if he had 15-20 words and I got even more worried bc he had had like two. He's 20 months now and even though the number is like up to 6, it's still concerning. My pediatrician, she's not worried at all. We're hoping the language explosion will come soon :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781452 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 13:28:02 +0000 gingerbebe 2781452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nugget16: I wouldn't worry at this age. Seems normal and on track. The only thing that would concern me is if your child has had a lot of ear infections.</p> <p>DS1 barely had any words at all at 18 months and his words were like gobbledigook sounds he had for things. Even then the doctor didn't worry that much but we never had that language explosion. At the same time he had back to back ear infections (he started daycare at 16 months) and by 20 months he had a referral for tube surgery. They found then that he had significant hearing impairment because of the fluid and just when his language skills should have been exploding, he simply couldn't hear because of the ear infections. So he was speech delayed and we worked really hard to get him caught up after tube surgery at 22 months. He's 3 now and finally in "normal" range for speech, although definitely not on the top end of verbal (which we are fine with). </p> <p>DS2 on the other hand is 16 months old and had tube surgery at 10 months and is totally normal in development and he has the same level of language you describe. He learns a new word every few days and is very excited to show off about it. We do the Priddy word books all the time (both my boys LOVED these books while learning words) and he will point out a new thing each week. </p> <p>Definitely agree you should reassess after 18 months but before 2 years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781446 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 13:03:23 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2781446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>15 mos is still young. I was worried that my LO didn't have the 5-6 audible words to move him to his next daycare room. Low and behold, what he was saying and could understand was plenty to move him. Our pediatrician assured us what he was saying and identifying with a point and sound was normal for his age. He just turned 18 months and put together a two word request "more milk." Fear not, yours will speak soon enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781445 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 13:02:27 +0000 nugget16 2781445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You guys are the best!! I feel so much better! I'll definitely address it at her 18 month check up if I feel it's necessary! Thank you all so much!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781442 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 12:55:40 +0000 birdofafeather 2781442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my two girls were the same. the first one took off at 18-19 months and i stopped worrying. my second is turning 2 next week and still doesn't have as many words as her peers, but has totally improved on her own, so if i don't see more improvement by 2.5, then i'll get an evaluation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781433 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 12:19:36 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2781433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dahlia: I agree. My friends little guy is 15 months and the words he can say... it's insane. But he doesn't walk and isn't that close to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781432 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 12:17:24 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2781432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At my daughters 15 month check up they asked if she had 2 words. At 18 months they will ask if she has 15-20. I wouldn't worry. </p> <p>My daughter whines mama!!!! and points when she wants things. But I've started telling her the word and asking her to say it and she's actually trying a bit. She is 16 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781430 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 12:15:06 +0000 Dahlia 2781430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agreed with PP not to worry. I feel like a lot of kids are walkers or talkers. DD was a talker (lots of words early), but didn't walk until almost 16 months. Maybe your DD is just the opposite. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781412 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 11:10:50 +0000 ShootingStar 2781412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS didn't have very many words before 18m and had his language explosion at 20m.</p> <p>DD is 14m and says Mama, Dada and signs more (sometimes). She started walking at 9m though, so I think her brain has been working to figure out the gross motor stuff and next up will be verbal skills. Personally, I won't worry until we get to 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781404 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 10:52:47 +0000 wrkbrk 2781404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nugget16: I worried, too. For some reason I thought kids should be speaking at least some by one! My son did not. He only had a handful of words until 20 months and then literally one day, the explosion happened, just like everyone said it would. He is 23 months today and easily has 300 words/short sentences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781402 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 10:49:08 +0000 sauerkraut 2781402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO (16 mos) is a big talker, but she has a cousin the exact same age who only has a few words. I think cousin understands more language (or at least follows directions better), though, and no one is concerned. Cousin is much more physically advanced and daring, can put together puzzles like a champ, and just seems focused on other skills. I think it just goes to show that kids develop differently. If your ped isn't concerned, I wouldn't be either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781387 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 09:27:27 +0000 Portboston 2781387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son didn’t say much at 15 months. I’d heard there was a language explosion at 18 months so I waited. And waited. His language explosion didn’t happen until he was about 25 months! He was also very advanced with gross motor skills and our pediatrician said sometimes when they are very advanced in one area, the others take a while. She warned us that he would probably be on the later side for talking and he was! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781377 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 09:07:48 +0000 catlady 2781377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with others that it is still early and to not be concerned. My LO1 was barely talking at that age (I think she had like 3 words, and she didn't even say mama or dada). She had a language explosion at around 18 months and since then she has basically never stopped talking! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781367 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 08:37:48 +0000 looch 2781367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son's receptive language was excellent at that age, in two languages. But he had an oral motor delay, that had we identified, could have avoided a ton of problems later on.</p> <p>I would look for two additional things...one is can your child make a wide range of sounds, or are there certain ones (like L and D in my son's case) that he avoided using and what's the feeding situation like, is your child open to different textures of foods? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781365 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 08:25:22 +0000 Adira 2781365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds totally normal! Mine had maybe 5 words (MAYBE) at that age. And then went through a language explosion between 20 months and 2 years. The fact that her receptive language skills are so good is a great sign! Just be patient. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781364 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 08:22:09 +0000 gilmoregirl 2781364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son didn't talk at all at 15 months outside of an occasional mama and dada. I was totally worried but it just took him longer to get started, I think. He was a walker but not a talker. He was saying words a lot more by 17 months. </p> <p>Especially since she can understand things and attempts to mimic words...I don't think you have anything to worry about (but I completely understand the worry!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781323 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 20:49:05 +0000 hummusgirl 2781323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO1 was an early talker so I was a little concerned when LO2 seemed to have zero words at 15 months and barely five at 18 months (including mama/dada). The doctor wasn't too concerned but said she'd refer us to a speech therapist if things didn't pick up in the next few months. We tried to be more intentional about talking to him, reading books (even though he'd previously shown no interest), pointing things out at home, etc. He ended up starting to talk a lot more by around 21 months so we didn't end up going in for therapy. </p> <p>There's a wide range of normal but there are things you can do to encourage language, including:<br /> - Unloading the dishwasher, hold up every item and say what it is "plate! oh thank you for handing me that spoon! here's a cup!"<br /> - Get on the floor with no distractions around and talk about what you see, i.e. playing with blocks, narrate "let's put this blue block on top. and now this one on top. on top, on top, on top...." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781317 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 20:14:11 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2781317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nugget16: We really stretched to get to this point at 18 months: </p> <p>Word/Sound List</p> <p>1. Mama</p> <p>2. Dada</p> <p>3. Uh-Oh</p> <p>4. Bye Bye</p> <p>5. Open (Oh-en)</p> <p>6. Color (Ol-er)</p> <p>7. Flower (Ow-er)</p> <p>8. Hat (At)</p> <p>9. Ball (all)</p> <p>10. Balloon (A-ooh)</p> <p>11. Book (Ook)</p> <p>12. Truck (Uck)</p> <p>13. Dinosaur (Ca Ca?)</p> <p>Other Sounds<br /> 14. Vroom</p> <p>15. Quack</p> <p>16. Moo</p> <p>17. Neigh</p> <p>Sign Language<br /> 18. More</p> <p>19. Please</p> <p>20. All Done</p> <p>21. Eat</p> <p>22. Drink</p> <p>23. Hat</p> <p>24. Bird</p> <p>25. Baby </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781316 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 20:12:50 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2781316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>15 months is still really young to be worried about delays. Plus it sounds like she is on the right track. </p> <p>We had to work really hard to get a short list for his 18 month appointment. Our Dr. said anything that we could understand that he associated with a person/thing counted. Some things were totally random (like a weird string of syllables that was "dinosaur" and the very small difference between ball and balloon). My son just didn't want to talk. Just before age 2 he had a big explosion and now by age 3 is totally caught up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781303 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 19:17:52 +0000 Chuckles 2781303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>15 months is early! Since your LO is following directions and seems to understand what you say and is trying to say some words, I definitely wouldn't worry at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781297 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 19:06:31 +0000 Alba4 2781297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 had a language explosion around 2. It still is early!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781296 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 19:01:09 +0000 erinbaderin 2781296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At my 15 month checkup she asked how many words he was saying and I just laughed. The doctor was like “they don’t have to be recognizable” so I said 5 but I was lying. He’s 19 months and he’s talking a lot more. I would wait at least three months and see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781286 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 17:29:38 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2781286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would wait til 18 months as that is when talking is 'expected' to take off. I say this as a mom of a nearly 3 yr old who has been in speech therapy since about 20 months for a motor speech disorder. 15 months I wasn't concerned, but our doctor referred us at his 18 month appointment 'just in case'...he also wasn't concerned at that time but knowing the wait lists, he made the referral anyway. It took 6 months to get in the public program (saw private while we waited) and I was glad to have the appointment waiting for us as we were one of the ones who needed it. So, wait and watch, but don't be afraid to get an evaluation in a couple months. As for family comments, ignore them! But trust your gut if you feel worried. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781278 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 16:22:16 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2781278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My advice is to not worry at all. My daughter didn’t talk much until she turned 2. She’s almost 3 now and her vocabulary is incredible. So, don’t worry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781275 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 16:00:20 +0000 SweetiePie 2781275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>15 months wouldn’t concern me much. Agree that 18 months is when we had a huge language explosion. Before that it was attempting to mimic but not quite getting it. Like we knew what he was saying (words not sentences) but no one else did.<br /> I would take my pediatricians advice wayyy more than random family members who don’t have a true understanding of a toddlers development. I’m sure they WANT him to be saying more but that doesn’t mean he should. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/15-month-old-not-talking-much#post-2781273 Sun, 22 Oct 2017 15:45:05 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2781273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nugget16: I think a lot of toddlers suddenly start talking a lot more around 18 months so if the pediatrician isn't worried I don't think I'd be too worried yet. My son was the same way (walked at 10m too) and he just made 2 and talks a lot now. There is such a huge spectrum of normal. I definitely wouldn't base it on the things family and friends are trying out, they are just doing it for fun, and many of them probably have no idea when babies are "supposed to" talk or have certain words. :) </p>