https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:50:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers/page/2#post-2306876 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 20:05:03 +0000 Trailmix 2306876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 18 months, my son had 3-4 words, two of which were 'maah' for moo and 'baaah' for sheep. Pediatrician said if he didn't improve over the next 3 months, we'd talk early intervention. He totally invoiced significantly over those three months and talks a ton now. Some kids just talk late :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306856 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 19:51:41 +0000 Raindrop 2306856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO always made the minimal "normal" spectrum, something like x number of words by this time.. always seemed to make it to that x number. It really worried me at first but every time I mentioned it to my pedi but he never seemed worried. Then at 3, his words just took off and it seems like he's saying/learning new words everyday.</p> <p>I will say my pedi said speech therapy is expensive if you aren't in the bottom 10% which is when the state (CA) pays for it. </p> <p>Definitely talk to your pedi about this but if s/he doesn't seem worried, you probably shouldn't worry either. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306842 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 19:34:47 +0000 Mae 2306842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skipra: She is pretty good at showing me what she wants when what she wants is a thing. But that's not always what she wants. Like a lot of times she brings me a thing. And I don't know what she wants me to do with it. But she keeps grabbing it then giving it forcefully back to me so clearly I'm missing a message :) </p> <p>@MoonMoon: glad it went so well for you! I'm sort of neutral on speech therapy. If the ped thinks she needs it, that is totally fine with me. But I'm also not feeling nervous like zomg gotta get her in. We'll just see what happens at her 18 mo appt!</p> <p>@Bubbles: wow that is crazy progress! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306682 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 16:24:08 +0000 coopsmama 2306682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoonMoon: Yes, I believe so. Mine was born in June '13. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306663 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:55:09 +0000 winniebee 2306663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think T only had 5-8 words at 15 months but by 18 months had hundreds....by age 2 talking in sentences....and speaks more clearly than most 3 year olds I've been around. Some kids take off a little later ; ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306661 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:54:03 +0000 Bubbles 2306661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm pretty sure my DS had no words at 16 months, and now at 21 months he has hundreds / he has at least one new word every day and is putting together sentences. I think around 18 months is when it really took off and since then he has become extremely verbal. But we could still easily have a situation like the one you describe with the swing, I think it's more that he doesn't know what he wants than that I can't understand him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306655 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:50:09 +0000 Rockies11 2306655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: mine said "dada" "doggy" and "DIS!" from 12 to 18 months. She didn't head shake, or mimic, or make animal noises, or anything else they're supposed to do. Her receptive language was fine. We were watching her for intervention at 2 years, but then she started to talk more at around 18 months. She got so she was really communicating right at around 25 months. </p> <p>The other thing to remember is that just because they are pointing at the swing and you're assuming that they want to swing and asking them about that - it doesn't mean that she doesn't understand you. We have swing miscommunications like every day because she wants me to push her juice on the swing or she wants to put rocks on the swing and push them, or she wants me to push her with big pushes or little pushes and it often takes a lot of screaming before I can figure out wtf she wants, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306648 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:46:46 +0000 MoonMoon 2306648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coopsmama: awesome, I'm glad it worked for you guys too! If I remember correctly, our sons are practically the same age, right? :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306632 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:31:25 +0000 coopsmama 2306632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoonMoon: We had the exact same situation. </p> <p>Our son was in EI from 21 months (he had ONE word then) and just graduated out at 27 months. It made such a big difference for him. He was so frustrated being unable to communicate and it was hard on us, too. It was really hard to make the phone call to EI but once we did we were so glad we had. If you are concerned still at 18 months, I wouldn't hesitate to call. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306625 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:22:25 +0000 Madison43 2306625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: I'm not sure if this will make you feel better or not, but my LO was an early talker and at almost 2 is very verbal and yet we still have epic tantrums about what she does/does not want. She can tell me she wants me to cut her apple, but then loses her mind crying because I cut her apple and she wanted to bite it herself. So yeah - part of what you're going through may just be general toddler angst and indecisiveness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306619 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:20:38 +0000 JessicaMcB 2306619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our situation is a little different because our later talker was our second child (DD1 started talking at six months and there's been no quieting her since so that point of comparison made everything with DD2 seem amplified). K started saying "Dada" at about a year and then literally didn't absorb anything else for months. At her 18 month check she could say, "Dada" "Mama" "No" and "'Wan-it (want it)" and the nurse was concerned and said if she wasn't improving markedly by 2 to have her assessed.</p> <p>About two or three weeks ago (she's 20 months now) she started talking clearly out of the blue like she'd been talking the whole time. "Mommy hold hand?" is a fave she likes busting out ;) . Meanwhile she still can't say her own name and some other things I think she should be able to but she's getting better (i.e. Mama and Dada are now Mommy and Daddy, etc.). Sadly the communication tantrums are still real, especially when anything happens between her and DD1 that she doesn't have the vocab to explain- this usually devolves into her throwing herself on the ground kicking and screaming "EMMA!" :/</p> <p>Honestly there really isn't much you can do other than try to figure out what she's saying and vocalize it for her as much as possible so she's absorbing the words she's going to need to describe it once her little brain is ready to start exploding! I hope tomorrow is an easier day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306596 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:02:59 +0000 daniellemybelle 2306596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just went back and looked, and LO had about 15 words at 15 months. Some of them she had only said like once or twice though. At the time I wondered if she was not the greatest talker, but now at 23 months she is very very verbal.</p> <p>I know that my cousin's son only had 2 words, I think, or less than that at his 18 month appointment and they recommended speech therapy.</p> <p>Of course, as others have said, there is such an incredibly wide range that I would take your pediatrician's lead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306577 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:49:26 +0000 CakeLady 2306577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS isn't a late talker but he is really selective about what/when he will use words. He, like your DD, gets really frustrated when he can't tell me what he wants. A tip I got from another mom was to say to him "I can't understand you, can you please show me what you want" and then he would point/go to what he wanted, or I would carry him around and he would reach. Now he will take my hand and lead me there. It helped in many situations. Though now he will go to the fridge and pull on the handle when he is hungry. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306574 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:48:03 +0000 mauxie 2306574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My nephew was a late talker. His receptive language was great but he had very few words at 18 months. He was evaluated by the Ped and I believe my sis did reach out to a speech therapist, but overall they just waited it out a bit. Looking back, it seemed to be more of a personality thing in that he didn't want to be incorrect so he wouldn't say things at all.. When he finally did start talking, it was in long sentences and very articulate/insightful comments! </p> <p>If it's bothering you, I'd talk to your Ped and get info on the evaluation process, just so you have it handy. No harm in that :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306569 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:42:27 +0000 MoonMoon 2306569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 18 months, LO had one word (Dada), consistent sounds that counted as words, 5 or 6 signs, and lots of grunting. His receptive language was excellent, but it was frustrating for us all that he couldn't communicate. He was evaluated by EI and started speech therapy at 19 months, which he loved SO much. It also made a huge difference. Now at 28 months he speaks nonstop, and regularly uses multiple word sentences, stuff I wouldn't have believed a few months ago. We were actually sad when he "graduated" out of therapy! Our pediatrician would have been fine with us waiting until 2 to have him evaluated, and I think DH was nervous about it, but now he agrees that in our case, it was the best thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306519 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:10:36 +0000 skipra 2306519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: do you ask her to show you what she wants? That is usually how we get through the communication frustrations. He will get his shoes or point to something on the counter so I pick him up so he can show me. Is she able to do that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306514 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:05:15 +0000 brownepiano 2306514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been wondering about this too. My 19 month old says a few words and signs please, all done, more, and we are working on help. He doesn't pick up signs easily so I haven't tried to add too many at once. However, he understands really well and will answer questions. We have tantrums all the time because we don't know what he wants. He doesn't seem interested in trying to say words either, he actually is more willing to try new signs than new words (unless they are sound effects...). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306509 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:01:17 +0000 blackbird 2306509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: wine lol. That lack of ability to communicate is why I found that age way harder than age 2!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306506 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:00:15 +0000 Mae 2306506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I'm frustrated by this stage because of the tantrums. But I'm not worried like... I think there is something wrong with her. It's just a bit challenging for me. If she gains no new words by 18 mo I'm sure our ped will recommend an evaluation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306500 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:57:59 +0000 looch 2306500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: Haha, yeah, I got it, but I meant going forward, from now at 16 months to 2 years of age.</p> <p>I became concerned when the rate at which my son added new words dropped. He was having trouble with certain sounds, particularly "L" and that hindered his progress. </p> <p>And honestly, what is to stop you from getting your daughter evaluated? If you're not concerned, I get it, but it kind of feels like you are (but I am just a stranger on the internet, so ignore me if you want!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306487 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:50:51 +0000 Mae 2306487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: well two is pretty easy to count to lol. She has two words, mama and dada. Same words since 8 months. No new ones at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306471 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:44:24 +0000 looch 2306471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would begin counting words...not because I would be worried about word count, but because I would want to see the rate at which new words were added. Some sounds are easy to master, but some are not, and if your child is increasing the rate at which they add words month over month, then there's less chance that they have a delay. If they are only repeating the same words/sounds, then I'd be more concerned.</p> <p>Hope that makes sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306412 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:19:24 +0000 skipra 2306412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 was a really late talker. He was always clearly behind his peers and would just barely meet the minimum expectations for his age. All the sudden around 2.5 he had a major language explosion. He went from barely putting 2 words together to full sentences. It was kind of crazy. His pediatrician said at one appointment we could get an EI evaluation and because of other medical issues at the time I put it off and she didn't think he needed it at his next appointment. I know several kids that have speech therapy. One I can really see a lot of improvement just since I met him a few months ago. Talk to your pediatrician and see what s/he suggests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306406 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:16:46 +0000 tlynne 2306406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was a later talker. He knew two words by 18 months, but then had a language explosion about a month later. He seriously went from nonverbal to speaking in two or three word sentences over the course of a week or two. Just keep talking to her, and she will likely 'get it' on her own timetable. It's actually a great sign that she can follow directions and point or nod her head. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306399 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:12:37 +0000 Mamasig 2306399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 was a later talker. He probably was like Fia. He slowly gained words and phrases over time. To me his explosion came around 2.5. </p> <p>DS2 only has a couple of constant words - dada, yea, and oh no. But I feel like he is a bit more advanced than DS1 was but not by much. He definitely understands a lot of what we say. He gets his point across even if he isn't verbally saying it. He shakes his head no but never yes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306394 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:09:41 +0000 Mae 2306394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: I'm excited to see her language explosion too :) I'd say definitely no problem with her hearing. We live near an airport and you can hear when planes come in low. She knows what planes are and when she hears one go by (which is noticeable but by no means loud) she always looks up and points in the direction of the airport. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306387 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:05:55 +0000 ShootingStar 2306387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought DS was a little slow in his expressive language. According to our notes he had about 20 words by 18m. He was able to sign though, that was something we worked on for a long time, and they did at daycare with him. He's having a language explosion now at 22m and it's absolutely amazing to see.</p> <p>I have friends whose daughter was a very late talker and it turned out she was having hearing issues and needed tubes in her ears. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306384 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:04:52 +0000 Mae 2306384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: Yea I'm not worried. Also I don't know that she is necessarily "late" which is why I called this "lateR" talkers haha. She is probably still within normal range but definitely at the later end of it. I feel like she'll probably talk all on her own at some point without any help and if she needs speech therapy I guess we'll do that when it becomes apparent that is necessary. This isn't really about worry just about a lot of crying this morning! :) </p> <p>@Mrs. Champagne: It's funny because she DOES nod yes and shake head no... but not in response to questions. Like if I try to hand her something she doesn't want she shakes head no. If she sees something she wants she will often point and nod yes like "yes I want that." But if I ask her a yes/no question... blank stare lol. She does understand "do you want x" when x is a toy or food. But other than that I feel like she just does not get the concept of questions yet. </p> <p>@blackbird: any tips for dealing with the "omfg child what do you wannnnttt" type tantrums? (wine maybe? for me of course lol)</p> <p>@Truth Bombs: yea i'm not really worried. I do know she is later but our ped asked about language at 15 mo appt and she said that as long as she hasn't lost words and she is doing okay with receptive language she wasn't worried at that point. She isn't particularly alarmist and neither am I. I would imagine we will wait until 18 or 24 mo before deciding on speech therapy, depending on what our ped says. </p> <p>@jhd: lol yea. so confusing. I swear I had her up and down off of that swing like 8 times because she kept running over to it and pointing at it/pulling on it but then when I put her up she didn't seem happy there either. i can't think of what else she wanted with the swing! lol</p> <p>@rattles: thanks!</p> <p>@lamariniere: at 15 mo she asked about language and I fully explained the situation. She wasn't concerned. We have another appointment in 6 weeks for her 18 mo well check so we'll see how she is doing then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306376 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:01:03 +0000 Ajsmommy 2306376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was wondering (not really worried bc I know all kids are different) about DD but at our 18 mos apt the dr didn't even ask me how many words she had!! I would have said she had 6 maybe at that time (mom, dad, ball, meow, bye, hi) but she understood very well and would follow commands so that put my mind at ease. She is now 22 months and her vocabulary is HUGE!! She had the true word explosion around 20 months and hasn't slowed down! I wouldnt' worry if I were you, but if you are just ask your ped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-later-talkers#post-2306363 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 12:50:50 +0000 lamariniere 2306363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would mention it to your ped then. As others have said, there is a wide range of normal, but change can happen very fast too. </p>