https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 10:25:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535712 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:03:44 +0000 shopaholic 1535712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've just started worrying about this a little, and I didn't really know about this receptive vs. expressive language thing, so I am very glad you brought it up. I think it's hard to know what's normal since I SAH with her every day, but I know I need to work on talking more and more like @photojane: </p> <p>12.5 months and she can say: mama, dada, uh-oh for sure. She can say things like: ball, bye, dog, bird (but all the "b" and "d" words might sound very similar? And we just know what she is saying because she's actually trying to use them for the correct objects. She also understands what a lot of words and directions MEAN. I just can't seem to get her to repeat me yet. I've been worried she doesn't try for many other sounds, but the ped didn't seem concerned at her 12 month check up. Glad you've given me some homework though! :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535709 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 23:52:06 +0000 brownie 1535709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many words at one? none</p> <p>How much receptive language did they have at one? dog, mama, dada, no and not for touching or not for LO</p> <p>If LO was older than one when they really started saying words and showing they had receptive language, how old were they? saying words around 16 - 18 months. Receptive language always seemed higher like he understood what was going on around him. But we could definitely see it by 18 months.</p> <p>If you were worried about delays, at what point did you/would you seek an early intervention consult? I would seek it around 18 months old so that they qualify as a 1 year old which is easier to qualify at. I knew at 18 months that he had a problem but I didn't push it because I thought I could be wrong. And the pediatrician still doesn't think he has any issues because his language (number of words) is high but his sentences and clarity isn't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535663 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:30:08 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1535663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: Interesting! I know it's very early, but that's how the boys seem. While I think their expressive language isn't anything to be concerned with, I've pretty much never seen them show any signs of understanding words other than the three I mentioned. What made me really start wandering about all of this was reading about how they generally have more receptive language than expressive, which doesn't seem at all like them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535661 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:28:45 +0000 birdofafeather 1535661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>this is probably my biggest concern at the moment, as she has few words. mama, uh oh, bye bye and maybe some others here and there. she had none at 12 months (14.5 months now). but she does understand a lot and follows commands. her ped said between 1.5 and 2.5 years is really when their language explodes, so i'm not gonna worry (as much) about it until then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535655 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:20:09 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1535655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: There's NO way I would compare the boys to Little Jacks. I imagine her giving State of the Unions and writing a thesis at one! :-) With Jack Jack, do you mind sharing how you felt like her receptive language was? Maybe I'm reading to much into what I perceive their understanding to be. I feel confident that they'll get there and am okay if it takes a while, but I want to make sure I know what to watch for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535654 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:18:58 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1535654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: her receptive language has always been way more delayed compared to her expressive language, and it's usually the other way around with kids with speech delays.</p> <p>even now i feel like her receptive is not on par with her expressive (she can speak in sentences up to 9 words), but she was recently tested and is not considered delayed. she can talk a lot but has difficulty understanding questions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535650 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:14:19 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1535650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: How was Olive's receptive language? The thing that concerns me most is they really don't seem to have much at all. </p> <p>@Mrs. High Heels: I'm with you that I'll give it another 6 months or so to see how they develop. I would feel better if I felt like they understood basic words and just couldn't vocalize yet. Maybe it's just a boy thing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535643 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:08:31 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1535643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I worry too, but language does seem to change really quickly.</p> <p>At 14 months, D says doggy, daddy (but they sound the same), he's said car a couple of times and turtle a couple of times. </p> <p>He doesn't really mimic, but I think he tried to say outside the other day when I prompted him.</p> <p>Receptive is good and getting better quickly. He will clap and shake on command and will give the doggy her toy when I tell him to (so he doesn't eat it). He seems to understand most basic common things I tell him.</p> <p>He's started getting really frustrated when I don't understand his grunts and I've been really working to get him to say up, milk, all done etc but he doesn't make any attempt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535629 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:54:48 +0000 Mrs. Bee 1535629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>charlie could only say ball at 12 months. but he was a pretty verbal kid within a couple of months and always had excellent receptive skills.</p> <p>olive was delayed. she actually had a couple words by 1 -- more than charlie -- but she regressed around 16 months and stopped using them. we did speech therapy and she is now caught up at almost 2 1/2. i think she would have eventually gotten there without therapy, but a delay now could just compound a delay later. even now i would say she is at least 6 months behind where charlie was at her age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535624 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:52:32 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1535624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok so I just looked back on N's 1-year update since my memory fails me and this is what I wrote:<br /> So far she can say – Apple, Socks, Up, Opposites, What’s that? (including the question mark tone), Hi, Bye, Doggy, Daddy, and Mommy.</p> <p>Her receptive language was really good too. She's always been ahead compared to developmental charts in the language department, and said her first word at 8 months.</p> <p>J is a different story! I'm glad you posted this because I wasn't sure when to be worried, but I know boys tend to be slower in the language department, and I'm kind of giving myself until the 18 month mark to really assess since I feel like there's a huge range of normal for language acquisition. </p> <p>At 13 months, he just learned to say hi and bye (while waving), and daddy. He's been able to say mama for awhile now, but not consistently. So that's 4 real words at 13 months. At 12 months it was 1 word (mama). His receptive language seems to be pretty good though and he babbles a ton. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535616 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:47:04 +0000 winniebee 1535616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 1, T had mama, dada, and dog. He has always been a big babbler though. Good receptive language starting at 12 months. At 15 months a few more words maybe 5-6? At 18 months around 25 words and really understood everything. Had his language explosion around 18 months and by 20 months had close to 100 words. At 22 months he has probably 200 words and mimics everything and had a lot of 2 word sentences and a few 3 word sentences. It took him longer but he is doig well and our pediatrician always assured us he was on track. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535609 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:42:30 +0000 Boogs 1535609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your LO's just turned one, plus they're twins so is actually not uncommon at all for you to see what you're seeing. :) Maybe Mrs. Train can give you more advice with her boys, but twins often are delayed in speaking like us because of their twin speak, from my understanding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535601 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:34:17 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1535601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ellie was delayed. In my mind it was significant, because she had a very large gap between receptive and expressive. She understood most of what was said to her by about a year, but only said 'mama' and 'bup' for up reliably. At 18 months she regressed to only saying 'mama' reliably. At age two she was JUST starting to put two words together. Her language was on par with peers and slightly better than average at age three (she had a wonderful vocabulary). She did not ever receive services for language, and didn't have much for pronunciation issues (did say 'lello' for yellow, and maybe a couple of other pretty typical pronunciation challenges).</p> <p>Lorelei is atypical. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535524 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:31:43 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1535524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our older daughter doesn't count because she wasn't normal. Our second daughter was around 12 months, didn't really babble until 10 months. Didn't have more than five words for what seemed like forever. Two words together at 18-19 months and at two she's only now putting together three and four word sentences reliably. I am confident that she is completely normal. We understand more than half of what she says.</p> <p>Receptive language definitely came first and our pediatrician never thought she needed a speech eval... But of course that's what I worried about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535514 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:23:30 +0000 photojane 1535514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't worry at all right now! If you're ever are worried, though, the CDC has a list of developmental milestones by age on their website. Every baby develops differently, but the boys sound like they're doing really great. :)</p> <p>To answer your questions...</p> <p>How many words at one? She's 13 months, and says (on purpose, with meaning): mama, dada, Lee (charlie - the dog), up, baba (bottle), bye-bye, hi, whoa, duck, dog, ball, bubble, book, and most of the animal sounds. She won't say yes/no, but she does nod appropriately (usually no! :silly: ). She definitely still does baby talk, though. Especially in the car... "bababa lalala maaaa!" </p> <p>How much receptive language did they have at one? She's pretty great at this, I think. And I'm pretty sure it's because I am ALWAYS talking to her. Like, chatterbox mama doesn't shut up all day. She follows all of the simple commands I give her (e.g. put the book on the shelf, say bye-bye, pet the dog, put the baby in the stroller, etc.). She correctly points/identifies objects when I ask about them. She seems to know/recognize lots of words, but hasn't learned to vocalize them yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535447 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 20:01:08 +0000 SleepyMonkey 1535447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 12 months my LO had maybe 10 words but her receptive vocab was quite big and could follow commands. At 17 months she has exploded in terms of talking but my nephew had about 3 words at that age. All kids are different and I've heard boys take a little longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535442 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:59:47 +0000 Applesandbananas 1535442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is in EI for an established risk and they said by 18 months, they want to see 10 words and understanding of 3+ commands (bring me your cup, sit down, stuff like that). His EI therapist looks at the whole picture, physical, verbal, etc. when determining if a child is behind, especially up until 15/18months. She says some kids focus more on the physical than verbal and that's totally okay!</p> <p>Some suggestions we were given were to narrate everything, repeat things, and read tons of books. So we try to constantly talk to LO. "Where are we? Are we at school? Do you see your teacher? Say hi to your teacher. Is that your friend, A? Wave to A." Or "is that your cup? Do you want me to put water in your cup? What color is your cup? Yes, it's a green cup!"</p> <p>ETA: LO has a few words but he doesn't really understand what they mean. Dada, gie (doggie), baba (this one he does have an association, he uses it to ask to nurse or for a sippy cup), and yeah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535396 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:35:38 +0000 mrsjyw 1535396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ds is 16 mths and while his receptive labguage is superb he's prolly on the slower end verbally. He's probably at 15 words or so mixed between korean and english words. He signs a lot of his verbal communication. He still doesnt say hi or bye even tho he waves appropriately </p> <p>At 12 mths he was saying umma, dada, dog, mama (krn for food) no consistently. Following short commands, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535355 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:18:08 +0000 JerricaBenton 1535355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been a little worried LO isn't talking more. At 13 months she says papa, puppy, hi and up. She waves hi and. bye at appropriate times. Points at things when I say the word, like she can identify all her main body parts and her toys and will brush her hair if I tell her to. I feel like her receptive language is really good. I know it's different for every child but I keep hearing about kids saying more actual words too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535337 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:09:10 +0000 honeybear 1535337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I echo the advice to not compare your children to others. My son is 3, but I remember quite well that he had maybe 1 semi-identifiable word at 12 months and just a few for a while after that. I felt that his reception was good, so I waited it out and eventually he started speaking. He has a pretty sophisticated vocabulary now and excellent comprehension. </p> <p>If you want some guidelines, I like this site: <a href="http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/one/language.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/one/language.html</a> (This is the second time I've linked to it today...I swear I'm not a shill for PBS, I just like their site!) Remember when reading it that the general guidelines cover the entire year between the child's first and second birthdays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1535226 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 18:12:06 +0000 hilsy85 1535226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 1, LO had 3 words (dada, bubbles, and belly button--so random). His receptive language was pretty good in that he could follow commands like "Where's your puppy?" and "clap hands" and "give that to dada" and things like that, and he would look at things that I labeled. I would guess they understand more than you think they do! </p> <p>I think there is a huge range though--one of LOs friends didn't have any words at 1, and I think only has a few at almost 18 months, and he's still within the normal range! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1534729 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 14:00:54 +0000 blackbird 1534729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also wondering this. E says a few things (no, yeah, mama, dada), but i don't think she understands the context. She says "uh oh" whenever she drops stuff, but she says it so often, that I don't know that she really gets it yet. Just when i think she knows that "dada", is, indeed, DADA, she yells "dada" at the cat :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1534716 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:57:11 +0000 Corduroy 1534716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many words at one? At 13 months LO says hi, bye, dada, mama, up, dog, day care lady's name, uh oh, no</p> <p> How much receptive language did they have at one? </p> <p>Not much. She says hi and bye in response to cues (putting on shoes, grabbing keys, sweatshirt) but she doesn't say hi or bye when we ask her to. It's pretty much limited to "no" (she shakes her head and does it anyway), "look at ___" and she will look where I point, "down on the belly" for getting off of furniture/down steps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1534709 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:55:04 +0000 edelweiss 1534709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 14 months and his first and only "word" has been "uh oh". i'm barely counting that. we're trying to work on asking him to do things to practice his receptive language (not that we sat there and thought hm we need to work on LO's receptive language--daycare told us that we should ask him to put things away). as to his spoken language, i'm not that worried--sure i'd like to hear a word or two, but i'm going to give it several more months before freaking out (which i am prone to do at the slightest thing). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1534669 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:43:00 +0000 Smurfette 1534669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: been wondering about this too. R can say bye bye and hey, but I don't remember the last time she actually did. She "talks" alot but it isn't words. Say Mama and Dada but not that it is us. She doesn't point to thing either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1534659 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:38:19 +0000 looch 1534659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son's receptive language has always been great, at 18 months, we could tell him to toss something in the garbage in the kitchen in two languages and he would comply.</p> <p>His actual speech, though, is delayed because of an oral motor issue. He has issues saying certain sounds, namely ones where he has to purse his lips. But that's being worked on with oral motor and speech therapy.</p> <p>I know it's difficult not to compare, but it's honestly the best thing you can do. I wouldn't worry so much about the actual number of words, as that varies so widely, but I would focus more on the frequency in which they add new words. That was the key to the puzzle for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1534652 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:36:03 +0000 Lozza 1534652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't remember about receptive language, but I do remember that with my oldest (who turns 3 on Sunday) the pediatrician said he should be able to say 3 words by age 1 year, and my LO didn't have 3 words till closer to 15 months. Around 18 months was when his language really took off, and by age 2 he was way ahead on verbal skills, so with my younger LO I've decided not to worry if it takes a few extra months to get some words down. Receptive language-wise, I feel like "no" and his name were probably all my older kid had by age 1 too. I think back to his first birthday and he was still pretty much kind of a blob then. There was SUCH a huge difference between 12 months and 18 months- it felt like he suddenly became a person. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1534648 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:33:49 +0000 Beyond2 1534648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 18 months old and as of last count has 50 "words". Most of the time they aren't the real words though, Ex- water= wawa. He mimics what we say in terms of syllable sounds recently but that's really just in the last few weeks. His receptive language is excellent though, he follows commands and seems to understand most of what we say to him. DS isn't around other kids at all really so I'm not sure if he's behind or ahead. I'm a stay at home mom and as of now we aren't in any playgroups so I feel like that might be slowing his progress a bit? He'll have a sibling soon so maybe our future children will talk more sooner with a big brother around to interact with?</p> <p>ETA- At age one we only had maybe 10ish words (some being animal sounds)? I wasn't concerned though because his doctor wasn't (and still isn't). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-los-language-development#post-1534636 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:28:13 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1534636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm curious to hear how your LO's language developed, specifically:<br /> How many words at one?<br /> How much receptive language did they have at one?<br /> If LO was older than one when they really started saying words and showing they had receptive language, how old were they?<br /> If you were worried about delays, at what point did you/would you seek an early intervention consult?</p> <p>I think the boys are a little slow in language development, but I'm not really concerned yet. I'd like to know how various kids' language developed and have a better idea what's within the "normal" range and what to watch for.<br /> Both my boys are physically at or ahead of where they should be, I think. They started walking at 10 1/2 months (9 1/2 adjusted). They pick up food, bang toys together, babble lots of sounds. They wave at people and point at things, but not in relation to us saying something like, "Where's the dog, cup, etc." </p> <p>E says "go" pretty consistently when we take the dog outside and tell her to go to the bathroom. He's also said mama and dada but not often and not in a way that makes me positive he knows that means us. </p> <p>F says "bye bye" occasionally and has said dada in a way he definitely meant DH. He chatters "mamamamamama" but hasn't used it to mean me. </p> <p>I'm okay with them only having a couple of words, but I'm wandering more about how much receptive language they should have. They don't seem to really know what any of the common words we use mean. The only words that they've shown a clear response to is "no" and their names. </p> <p>So, tell me about your LO's language development! </p>