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Our pedi said that she would like 15-20 words by 18 months, other then mama and dada.

I would get an EI evaluation done. I am sure she is fine but if it makes you feel better, then what is the harm?

DS just had his 18 apt at 2o months, and our Ped said it was fine/normal that DS only has about 10 words....she was more interested in his receptive language.

Definitely discuss at your 18 month appointment though!

DD1 was exactly the same - up until about 21 months, she had virtually zero intelligible words she used consistently but had a whole language entirely of her own devising; however, she understood an incredible amount of what we would say to her and could follow two and three step directions perfectly. I know in the US, there would have been a big push to get her into EI, but in Australia, they said they aren't fussed about language until they get past their second birthday or there is a very evident problem (ie if she wasn't showing any sign of being able to understand what we were saying in addition to not speaking any words).

Just before her second birthday, DD started learning new words overnight. In the span of a few weeks, she went from really having maybe two or three intelligible words, to having hundreds. I tried to do a word count at 25 months for her but stopped counting once we hit 100 and that wasn't even close to all she could say. Now at 26 months, she easily has expanded her vocabulary by another 100 words at least, and she is speaking in 3 word sentences consistently, four word sentences frequently. She was just a late bloomer and I'm so glad I listened to my mummy gut and didn't push for all these services. *not saying EI services are bad, they're certainly not, but I just trusted my instinct that there was nothing wrong with DD.

Trust your gut, if you feel her receptive language skills are good and you think it is more a personality thing, then just relax. I know it's so hard not to compare to other kids, but really, they all are going to do things in their own time!

i have many friends whose kids had no words at 18 months and went on to be normal talkers (word explosion a couple months later, or even after 2).

good receptive language is a good sign, but if at 18 months he doesn't have any words, you can definitely look into early intervention.

@blackbird: I don't have any advice about the number of words, but Xander has been on a "mama" strike for a couple months now. He used to say "mama" all the time, but now doesn't at all. And for a while, he used to babble with "ba" sounds and then suddenly stopped, but his pediatrician said it's normal for them to drop sounds for a while, so I'm guessing that's what happened with "mama."

Hope you get some good advice and/or reassurance at your 18 month appointment.

LO didn't have a lot of words (less than 10) until she was 20 months old. Her language really picked up at age 2.

@blackbird: My son is 1.5 too, and doesn't really have any words either yet, although he can identify animals in all of his books and follow directions well. All we really get out of him is a few animal sounds, or his version of them when we ask "what does the cow say". No repeating anything either... At our 15 month appt, our Dr. said he wasn't really concerned with speech until they hit 2 years old. But I'm going to bring it up again at his 18mo. appt coming up soon.

LO is 18 months and only knows: mama, dada, bye bye, uh oh, no, ok, hi. I think she can understand a lot more (receptive language) but her expressive just isn't that good. We've already seen a speech pathologist for a consult and we will be starting speech therapy. However, the SP did not seem worried....he says she totally has the capacity and capability....we (as parents) need to change our behavior to give her the opportunity to use and learn words. Example.....making her say something when she wants something instead of just giving in to whining, etc. it's hard though! I feel like sometimes I over anticipate her needs and don't give her a chance to try to use her words.....and why should she say anything if mom or dad is just giving her stuff?

LO was also a preemie and hit all of her other milestones late so far.

Additionally, I'm trying to speak to her in mandarin as well....really want her to learn two languages and the SP said that sometimes it takes kids a little longer to pick up when they are hearing two languages. (But to keep doing it because it's great and in the long run it will be worth it! :-))

@blackbird: I can't remember, does E sign at all? My friend's doctor recommended EI for her son because he had no words at 18 month appointment, but he did sign and had good receptive language. she decided he was fine and now at 25 months he talks a ton and hardly signs anymore.