What age did your kids start talking?

Question

My son is almost 17 months old. He's still not saying any words. He is very vocal in his own "language", but will not say moma or common words. He will try to repeat and understands what I'm telling him most of the time. I try not to worry, but it seems most kids his age are saying much more.

Answer 1

You are probably quite nervous, but from my understanding you should not be. Boys are much slower than girls, so if you are comparing him to girls, don't. Is he surrounded by adults or older kids who anticipate his every needs, meaning he doesn't need to communicate to get what he wants?

The other question you should be asking is what does your son do normal or better than the other kids his age.

My two year old daughter will not shut up -- it's like living in a documentary film narrated by a toddler. She's been chatting up a storm as far back as I can remember.

But she's physically timid compared to others her age (granted, she's about twice as large as most of them), and doesn't climb and crawl around like the rest of the monkeys in the playground, just paces around the place, pointing, and making friends by chatting with everyone.

That's the trade off for her: lots and lots of talking, singing, dancing and being ridiculously social, versus being physical. Her brain has specialized for now. Maybe she'll balance out, maybe she won't. So what!

Maybe your son is working on other more interesting things to him. He'll start talking when he's ready.

Answer 2

Indeed some earlybirds start repeating single words at age 8-9 months, usually mama or dada, or some favored toy or pet. For meaningful words or concepts, you are going to be somewhere out around 2-3 years. Einstein did not speak until he was four years old, though. Just keep talking to him, talk talk, talk, is how he will learn. If he makes an attempt to copy, be patient and face him and say it clearly and loud enough to be heard, but not yelling. At five months is around the time when you get the first laugh. Have you experienced that delight yet?

Answer 3

Has his hearing been checked? I say keep talking to him! If there is a problem-the sooner you get it checked out the better off he'll be. Don't be one of those parents in denial, it won't do him any good. I know a lot of kids who don't talk a lot and they're fine. At 7 months my daughter said her first words besides mama and dada they were ka ka (cracker) and cup. My 7 month old son has just started saying mama. My daughter was saying at least 30 words by her first birthday and by 18 months was talking in 2 and 3 word sentences. She is not the norm though, I rarely meet a child her age who speaks like she does. Don't get all worked up for nothing, but go with your instincts. If you feel there's something wrong there's a lot of help out there and no shame in getting it! Good luck!

Answer 4

give him some time, just keep working with him and he will eventually start talking! but if he still isn't saying words or talking by age 2 then you should have him looked at by a dr, he could be autistic or something! my daughter said her first word at 4 months old "dada" and by 8 months old she could say about 15 words or more, by 12 months she was saying about 100 words or more, she is now 2 and a half yrs old (33 months) and she talks in understandable sentences, she still jibber jabber her words sometimes, but I can understand what she is saying most of the time! I think my daughter might be ahead of herself in speach, but shes not a genius (like my mom thinks so) LOL

Answer 5

I can understand how you feel as my my son only said only a few basic words at that age and I was concerned because my niece was stringing complete intelligent sentences together.

When I asked his pediatrician about it he said it was normal for toddlers to learn and grow at their own pace. Some grow quickly and lag in speech, some talk early but learn to walk late, or walk and talk early and take forever to potty train...they just are all different. If he is trying to vocalize and repeat after you, it sounds like there is no danger of him having a hearing or learning disability, which would the major causes for a delay in speach; he is just learning at his own pace.

Another thing to consider if whether or not he is an only child. If they are (like mine is) they don't have to compete with other children for your attention and may not have the need as much to demand it from us by stating what they want as we try to meet their needs before they request anything.

My son didn't really start talking until he he was about 2 years old, but once he did, he picked up like lightening and hasn't stopped (there are days I wish he would!) ever since and by the time he was 3 I would get compliments all the time on how well he was able to express himself.

If it is really bothering you though, please visit your pediatrican to discuss the matter further as kids can also pick up on our fears and disappointments and it can stress them out and even cause further delays in their development. I tried to potty train my son to try to "keep up with everyone else" and it just took longer. Once I stopped pushing it so much, he stopped having so many accidents and although it took longer than his friends, he was potty trained in time for pre-school.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 6

My son at age 6 months - mommmma. (The first time he had to go to sleep without my being in the room with him.)
I insisted on everyone speaking perfect English to him and read to him daily - a LOT. So much so, that by age 4 he was reading on his own. Spent a great deal of time at libraries and book stores.
I would sing the ABC song to him daily; created a song spelling his name; sang nursery songs; did basic American sign language; also, placed my lips next to his to sound out the vowell sounds (a, e, i, o, u, y). We played lots of word games and making up words with those refridgerator magnet letters.
Eventually, I posted labels on mostly every household and outdoor object to help him understand and communicate better what he wanted.
Always trust your gut. If you feel something isn't right, go with that and find a pediatrician who specialize in speech therapy to either confirm or ease your fears.
Be patient. Children who's first year of adult communication as 'googoo gaagaa' usually takes longer to speak clearer words. Read to your child throughout the day, not just at bedtime. Introduce new objects by saying its name, spelling it, then repeat the process (eg., p-i-n-e-c-o-n-e).
Prayer helps, too...
Hope this helps, too

Answer 7

I think babies will try to say the word moma..mmma,..whatever it is in their local language from their 8 month onwards and will say atleast 5 words clearly at their first bday..but dont worry contact ur family child specialist

Answer 8

My son is going to be 21 months old on July 7th and he's not really talking, either. He says "juuuuuuuuuze" for "juice" and he says "sky", "that" and "cat", but he doesn't say anything else. He also uses his own language and understands what is said to him, but he won't use "real" words. I think some of it has to do with us not "making" him say things earlier on, we'd get him to point and be satisfied rather than enforcing speech.

Answer 9

I have two kids and it seemed that at about 20 months they started talking but not in sentences or anything. Just 1-2 words at a time.

remember.....every child learns at a different pace and he will talk!

Answer 10

He'll get it in his own time...just keep talking to him and pronounce the words clearly and repetitively. My first son is 20 mos. and he won't shut up. His first word was at 9 mos....DADA! My second son is 5 mos. and he growls and giggles. Some kids are just late...my first didn't walk until 15 mos., but now he runs nonstop...just give him time.