my daughter is 18 months old...she is not talking. She babbles alot?

Question

she can say mama..dada etc...but she points and whines when she wants something. She understands EVERYTHING we say and ask of her. She is very smart and independent and self sufficent...but??? Should she be talking now? what is your 18 month old doing?

Answer 1

You already said the most important thing: that she understands what you're saying to her. Some kids are later to talk than others so relax. The fact that she points is right on time for her age, too.

People are going to tell you things that will have you running to every doctor in town, then you'll go to a speech therapist, then you'll have her hearing checked, etc. In 6 months time she's going to be talking so much you'll wish she was quiet again. Been there, done that.

Don't worry. If she were not babbling, pointing and understanding verbal communication then you should worry. She WANTS to talk and is frustrated, so she whines. It's pretty typical.

You can bridge the communication gap and ease her frustrations, maybe increase her IQ at the same time with some baby sign language: http://www.humanhand.com/babysigns.html

My toddler son still uses the sign for MORE at the same time he says "more pizza Mommy!" He talked late, I had him evaulated for speech therapy, had his hearing tested and within 6-7 months he was even talking in his sleep!

If she has older kids to play with that are talking more than she is that might help her also, but she's gonna do fine. Enjoy that bright baby girl of yours.

Answer 2

I can speak from experience in 2 areas:

First, my second child turned 18 months a week ago.

and

Second, my wife is a Speech Language Pathologist specializing in Early Intervention for 2-3 year old children. She has been doing this for the last 8 years.

As far as our own, it's kind of coincidental that around a month ago, we were discussing the fact that his speech seemed to not be progressing age appropriately. We discussed potentially having him evaluated. We even made the call and even scheduled it. However, in the interim (without any assistance yet) he just started rattling off words where he has tripled his vocabulary in 3 weeks. I guess it was just his time to start talking.

From my wife's experience (I would have asked her to answer you if she were awake), there are a list of potential causes that speech therapists try to isolate and rule out. Causes such as a traumatic home, autism or other genetic problems, hearing impairment and other obvious factors which would impede a childs natural language development progression.

It sounds like this is not the case with you and that you fall into the most common group of having a child that is simply not saying much and for no apparent particular reason. There are 2 things I would advise you to consider that I believe my wife would urge you to do.

The first is call the local department of health's Early Intervention program and tell them you have a child who you beleive needs to be evaluated for speech. This is a no cost service. If the evaluation results determine that there is delay of a certain number of months, they will assign you a therapist (also no cost in most states I beleive), that will come to your home for 30-45 minute sessions 2-3 times per week for at least 6 months.

The second thing I would advise is to communicate with your child in a way that puts her in a position where she urged to use words to get what she wants. If simply pointing, grunting, whining or crying will get you or her dad to do what she wants, then she really has no reason to change her method of communication. If she wants a sippy cup or bottle of milk and you just know it's time simply hold it and ask her to use her words and just keep repeating "Milk". Obviously the first few attempts you will have to give in after 30 seconds or a minute if she does not comply as this process may frustrate her in the beginning. However, after a while it usually begins to work.

The key is that no matter how sympathetic you are to her frustration (and it's tough to watch your kid unhappy), keep in mind that long term you are doing her a favor. Also do this with words like "Up", "Down", "Ball", "Play", and "Eat". Get her to understand that verbal communication is necessary to get what she wants.

Best of luck.

Answer 3

My 17 month old is right about where you are at. She says mostly Da Da throughout the day. You will get an occassional "ish", which we think is push or fish and she also says duck and diaper.

Keep working with your daughter. Read, read, read, especially picture books! Point out what you are doing and why. Keep talking to her, describe things in detail (this is your pink pajamas or we're going to go for a short/long ride in the car now) and label everything. By that I mean ask her questions that you already know the answer to just to see if you will get a yes or no answer. This, too, helps with the decision making process. Work on animal sounds too....you never know, you just may get a "moo" out of her.

Answer 4

I am not a child psychologist. I am a Social Worker. I am thinking that is normal behavior that some children develop later. Its not without saying called "Late bloomer." However, constant communication with your toodler can help him/her develop skills of language. I do not believe in that completleted bla, bla baby talk. I feel if parents start reading to their children in an early age, and communicate with them normally, the child will sooner or later pick up on it. So do not give up hope .Be firm with it. Communicate when ever you can. Have flash cards of meaning ful things from your daughter's environment. Explain what it is. Repeat the word often. Remember, children have a short attention span. Purchase Leapfrog or interactive speech toys. A child can develop in that area . If nothings helps ask for a speech pathologist or a therapist. Good luck.

Answer 5

She is at a normal stage in development, and her words will start to come, but in the mean time, why don't you show her some sign language. This has been a blessing in out home for my last 2 kids. Little words like eat, milk, more make it so that we can communicate on the important things (To her at least) There are a few long term things that I have noticed...when we are talking to adults, and they want something, they sign, i sign an answer and I did not have to stop my conversation..simple words like yes and no are nice to know when disciplining from a distance (Nothing like them looking back to see if you are watching and a big NO is signed to them) You can find many web sites and books...and you do not need to do much, but signing comes easier and quicker than words.they will also keep on track with their primary language...and they add this to their ways of making communication easier for all of you. Good luck

Answer 6

My daughter is 17 months old and is at the same stage as your daughter. 2 months ago I asked this same question and got alot of good answers but I was still concerned. Since then I have had my daughter evaluated by Early Intervention and was told that she didn't qualify for any speach therapy because she understood everything they told her, had good eye contact, good social behaviour and was very alert. The only advise they gave me was to read, repeat words to her over and over again and the most important recommendation was not to keep asking her questions i.e what is this? what is that? who is that? as these questions will only frustrate her and prolong her from talking. They told me that there was a good chance that one morning she will get up and start chatting away.
I hope that this will help you, but if your still concerned speak to her pediatrician and see if you can have her elvaluated.

Answer 7

She is fine. I had one who didn't speak until he was 3. We were very worried but now at 7 he is at the head of his class. Our 3 year old did a little babbling and then one day around 18 months she spoke in sentences. Our oldest spoke around one year old but didn't walk for quite some time. They are all different and all on their own developmental schedules. Yours is right on track!!! BLessings

Answer 8

She sounds so normal. Things to consider or try include:

Is she in a childcare around older children?

Do you encourage her to use her words when she wants something?

Also, you can tell, her that whining does not work, you understand words not whining, pointing and shaking her head. This is the stance we took with our daughter when she was that age. It worked wonderfully now, we can't shut her up!

Good luck.

Answer 9

not every baby is the same, some start talking early and some start late. My sone who is 3 started talking late as in 2 years old and he still doesn't speak clearly, he started late because he really wasn't around other children like that and didn't start daycare until 1 so it all depends

Answer 10

Mine started walkin at 8 & 1/2 months old and could talk in full sentences by the time she was 14 months old but every kid is different. she will come around when she is ready.