Is your 1 year old talking?

Question

My son just turned one and sometimes says mama. He doesn't hardly babble at all. Occasionally he says ba or da but thats it. He's walking and he understands alot of what we say. Just wondering.

Answer 1

I was also very concerned about my 18 month old. The only words that I heard clearly were "ball" and "bubbles". These are two things that she really enjoy. Babies are more inclined to say the words of objects that really excite them.

However, my pediatrician assured me that kids don't have to verbally use words to show that they are developing. For instance, my daugheter understands 'throw it away', 'turn off the light', 'shut the door', etc. She also signs milk, please, and hungry. So children do not have to verbally say words to show that they understand them. Some kids are more talkative than others.

Since your child understands other commands and he's walking, he appears to be developing in his own way. And the best way for kids to grow is confidently at their own pace.

Answer 2

My 16 month old was not saying anything but mama, dada, and baby around her birthday. But she always babbles! Finally in the past few weeks, she has started to say a few more words - kitty, hi, and hot. As time goes by, more words will come. The most important thing at this age is that they yunderstand what you are saying and can communicate to you in ways other than talking (pointing, babbling, etc.).

Answer 3

They're all different. My first could say anything he wanted by 18 months old. My second wasn't very verbal until he was about three. Now I have 20 month old twins. They each say a handful of words right now, but the words they DO say, they say very clearly. My little boy can say hello, just like you and I can. I babysit a little girl named Iyanna, he says Inana, which is really close, if you ask me.

My second one could understand EVERYTHING you said to him, he just didn't say much back. Just continue talking to him all the time, reading to him is an excellent idea. He'll open his mouth and talk when he's ready. Me and my kids like to play what we call the "nose game". We start with nose, cause I think it's about the easiest body part to say. We touch baby's nose and say "nose". Then you touch your nose, and say "nose". Then you ask "Where is (baby's name) nose? Where is Mommy/Daddy's nose?" Then you move on to mouth, chin, eyes, ears and just keep going. My kids all loved doing that with Mom.

If you're still concerned talk to your pediatrician at your next visit. He'll be able to aid your further.

_____________________________
just to add (because of the girls vs. boys comment above mine) My first was a boy and talked up a storm since he was 18 months old. My second will be four next month and just started talking in the last 12 to 18 months. He can say anything he wants to now, but every once in awhile I still can't understand him. My twins are boy/girl twins. They can both say....Mama, Dada, baby, bubba, bye bye, hi, and sister, but my daughter's only said sister two or three times that I've heard. My little boy knows a handful more than she does. He can say.....Iyanna, hello, and no (my daughter doesn't say this yet, I don't think they hear just no very often.) Like I said before, they're all different, and they ALL (regardless of gender) progress at their own rate.

Answer 4

My son is 16 months old. I had concerns just like you did. he's only jus started babbling a lot now and beginnning to copy words like truck and fish. Dont be too worried until they turn two was what i was advised. Enjoy your 1 year old for what he can do, after all we dont want them to grow up too quick! Soon they will be saying "Why mummy why?" all the time and we will wish for a bit of quiet again!

Answer 5

my daughter started talking when she was 9 months old, saying "dada", and "bye bye", she is 17 1/2 months old now and can absolutely say anything. But my friends son is 18 months old and cant say really anything, mama and dada is all he says, my other friend has a 2 1/2 year old son and he is just now starting to talk more. I wouldnt worry all kids are different.

Answer 6

Boys usually talk later than girls I heard. My son (15mos) has babbled and cooed since day one. He still only says mama and dada and not very often at that. He still yells for what he wants but no formative words yet. Give him time...soon he will be saying "no" and then you will wish he was a baby who wasn't talking again....ha ha! Here are a couple links for your perusal.

Answer 7

He should have more of a vocabulary than mama, ba or da. It's a good sign that he understands language even if he isn't using it but he should really be using more words. You should encourage speech by using simple words and phrases with him and try to get him to at least repeat them. Sayings like "the ball is red", "the blue car is fast", "the dog is furry" can really increase his speech. Keep in mind that the more small words and phrases you use with him can enhance his vocabulary. They learn from us.

Answer 8

Just wait - the explosion of words will be here before you know it! My daughter will be twenty months tomorrow and she is talking a blue streak but at 12 months, she was about the same (mama, dada, fish) and then at 14 months...BAM - the floodgates opened! Too much fun!

Answer 9

My kids did talk a little early, but I kinda made them. I wouldn't really move until they told me what they wanted. I was helping them learn to communicate. They would come pulling on me and I knew they wanted something and i would go through the motions. i would say do you want a toy, no, do you want a cookie, no, do you want a drink and they would say yeah. So I was like okay, let's get a drink. Soon enough they were coming ask for a drink. I always though they knew what they wanted just couldn't remember what it was called and they had to hear it said enough times to learn to say it themselves.

Answer 10

kids develop at different rates and tend to concentrate on different skill sets exclusively. My 1 year old says "mama", "dada", "yaya (grandma", "ook (cookie)', "beebee" (that's sister), and "bye bye". She can kind of walk, but not really.
But she CAN REALLY feed herself. And she's completely fascinated by the telephone.
BTW:
Boys tend to talk slower and walk sooner. They feed themselves a little later, but develop gross and fine motor skills quickly.
Girls talk a storm, walk a little slower and develop motor skills gradually starting with balance.