When will my son start walking and talking?

Question

He is 1 yr and about 2 weeks now and he is beginning to walk but i was just wondering when most kids do. But my bigger question is that the only words he says is mama and dada (which he says the most) and i we try and try all day with him. Just wondering when most kids start this?

Answer 1

Walking at a year is about average, give or take a couple of months. I have observed that children who are very efficient crawlers don't walk quite as fast. This is human nature; we tend to press ourselves to the next level when we really need to.

The same holds true for talking. While many factors influence when a person speaks, part of the equation may be that the child finds other ways to communicate. For example, if he can get a cracker by pointing at the box, why say the word? I have also noticed that children (mine as well as others) tend to advance in one area at a time. If he has been concentrating on learning to walk, that may be where the bulk of his mental and physical energy goes at the moment. At some point, his verbal skills will surge ahead while his gross motor skills (e.g. walking, running, climbing) plateau for a bit.

In fact, his talking doesn't strike me as particularly delayed. One other interesting thing about talking: linguists have discovered that what sounds like baby babble actually contains sentence and sound patterns consistent with real speech. So while your son might appear to have only learned a couple of words, he may be working on his speech without your being aware of it.

Certainly mention your concerns to your pediatrician if you are really worried. But as a mom and lover of language, I can't detect a big problem from your question.

Answer 2

Hi there,

Sounds like your son is doing just fine. Two words is age appropriate for a 12 month baby. By 18 months expect him to have about 20 words (don't expect him to pronounce these correctly!), and from 2 years he may start combining 2 words together in a "sentence".

Boys tend to develop new skills a little slower than girls, and furthermore, if his walking is currently developing, you may find talking gets put on hold for a while.

Use simple language with facial expression and gesture, and give him one-to-one attention for at least 10 minutes each day to help his understanding and talking for the best language outcome in the long run.

Pushing children to say words either independently or in repetition can have the undesired effect of causing them to keep quiet and even become averse to talking! Some children practise new words when awake and alone (eg. in their cot) - have a listen.

All the best :)

Answer 3

My kids started to walk between 11 and 14 months. My first was faster to pick up on stuff walking talking well by 20months. My second walked right at a year old, she didn't start talking well to 2 1/2. My third started walking at 14mos. He just got up on day and hasn't stopped since. He doesn't say very much but hes 19months. Basic words like mama, dada, bye, hi, kitty (new word) and hola(newest word). Takes time for each kid to develop but they get there.

Answer 4

It varies a lot. My son started walking about a month ago and he is 15months. However he 'talks' an awful lot in his own little langauge with some recognisable words like mama, dada and 'what's that'. I know of a little girl who walked at 6 months but also a 13month old who's only just learnt to sit. It's a funny old world and everyone in it is different.

Answer 5

Walking at 1 yr and 2 weeks is EARLY. It can happen - my nephew did it, but my niece, born same month and year, was closer to 17 months or so. Whatever "normal" is is just an average - some start sooner, some start later.

On the speaking, I dunno, but yeah, I would expect a little more than that at one year. Are you sure he doesn't have other words? How about just talkie-type noises in general - blah blah blah stuff... does he make noise as if he's talking, and does he do it fairly often?

Don't be afraid to ask a doctor, OK? And I sure hope you have a child-rearing book in the house - these questions are addressed there.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Each kid does things at different times. My middle son started walking at 11 months and only says 6 words now and he is 22 months old. My oldest son started walking at 8 months and was saying alot of words by 16 months.

Answer 7

Don't worry all children learnat there own time. Myson didn't start walking until he was 14 months old I was worried to when he was going to start walking but my mom said don't worry I didn't start walking until I was 16 months old. My son has just beininning to satrt talking good now and he is 2 now he will say anything when the phone rings he says hello. He didn't say anything but mama, and sammy,until he was 2 years old. It just takes different time for each child. Don't worry he will walk when he is ready and he wil ltalk when he wants to. Just trust it.

Answer 8

Most kids start walking around 1 year. The talking will come at various stages. Mine is 20 months and only says a few words (momma, dadda, stairs, shoes, juice, bye-bye), but makes a lot of sounds. Keep at it and keep up the positive reinforcement for what sounds and words he does make. Name everything you give him or play with...the repetition will do wonders for him.

Answer 9

I've heard the boys tend to be behind girls in terms of language development, so I don't think the fact that he says "mama" and "dada" is worrisome at this point.

Plus, as everyone has said, all kids develop at their own pace.

Answer 10

Don't worry in a few months he may start saying more words. Most kids start walking around one years old.