August 2010 Dr. Mama Question
Where are the Words?
Dear Dr. Mama,
Our Angels baby has been with us since he was 7 months old and he’s coming up on 21 months now. I’m getting worried because he’s still not saying very much. He said Mama and Papa pretty early on (maybe about 10 months) and has some other words. He points at items and makes sounds, but he’s not putting words together into phrases or using language to communicate with us.
Our older daughter is 5, and she was practically speaking in full sentences by this point. The pediatrician says each child is different and not to worry, but it’s hard because I know he went through a lot as a tiny baby and I fear it may have damaged him. Should I push to have him tested, or just wait it out?
Concerned in Carmel Mountain
Dear Concerned,
Comparing experiences with two different children is hard, and it’s true that language development varies with the individual, so it’s helpful to take a look at what’s “normal” or average, and see if you have reason to worry.
Most babies will start to string sounds together to make words like “mama” and “dada” at around 9 months (though they won’t really know what those words mean), so it sounds like your guy was pretty close to that target in spite of his rough start. By 12 months they should be paying attention to noises and sounds around them. If not, hearing loss may be a problem.
By 12-15 months their babbling should contain some “real” words, like “ball” or “bottle”, and they should be able to follow simple commands, like “please give me the toy.” Sometime around 18 months they should have a vocabulary of about 20 words, and by age 2, start putting 2 words together.
Based on that timeline, it sounds like your little guy is probably right within the range (though not as precocious as your 5-year-old) and it’s not yet time to get worried. But you’re right to keep a close eye on his development, bearing in mind that early experiences can have an effect.
As you know, kids are little mimics, so the more you talk to him, the more he’ll talk back. Books, stories, and songs are all ways to encourage speech development in little ones. Try recording his voice and playing it back to him – babies are intrigued by that. Be careful what you wish for — often once the quiet ones get started it’s like a tidal wave of words.
Keep telling the pediatrician what you’re observing – mothers always know what’s going on way before we doctors do. Don’t ever be afraid to speak up and advocate for your little Angel. That’s what makes our parents so amazing!
Good luck!
Dr. Mama
