Anyone else’s kid doesn’t talk?

Question

My daughter is 17 months and doesn’t even try to talk. Yes, she makes noise and she’s very aware. She’s hit all of her milestones except this one. Her doctor said that if she doesn’t talk in 4 weeks that I should consider bringing a speech therapist to my house to evaluate her.
Any tips on how to get her to put effort in? I think it’s because she doesn’t spend a lot of time with other kids. She’s an only child and spends 90% of her time with just me because I’m a SAHM and her dad is working.

Answer

My son says nothing lol he definitely communicates though. He started making sounds like works like hi no bath and then just stopped so we think he’s just stubborn. Learned how to walk super early so all he wants to do is move and doesnt seem interested in talking. I’m guessing at 18 months they will recommend speech but I’m not super worried about it

Answer

Encourage a discussion! It sounds silly when your toddler isn't really a participant, but you've got to play along as if... Ask lots of questions, offer choices, always wait a little for answers, and cheer and respond to any and every verbal signs. Talk a LOT to the little one, point at and name things, describe what you're doing, etc.
And even after all this, some kids are perfectly healthy and just refuse to talk for a long while. If you're worried, get a professional to make an evaluation, but it's not that late yet!

Answer

I suggest against speech therapy. This happened to me with my first, I was guilted into and I regret it soooooo much. Kids all develop at their own rate. I had to wait 2 months to get a therapist and in that two months my little guy started saying words, but I was already enrolled and on the hook. Every day I would watch this lady and my son wanted nothing to do with her and her little games were dumb. We started teaching him baby sign (on our own) and he talked....I give her about 2% for him talking. Now he’s affiliated with the school district as having a “developmental disability” and I want to punch my doctor in the face for pressuring me into it.

Answer

He talks in his own language. He can say a few words (mama, dada, hey) but usually just babbles on. It’s funny because you can tell the tone of what he’s ‘saying’. Like whenever he gets in trouble he tries to negotiate his way out. He definitely communicates but just doesn’t say many actual words. At his 15 month check up his pediatrician didn’t seem concerned. I’m asking again though when he goes back in a couple weeks. I think it’s common for them not to say a whole lot right now, but in this day and age you have so many people on social medical over exaggerating what their kids are doing so we tend to compare and worry more.

Answer

My son doesn’t say much (mama, dada, ball, meow, milk) but he understands a lot, so I’m not overly concerned. I was also reading about the leap right around 18 months which sounds like when they begin to build connections to start talking.

Answer

Read lots of books and talk talk talk! I talk to my son and I ask him questions so he knows I'm waiting for a response. I also play a lot of music because I hate a quiet house lol my son doesnt say a ton of words that I know, but he talks and really thinks hes having a conversation lol also, 4 weeks is a long time in baby/toddler times...she could wake up one day and start talking! She will get there :) speech therapy also isnt the worst thing in the word, if she has to have it, nothing but good can come from it. Try not to worry:)

Answer

Are you reading to her every day? That’s the absolutely best way to encourage language development along with constantly talking to her. Basically describe every single thing you’re doing as you’re doing it. My youngest is much more talkative than my oldest was at this age and I think it’s because she hears her sister talking literally nonstop 😂 she is saying 3-4 word sentences and can repeat almost anything we say.

Answer

my son doesn’t talk neither. he will try to sound it out though if that makes sense.

Answer

I don't think it has to do with not being around other kids. My son is the same age and he can say some words. Things like mama, dada, Mimi, ball, Elmo, mickey me (Mickey mouse), bobbie (bottle), eat, get down, up, etc. We read children's books, point at pictures, make animal noises, sing songs together, and name what things are to him. We ask him questions like do you want to take a bath? Are you hungry? Etc.

Answer

My daughter hardly says anything. She says no, night night, thank you, and baby. She says mama but i dont think she is saying it in reference to me. We try all day to get her to repeat words but she wont. She just kind of grins at you. She will say A B and sometimes C and she does try to sing along with ber favorite songs. I think she is just more comfortable speaking her own language. Which is okay for now. I have been trying to get her to do some sign language to tell us basic things like hungry or thirsty. She wont do that either LOL. I will ask the doctor when she has her next appointment about it though. Im sure she is capable because I taught her to say baby (in reference to her sister). Im just going to roll with her.

Anyone else’s kid doesn’t talk?

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