thread: No words at 12 months

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    Sydney
    908

    No words at 12 months

    DS will be 12 months & he still doesn't say any words. He makes sounds (mum-mum-mum, dad-dad-dad etc), but they don't refer to anything. He understands a few words ("bounce", "shake", "drink", "eat") - but doesn't understand "no" - he just laughs at me! Should I be worried?

  2. #2
    Registered User
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    Apr 2007
    Recently treechanged to Woodend, VIC
    3,473

    Personally, I don't think you should be worried. I'm never sure whether by "words" they mean pronouncing them as adults would or just having a bit of a go and making the same sound consistently when referring to the same thing. For instance, one of DD's words is "li-li" which she uses when she points at the light.

    DD at 15 months is still not saying any word really like an adult would but she understands lots of words and can follow simple instructions like "where are your shoes, bring me your shoes" "let's do some dancing/drawing etc. etc."

    And she's only just getting the hang of the word no!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    4,427

    I dont thinkk you should be worried but maybe it might help to actually ask her questions where she has to give you a response by giving her options.

    You might say "Would you like to dance or draw?" therefore she will ahve to tell you which one she wants to do.

    Dotn get to stressed. I didnt talk until I was 2 (I had a sister who did alot of talking for me and I was also a quiet child who was content to be left to my own devices)

    I have never had any speech problems or speech therapy. So all good here!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Sep 2007
    Cairns
    1,787

    Euan just turned one and doesn't speak any words yet - he does mum and dad (and variations thereof, but not always in context), and he babbles a variety of sounds, and shakes his head quite vigorously for no. He understands no but frequently ignores it or treats it as a game. I understand this to be normal for his age.

    He was walking at 11 months and developed motor and physical skills earlier than average - is your DS the same? I've heard a lot of people say that some babies who are more advanced in one are slower to develop the other, but that it usually all works out in the wash.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    On the other side of this screen!!!
    11,129

    Definitely more important at this age that they are showing signs of understanding some of the words you are using. First words are often not recognisable to anyone except Mum & Dad - because it's a sound that is used consistently for a particular thing/situation, even though it may not resemble the word everyone else says. Just keep chatting to him, use lots of "label" words for the things that he's paying attention to, and let him watch your face when you're talking.

    He'll be talking so much soon that you won't be able to shut him up! LOL

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jun 2008
    Tassie
    2,567

    Hmm it's a hard one because they are all so different. Chase was talking in 3 word sentences at 14 months. Jaidan said very little at 1 but he did have about 20-30 words (just never put them together). Does he not have ANY words?

  7. #7
    Registered User

    May 2007
    Perth, WA
    839

    Don't worry at all. All they are 'meant' to do at this age is to start to copy sounds. Comprehending words or directions or making a choice at 12 months is nonsense and unrealistic. Thet won't understand 'no' for a long time to come. He doesn't need to have any words at this age- just a sound for mum and for dad. He sounds perfectly normal to me......

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    Sydney
    908

    *update* DS is 18 months old today & now has over 100 words (I record them in his baby book ).

    So for others who are stressing about no words at 12 months - don't! It may not mean anything at all!

  9. #9
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    Jan 2005
    cowtown
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    I was about to reply when I saw your update, DS1 didnt really have a lot of words til 15 months, then had a whole heap at 18 months.

  10. #10
    Registered User
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    Oct 2007
    Eastern Wheatbelt WA
    3,282

    Glad to hear that he's doing well