How old for first words?

Hi there,

My DD Olivia is 13 months old and hasn't spoken any real words yet - lots of babble and mamama, but nothing that really sounds like an actual word, and even the mamama's I'm not convinced that she is actually addressing me!

I can't remember from my elder son, how old are they when you should expect first words? I thought it was around 1, and I have a niece who had several words by her first birthday recently, but I know they all develop at different rates... Otherwise Olivia has hit all her milestones

When did you get first words?

Bertie

FWIW, my DS who is almost 14 months sounds exactly the same as your daughter- tonnes of babble, noisy all the time, but no words, and I'm not sure 'mamama' and 'dadada' mean the right things either!

My SIL is a speech/hearing pathologist and she seems to know about these things, and she said 18 months is quite normal for first words. So I'm not too worried. Most of the other kids in mothers group don't have any words yet either.

Ashton has a few words, his first was Muma at 5 months and he meant me.

He also says dada (any male), up (to come up), more (for more food), bub (for his brothers) and no (to which he shakes his pointer at you) and he will be 11 months in 4 days :)

DS1 said mama and dada by his first birthday but I am pretty sure that is all he could say. Lots of jibberish babbling. I asked at his 18 month check up if I should be concerned as he still only really had a few words then and was told that as long as he seemed to listen and attempt to communicate, even if in his own language, then he was fine. It sounds like your DD is telling you things, just not in English yet.

He has really only started to gain lots of new words quickly and attempt joining them together around 2 and now at 2 1/2 he never shuts up. Especially about Thomas the Tank Engine. :wall:

Try not to worry, she will get there. :D

Hi,

Technically, we expect 1 word at around 12 months of age. If you daughter seems to be communicating in other ways and understands what you say to her (age appropriate) then I wouldn't worry. If you don't seem to have one clear referential word (says the words when looking at something eg daddy or ball) by around 18 months you may want to ask your MCHN or GP about it but don't stress too much.

Just FYI, if it does get to that stage and your still concerned, book in to see a Speech Pathologist. Waiting lists are very long (or public), and it's better to get on the waiting list, and then have no need to see them when an appointment comes up, then to wait longer - if that makes sense.

Having said all that, up to around 2 years with no clear words, just babbling and the occasional mama/dada is still no reason for alarm (but something to be aware of).

Hope that blather has put your mind at ease!

I was begining to worry a little myself as my 1yr old has still yet to speak.... at about 9 months he started saying mumma but has stopped that now.. occasssionally he will say it....

I get ALOT of jibberish though....

Natty could only say, 'bye' at 12 months. I can't remember when her language picked up, but I think it was around 16-18 months. Then it was only after her 2nd birthday that she really got going with the whole chatting thing.

My DD's have been quite early with words but my friend's DS was 18mo before he really said anything. He would point and use grunty sounds to indicate what he meant. She took him to a specialist who said he was fine and normal. He is now 4 and talks perfectly so it wasn't an issue at all.

The other thing I thought I'd mention is that DD's development seems to happen in 'spurts' - she will grow a bit, do something new (like crawling, walking, become more coordinated with gross or fine motor skills, eg her last spurt a month or so ago she got better at balancing) and her language will step up a noticeable notch at the same time. Not sure if this is common, but that seems to be the way it happens with her.

I just realised how unsupportive my original comment was. Sorry!

Jaidan was my late talker though :) He didn't really talk much until he was over 2! His first word was early but he only had a couple at 18 months. He talks fine now :)