Speech. What is normal?

Ok I went to pick up my ds today from cc and met with one of his carers. She bought up his speech, wondering if he spoke at home. Which I thought was funny cos he's a chatterbox at home. And can say a lot of words. To which she said he just baby mumbled there.

I don't know if its coz he's not comfortable there, or the fact that today was his first day back since Christmas break up. I then went to say how he says a few words, and can count to 3 (un, ooh, eee). And she the went on to say about his pronunciation. I thought it was still normal at this age to talk like a baby?

I had brought up that I was a little worried about his speech in December at mchn appt. To which she recommended another appt in 3 months and she would do a brigance test on him. But she didn't seem worried.

And I wasn't, I thought in the last few months his speech had developed. He now attempts to say some words after only hearing them once. And I know he definitely comprehends more than he can say. I'm now worrying that I haven't pushed language enough with him, especially not with repetition. Because I didn't want to push things on to him at such a young age, and thought at the moment he learns through play.

But now I'm unsure on my parenting skills. I guess I just want to hear if this is normal, or whether I should see someone?

He's 19 months? That's fine. Totally normal.
My DS took a good 6 months to really unleash his inner chatterbox at daycare and he started at 2. Even so, I'm pretty sure you'd expect at least 5 words at 18 months. Talk to your nurse or gp, though, if you have any concerns.

He says way more than 5 words, just not at daycare.

You know him best lovey!
Don't play that game of doubting yourself- I can practically hear your mind ticking from my place ;)

It all sounds fine to me- perhaps he is shy at daycare? My DD is still quite shy at CC- This year, she's going 2 days and the carer's are starting to see a bit more personality!

yep, then it sounds like he's within normal. And pronunciation can take a while, too.

Dd has about 12 words. She can learn a new word fast if SHE thinks its important. Ie bear- just happened. Nobody taught her. But she loves to play a game that has a bear in it on my phone.

How much does your LO understand? I think that's more the test at this age. Speech is such an individual thing and life changes can stop it progressing easily. But if they understand then its normally ok IYKWIM

Sounds completely normal. I don't even think my DS2 (18 months) says as many words as yours does, although from what I see the second child is often slower to talk as the first one does all the talking (well my chatterbox does anyway).

I know kids that have hardly said anything until they are two and then suddenly they are prattling away.

I agree with BD, as long as they can hear, are understanding and trying to communicate they are fine.

I wrote the same posts about my DD at a similar age, and then later again. I got her hearing test and had an appt with a speechy (at maybe 2.5 years), passed the hearing test and speechy was happy with how she was going. Speechy said they don't really worry about pronunciation until after 3. Having some language, understanding what you say, and trying to talk are all good. There is heaps of variation at this age.

DD hasn't really had a sudden burst of language that people talk about, but her vocab is certainly expanding and other people are understanding her more and more. She was just working on other skills while some other kids were focussing on speech.

Your little one lets you know what he wants, i wouldn't be worried at this age at all.

Thanks everyone. Glad to hear there are many variations. I can not worry again. I just will work on different sounds with him while we play.

HotI I found your dd speech great, I understood her easily. I think sometimes ppl have to stop and listen closely to see that children are trying to tell you something.

Here is my thread from awhile back https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ghlight=speech

I just looked up language development in children and found this about 18 month olds:

Has vocabulary of approximately 5-20 words
Vocabulary made up chiefly of nouns
Some echolalia (repeating a word or phrase over and over)
Much jargon with emotional content
Is able to follow simple commands

It sounds like your DS is doing those things...

I think that you know him best WM. He could be shy at day care. It's quite common for kids to hold back a bit more when they are not at home.

My sister is a speech therapist and she said everything sounds really normal!

The best way to help with development is reading a couple of stories a day and chatting lots and lots to the kids and they will talk when they are ready.

Her little one did not start until she was 3 and everyone else was worried and stressed and she waited and said it would happen when she was ready and it did!

You are a great mummy and its normal for him to be a bit shy with lots of other little people around.