What to include in Toddler Word Count?

[goddessofdawn]

I've got my toddler's 18 month check-up with the MCHN (she's 19.5 months actually)
and one of the questions asks how many words your child knows.

Just wondering if things like animal noises count as words? e.g. If she sees a dog she says "woof woof" but can't say "dog". She also says 'real' words, but also has about 10 of these animal sounds which she uses instead of the animal's real name.
If these count, then all up she says 44 words.

Oh and do proper nouns count?... Names...

[Fleur]

I guess anything that she can communicate fairly clearly, and you can understand, counts as a word at this stage?

My DD2 has quite a few words but all animals ('ammals' ) are known by their noises; given some of the words she can say, I think she would be able to say 'dog' but she prefers to call it a 'wuff'. I would think it's fairly common at this age.
Names definitely count.

HTH

[HotI]

At my 12 month appt, the MCHn said that Mum and Dad wouldn't count at the 18 month appt word count! i don't know if that is all MCHNs or if mine is just strict.

[~me~]

If I can understand what she wants, it counts in my book. I would definitely count a noise, that's very clever of your little one to know the noise a dog makes. My DD can say Meow, and not quite cat yet. Although she will try and say our cats name..Anastasia
DD is same age as your little one. Sometimes she will burble a whole sentence and end with bannana, I get it. That's all that really matters in the end, unless of course you have a concern with their development.
All kids will develop at different stages, I can talk under water, talk continuously to DD, I think that helps.
I have a friend who is not a big talker, so her little one was quieter and didn't really pick up words till later.