Hi Kas - I wouldn't worry about Liam's teeth, but maybe mention it when you see your GP/MCHN for his 18 mth needles/check-up. I know of a couple of kids who didn't get their first tooth until 11 mths and then gradually after that. As for the words, he seems like he has a few and I would be more concerned about his comprehension at this age than his vocalising skills. Do you think he is understanding more or following simple instructions? Are you sure he doesn't have a hearing problem? If that's all okay, he'll talk when he's ready. I've heard that kids who talk later are often more intelligent (must be spending more time thinking, which would probably be good advice to most of us!).

Since you asked, Lucy doesn't seem to be going ahead in leaps and bounds in what she's saying, but she does pick up new words every so often. She's been saying 'Mum', 'Dad', 'boob', 'ball' and the dogs' names for a while. In the last few months she's started with 'hello' (playing on the toy phone), 'na-na' (banana), 'yes' (just started), one 'no' (when I asked her a qn) and she's trying to say 'sh' (to the Wiggles bear song and to say 'shoe'). But the list is much more impressive than what she actually uses every day. I'd be lucky to get more than three of those in any one day, and not always consistently. She is more conversational in her babble and her understanding of what is being said TO her has sped up heaps. She can follow two-step instructions and communicate that she wants something if I ask her questions. She's dropped off the few signs she knows in favour of trying to speak or going and pointing to things directly.

The one thing I am pleased about is she's doing what I ask her to much more readily. I do tend to use the Wiggles to bribe her to sit still to get dressed or have her nappy changed or to stop her whingeing when it's getting towards dinner time and nothing else works, but otherwise just being firm is actually working. But then, she's never been particularly wilful, somewhat independent but not strong-willed.

I would like to ask how is everyone planning on teaching your child to use manners (apart from example)? Or how did you do it with your older children?