Clear Speaking @ What Age?

I agree w/ what Shelly said. My son at 18 months only said mama and dada, but by 2 was forming more words, and by three was talking incessantly.
He is in Kindergarten now and is one of the best readers in his class.
Don't worry! Each child develops language skills at his own pace...

D.:
Most babies don't really start forming their words until the age of 2 years. Then they start saying almost all they've learned next forming sentences. I have a friend with 2 daughters who didn't say a word...literally...until the age of 3! Then they didn't shut up:)
My daughter, 2 years and 4 months now said a few words here and there, now she is saying everything. She even counts to 20; recites the alphabet, knows all shapes and colors; most songs, body parts, clothing pieces...etc. It all just came out of her mouth! I am still amazed. She doesn't even go to preschool yet. They are little sponges and will surprise you.
Don't worry....before he's married I am sure he'll speak:)
L.

Hey D.

I am a mom of a 16mth old boy also and I guess in the same boat. My son is very smart for his (so I am told)but for some strange reason I too believe he should be talking more. So my solution was to pu him in pre-school for the coming school year in August. He too is not in daycare does not say shoes but puts them on very well amongst all his other accomplishments. he babbles as if he is holding a conversation and when he is upset he says mamamama and cries. So either we are paranoid moms with little experience and need to wait or something is wrong that other moms can assist us with. I am just trying to let u know that u r not the only one in this position if it comforts u at all.

G.

D.,
It is so nice to hear that someone else worried like I did! It makes me feel better to know that I am not alone! My son just turned 2 and a half and I remember that I was very concerned about the same thing. I am a school teacher and I work very closely with a speech patholigist and would pick her brain ALL the time! She told me that the "rule of thumb" is one word for each year they are (age 1: 1 word at a time, age 2: 2 words at a time etc.). I noticed that at around his second birthday is when I heard his speech become "clear"...or as clear as it could be for a 2 year old! Now, he is like a parrot! Like you said, each child is different...just wait, one day soon you're going to spin around and say to him "What did you say?" Have fun and happy taking!! :)

Hi D....

Your right, every child is different and when they are this young every day,week,month is such a developmental time frame.
That being said, my son was the same way. He started pre-school at 18 months with a vocabulary of about 10 (clear) words and by 22 months that expanded to about 25 words.BUT at 25 months his vocabulary Quadrupled!!!! now he is a week shy of 27 months and won't stop talking!!!! he still needs an interpreter (me) at times, but for the most part he says complete sentences now!
So I don't see any need for over concern at this time, but if he is still limited in his vocabulary at his 2 year well visit then definitely address it with the pediatrician!
Best wishes!
M.

There is such a wide range as to what is "normal" for speaking at that age that if your ped. is ok with everything then he is probably fine. Just keep showing him how to pronounce words and he will get it. You can point to your mouth and say "look at mommy's mouth" and then stretch out words over emphasizing the sound you want him to learn-like the sh sound in shoes. "ssshhhhhoes" or "sh sh sh shoes" he will eventually repeat it. Those little muscles in his mouth are still developing so they need practice! Good Luck!

D.,

Not to worry, my 2nd son didn't start speaking clearly until he was right around 3 years old. He was diagnosed with speech delay. However, all children are different. He does not stop talking now. My youngest son he will be 3 in May still doesn't have a very large vocabulary and I have discussed this with my pediatrician and this is the conclusion that we have come up with. We put my 2nd son in speech therapy and that helped a little. Then I decided that being around other kids his age (he was at home with me all the time, I am a stay at home mom) might be more productive. So I discussed with his pediatrician removing him from speech therapy and placing him in daycare with other kids his age and see if that would spark more of an interest in getting him talking. Sure enough that did it. Well I know that he would talk in his own time. I know that in my heart of hearts that my youngest son will talk when he is ready as well. He is saying quite a few words, just not carrying on conversations. If you are truly concerned about this I would discuss it with your pediatrician. As I said all kids learn and progress at their own rate. For example my oldest son was talking and carrying on conversations at 9 months old, which is highly unusual.

Good luck.

S.
SAHM of 3 boys
13,5 and soon to be 3

Hi D.,

My daughter and I were the same way and everyone would say she will speak when she's ready. I put her in daycare a few days a week to get her around kids and adults she's not familiar with. Basically, taking them out of their comfort zone where we know everything they want by just by looking at them, was definately the right move. My daughter turned two, and 1 week after she's a little chatter box (i put her in daycare 2 months before 2 yo). It was like it was overnight. She repeats everything answers questions. Its great.

My son barely said anything at 18 months (no, da-da). We finally took him to three months of speech therapy, and it worked. The sessions were actually a lot of fun. The therapist taught us games that encourage language. Not sure if you are at that point yet, but if you need it, speech therapy was a wonderful resource for our family. We lived in Miami at the time, so our sessions were at Baptist Hospital, but I'm sure you could find a local therapist through your pediatrician.

Hi,
My girls are 28 & 31. One was very talkative early & one was not. I just assumed that the less talkative one was more of a listener-personality and absorbed information differently and it's still true today!

Oma sourcer

my 19th month daughter didnt say to much and still dont but i noticed she has send alot more in the last month help him say what he is trying to say

Why don't you just consult the Early Steps program at Childrens Diagnostic and Treatment Center? It's a free service and at least then you can get peace of mind about your sons development. They will probably just give you a few ideas to help you develop some more words and that's it. They have been very helpful to me.