hello! I have a 14 month old daughter who knows baby sign langauge and a few words (daddy, mama, baba, hi, bye-bye, and no.) her pediatrician saw her about a month ago and told me that if she did not learn more words in a couple of months that I need to begin to get concerned. However, it is not that she is not smart. she is very intellegent. She can color code her socks and her blocks and will not play with her blocks unless she matches up the colors first. She knows what things are suppose to do and where they go. She has figured out how to take out the baby proofing items and knows that sunglasses go on her face or on top of her head, that the remote control makes the TV change, and that cell phones are for talking to people. When I change her crib sheets she puts her doll on the mattress as if she is tucking it in like we do with her. She has seen me dust so often that she knows how to do it as well. She knows how to use a pen on paper, how to turn on our music, how to operate an IPOD touch to get it to play, and she loves baths so much that when it gets time for bathtime she will go and stand by the bathtub. She claps when our team scores. If she gets my dusting cloth she will take it and wipe down surfaces. She knows how to use a straw and is a good colorer. Like I said, it is not that is not smart. She just doesn't talk much. She babbles ALL of the time but it is on a very rare occassion that she puts words to that babbling. What can I do to help her improve her vocabulary?
Thank you all for your advise! Much to my delight and surprise a few days after posting this request my daughter started saying other words and even using grouping them together to say bye bye daddy. She says mine, bear, puppy, duck, and a few other words. Yea! I guess everything works out in its own timing!
I agree, at 14 months it's ok to have a limited vocabulary. One thing you may want to pay attention to is if she is hearing you properly. If her hearing is diminished it could slow down learning to speak. If her hearing is fine, she may just be content in her own world and not feel the need to carry on long winded conversations.
I wouldn't worry one bit about it! She is signing so she is communicating her needs and wants. If she were not signing she may have a bigger vocab, but then again, maybe not. She sounds like she is just fine. At our 15 mo. pediatrition visit we were asked if our girls (twins) were saying between 5 and 15 words. Tori has a much broader vocabulary and Bren doesn't. I talk a lot, their Daddy is the silent type. It's not all learned! Some has to be genetic (at least in our case) Your little girl sounds like she is smart, active and engaged, and she is saying at least 6 words! Don't forget the ones that don't always sound like what we say. They still have a very limited range of sounds of letters (can't make R,S,etc). Both girls can show your their bellybutton, but Bren points and says "bae-bo! Tori said Roo-urr (rooster)one time, but can't get her to do it again.
She's fine, ahead of the game in some areas and the others will come in time. They each have their own schedule.
Beth
14 months? I wouldn't worry about it! Honestly, keep signing with her and be sure you are always saying the words as you make the signs. Follow your instincts. If you feel she is developing normally, she's probably fine. I know plenty of kids who talked later and believe me, they do just fine now!
If you would like to learn more about setting up a learning environment for your daughter, there will be a great talk on that on the third Wednesdays of the month starting next month here: http://www.inspiredabq.com
But really, she sounds like she's doing fine.
Hi Melodee,
What a smart little girl you have!
This may have nothing to do with your little one, but it's a story my MIL tells about my husband when he was 3.
He quit talking. Just quit. But my MIL didn't notice for the longest time, because he was getting all his needs met, and whenever he wanted anything, would just point and grunt. No hearing problems. No learning issues. Just was smart enough to realize he didn't *have* to talk - LOL!
Good luck.
T
