13 Months and Not Talking?

Hi everyone,
My daughter is 13 months old, and she does not say anything. She will, VERY occaisionally and only if really upset babble "ma ma ma" but this is rare. We took her for her one year checkup and her ped said not to worry. He said if she's still not saying anything at 15 months we would start to worry. Any thoughts? I don't know if I'm being nervous for no reason, but my son was talking SO much at this age it seems strange to me. What do you guys think?
--Meaghan

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

Peyton's 13 months old too and she says mama / dada/ Dora and clap clap. That's it. I wouldn't worry about it

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

Doesn't seem strange to me at all. 13 months is young. When my son was that age he had very limited vocabulary. All at once he exploded, closer to the 20 months mark. He spoke simple words up to then - mama, dada, baboo (bottle), tv, dog, all the easy ones. I wouldn't worry!

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

I wouldn't worry, mine are 17 months and not saying more than like 5 words.

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Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

Noah is almost 15 months and he doesn't talk either. He does babble, and do momma and dadda, but no words yet.

I hope NO is VERY far off.

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

I think 13 months is kinda early, i wouldnt worry just yet. My 15 month old says Daddy and Yes. Thats it. I am currently starting to worry.

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

DS is a little over 13 months and doesn't say much.. My niece is almost two and just really started to talk more....don't worry and don't compare.

DS doesn't walk on his own yet and only took his first four steps on St. Pat's day....in the end we're all talking and walking we just all started at different times.

Don't worry. I know it's hard but she's fine and maybe saying more than you think. Her babble means something to her.

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

I'm no scientists- but in my own informal 'srudy' of freinds and family's children, the second one always takes longer to start talking. Always. Maybe they do more observing? Or people speak for them so they don't really feel the need to? I don't know but it has been the case with just about every second child I know

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

That's what I think it might be... second child syndrome. My son does all the talking for her & gets her whatever she wants ("Oh, Becky, you want the cookie? I'll get it for you") so what does she have to talk for?

Whenever I start to worry about it, my husband reminds me of an old episode of Roseanne, when teenage Darlene spends like five minutes screaming at her parents. When she runs out of the room, Dan turns to Roseanne and says "Remember how excited we were when she learned to talk?" I'm sure I'll be saying that in 13 years!

Thank you for all the input!

--Meaghan

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

Sara is 13 months and doesnt say much either:

Mama
Key
Tee ( for Tella Tubbie )
uh oh.
She is starting to say alttlle more at least I think she is .

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

Message edited 3/29/2007 9:23:33 PM.

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

Is your daughter babbling? Does it sound like he's *talking* but in his own language? If so, he's likely fine.

Message edited 3/29/2007 9:52:54 PM.

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

As a Sp. Ed. preschool teacher and mom, I would not be terribly worried but I would not wait for the pediatrician to give the go ahead for testing either. I have read that by 14 months a child should be able to say "mama, dada" discriminately and one other word. I you feel that this does not happen or you continue to notice that she is not saying as much as several other children her age I think I'd get her tested. It's of no cost to you, you have a right to have testing and it can only do good, no harm. So what, if she does not qualify you know everything is ok...and if she does qualify you know everything will be ok cause you are doing all you can. I see way too many students whose parents waited when they could have been serviced.


I am not just speaking as a teacher, but as a parent. I had my son tested at 18 mo. he scored low on speech but did not qualify. At 3 I had him tested again for articulation and he is now recieving services. My pediatrician kept saying there is nothing to worry about, wait until he is 4! I knew all along there was nothing to worry about as long as I stayed on top of it. I know my son would be ok without services too, but why should he suffer when others don't understand him??

I am sure your child will be fine, cause you are paying attention. She may never need services, but if she does it sounds like you will take care of it.

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

My friend is a speech therapist and she said it's ok if they are not saying a lot before 18 months.

I'm sorry but 20 words for an 18 month old is alot and that's JMO. I know some 2 year olds that are not even saying 20 words. I don't blame you for being concerned, after all we are mommies. But don't worry about it too much at 13 months. I would at least wait until 18 months. Give them some time.

My nephew is 18 months and he is not saying 20 words.

Message edited 3/30/2007 11:04:32 AM.

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?

I wouldn't worry just yet. Even at 18 months when our pediatrician said our DS should be saying 50 words, he wasn't. By 20-22 months, he was talking full sentences. IT was amazing how quickly it all happened. We did have him evaluated through EI when he was 2, and he tested at a 3 year old level. I would just go with your gut, but I think its too early just yet.

Re: 13 Months and Not Talking?