At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

DS is 13 months and he says DADA and will point at him.He will call for me in the middle of tehnight MA MA but other than that NOTHINHG. He plays peek a boo and maybe twice he has said BOO after I said it. He is alert looks at you examines everything etc etc. Not worried there is anythign major wrong with him jus wondering about speech.Also its bad bc i had a girl first who spoke full senetences at an early age and now at 2 1/2 speask like a 5 year old so I think i may be jumping the gun here but just curious. TIA

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

I wouldn't worry at all. 13 months is very young, and most are just saying da da, ma ma, etc. I know from having a child with a speech delay, once they hit 2, and there is little to no expressive speech, that is something to be concerned about. Also, receptive speech, and how much they understand, is just as important, if not more. DD is 20 months and doesn't say many words (maybe about 10-15), but understands EVERYTHING.. so I am not worried.

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

I don't think you need to worry at this point. We were referred to EI at the 15 month visit because DS wasn't even saying mama or dada. My ped said she refers on the early side though and many other doctors might wait until 18 months for a referral.

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

At 13 months I would not worry at all. DS did not start really saying words we could understand until he was between 17-18 months. That's when he really started having his word explosion.

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

we waited until DS was 15 months old... if you eval them too early and they are NOT approved for services you will have to wait 6 months before a re-eval...

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

My DD is 14 months and all she does is moan and point. The only words she says is Da Da when she feels like it which is never. She says uh oh all the time.
I'm not worried at all b/c she is my 3rd and she follows directions like a 14 months old should and she can understand.

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

Kyle is almost 17 months and doesn't talk nearly as much as Jenna did at this age-please, Jenna was saying mama at 6 months and hasn't shut up since-literally But I have to say just within the past few days I have noticed an explosion of sounds from him trying to say and repeat all words and sounds-now he is trying to say Jenna (enna) uh-oh, etc...

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

I was talking to my ped about this b/c Kaydyn has only a few words. He said they like them to have 6 words by 18 mos, but that it is also about receptive language and how much they understand.

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

I wouldn't be concerned until 17-19 months. Usually the explosion happens around then. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later.

DS had sounds at 13 months - dada, momma, papa - but he really didn't get real words until 15/16 months - and a lot of that was repeating what we said. Now at 19 months he is starting to string words and is retaining what he learned and using them appropriately.

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

DS is almost 13 months and says mama and dada but I think it is more babbling than knowing who it refers to. I'm not worried yet but I do plan on asking his ped on Tuesday when I see him.

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

I posted about this a couple weeks ago and got mostly the same responses. DS is 17 months, and says mama and dada. Recently, it became clear that he can also say up (though without the p) and I think he is saying out, though not sure. That's all I can make out anyway.

But as others have said, at 13 months, you don't have much ot worry about, especially with a boy, and if he understands a lot of what you say. DS knows tons of words and can point to things in books if we say the word. So if DC does these things or responds in some way when you speak to him, he's probably fine.

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

I definitely think you do not have to worry AT all at 13 months.

DS is 20 months now and talks like crazy - too many words to count and short sentances. But, at 13 mos - he only had a handful of words - IF THAT. When he started saying alot of words they just multiplied within days - can't remember if it was 14or 15 mos and don't have his book in front of me but, I can say for certain at 13 mos he was only saying a few words including mama and dadda. So you still may have an early talker on your hands ANd, I def. wouldn't be concerned inthe slightest!

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

I wouldnt worry until closer to 2 personally.
And I agree with teh PPs. At 13 months although DS babbled like crazy, he wasnt saying alot of words - probably less than 5. Now at nearly 17 months he is I think in the beginning of his word explosion. Just in the last 2 weeks he has added about 5-10 words to his vocab and has even started repeating more and said a sentence " I go night night"

So just be patient, I am sure its hard because having an older DD you compare but each baby is different and alot of people say that boys hit alot of milestones later than girls.

Re: At what age do you start to worry about not saying words?

Talk to your doc at the next regular visit - they might suggest early intervention (Suffolk Cty program) - my DS is 15+ mos and doesn't say mama or dada but he is more advanced in other developmental areas. EI called and asked a few questions - he would have passed the 15 month test, at 18 mos its 2 tests - a developemental and verbal so if he's not talking by 18 mos I will call EI back and get him tested.

And don't worry yet... your DC is young.