Toddler speech--is this normal?

My DS is 17 months---he "talks" up a storm all day jibber jabbering away, but I can't understand any of it. I know most kids don't speak clearly, but he literally sounds like he is speaking a different language. I can make out some words, like dog, duck, mama, daddy, all done.
Any one elses DC like this? I feel like all his little 'friends' are either speaking understandable words or not really talking yet---my DS just goes on and on all day in his "language"

Re: Toddler speech--is this normal?

My younger DD was totally like this. She had a really elaborate "language" too! I couldn't imitate it if I tried. Now she's just past two and she's talking much more clearly. She really only uses that language now when she "reads" her books.

Re: Toddler speech--is this normal?

DS didn't start talking until he was between 17-18 months. He started with just some basic words here and there and now at 22 months he still mixes in a lot of words we can't understand with the words we can.

Since your DS is only 17 months, I would not be concerned about the clarity of his speech at this point if I were you. You can always ask your ped if you are concerned!

Re: Toddler speech--is this normal?

my son didn't speak real words until he was about 2.

totally normal to speak jibberish at that age..

Re: Toddler speech--is this normal?

Absolutely a normal part of speech and language development.

The babbling you are hearing is him mimicking the speech he hears, complete with rapid consonant/vowel combinations and intonation patterns.

Over time, he'll start throwing in a real word or two, until finally his real words take up more talk time than the jargon you're hearing now.

Re: Toddler speech--is this normal?

just from going through speech evals and whatnot I think it is actually is a good thing that it sounds like he is trying to talk (albeit in another language). The fact that he is getting the inflection is a good sign. And since you are saying he has a few words here and there it sounds like he is doing just fine

Re: Toddler speech--is this normal?

Re: Toddler speech--is this normal?

Thanks everyone!!!

Re: Toddler speech--is this normal?

DS#2 is 16 months old and the same way. His brother was talking up a storm , even putting words together by 18 months so I was concerned too. He understands everything and I really think this is normal. Not all kids are saying as many words as other at this age. I try to have him repeat me more before I give him something and that seems to opening up his vocabulary - although....he's still speaking another language for the most part.