How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

My daughter is 14.5 months and I just got a babycenter.com email that says she should say about 5 words - she doesnt! She does ALOT of babbling - understands EVERYTHING, but doesn't say Hi (she used to but stopped), She doesn't say bye or ball - she says Mama (not always directed at me) and "BAH" for bath and or bottle :).

Should I be worried? I didn't realize at this age she should be saying more - the email said by 15 months she should be up to 20 words?!? I dont see what happening. I'd like to hear from you - when did you child start talking?

Message edited 4/13/2010 6:51:24 PM.

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

I don't have much experience, but my DD is 14 months as well. She definitely does not say 5 words! Similar to your daughter she babbles a lot in her own little language. She says mama and dada, but its not always in context. She sounds like she's saying "this" and "that" all day long, but it could just be babbling. Sometimes I get nervous, but I think every kid is different.

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

Mine is 14 months... no discernable words here.. just a whole lotta babble and screaming! BUT, I will tell you that if you say something she will point to it or do it, if I'm not mistaken some people count these as words....

Either way, I say normal!!

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

I wouldn't worry about it. More important is the understanding and following simple commands right now. My DD didn't say much until about 2 weeks after her 2nd b-day and now, at almost 3, her vocabulary, memory, etc., is incredible.

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

Sasha is 14.5 months too- and we're in the same boat.

She "talks" ALLLLLLL day long. She is very verbal, but no real discernible words here either. She says Mama and Dada-- when I say "Baby" to her, to get her to repeat, she says Mama. Her sitter told me today she thinks she is saying hi, but I have heard it and I think it's more coincidental.

People considering a point to something a word is insane to me-- understanding words and talking are two different things.

I think Sasha can understand a lot-- but, it's inconsistent. Or at least she shows it to me inconsistently because she may be too into her toy or book, etc.

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

OK, thanks all!

She knows EVERYTHING and has an incredible memory - soaks everything up. Just isn't saying much - the email surprised me! It wasn't like "your child might be..." it said "by now your child is saying 5 words..." !!

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

With my son, the ped said they look to have about 5 words by 18 months... BUT they are OK if the child doesn't have that at that time, as long as they are making progress and not regressing.

My DS didn't say much at 14 months. He really had a word explosion between 17 and 18 months.

I would not be worried at this point.

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

DS has no words at 14 months. He babbles all day, but not reallly to communicate, it's more just to make noise. My ped wants him to have at least one distinguishable word by his 15 month appt and I don't see that happening.

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

I have 16.5 month old twins. One of my boys is VERY verbal-I would say he has about 16-20 words. My other son has about 7 or so...I would give it a while at leats until 18 months before concern

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

My son is 15 months and he has two words - "bye" and "cat" he doesn't say "mama" or "dada" (shows you where we rank!). Our PED is not concerned at ALL. She said he is fine. We do have him in EI, but only because he needed PT and since we qualified for the one we could get speech if we wanted.

We figured it couldn't hurt, but truly it wasn't necessary.

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

I wouldn't worry about a babycenter.com e-mail. See what your pediatrician has to say. At DS's 15 month appointment, our pediatrician said he usually likes to see at least 5 words by 18 months. According to him, the word explosion may not happen until 18-24 months. At 15 months, DS consistently said Mama, Daddy, uh oh, no ("nuh"), more ("muh") and doggie. He's 16 months now. He's definitely becoming more verbal.

I wouldn't worry yet.

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

DS is 15 months he says or has said: ball, duck, dog, dada, mom, stop, more. My babsitter said yesterday he said "mimi". Every child is different and grow at different rates. I would not worry about it until they reach 2.

Re: How much should my daughter be talking? (14 months)

While DD is ultra ultra verbal, my ped only cared if she said mama and dada at her 15 mos appt...I would not worry at all!!!