My son is 21 months old and not talking. Help!?

Question

My first and only child is 21 months old and he still babbles like a baby. He has very few words in his vocabulary, mainly limited to "mom" and "Dada". Occasionally he says "no" but that is it. He says no other words but babbles a lot. He is frustrated that he cannot convey to us what he wants to say sometimes but all my efforts to teach him just the word "cup" have not worked. He has not said a new word since he was a year old. Now that its potty training time, I really need him to start talking. What do I do?

Answer 1

Every child develops on his own time.  Some speak early and some don't talk much till they are 3.  He falls in the normal range for a 21 month baby.  As long as his doctor says that there's nothing physically wrong...like being tongue tied...he's just fine.  I had a 2 year old student in my class whom was I was concerned about so I checked her and found out she was tongue tied...within a week of surgery and healing she was talking all the time.  Read to him, show him picture books and name each picture, sing, etc.  Some parents are now using sign language to help their babies communicate.  Get a simple child's book on sign language and learn the simple signs, then use them when you talk to him.  I worked many years as a toddler teacher with 2 year olds.  Some talked up a storm and some didn't know how say even the most basic words.  By the time they were ready for the 3 year old class...they were all on the same level of communication.  Don't compare him to other children.  Instead look at the progress he makes each month.  If you are still concerned or you feel he doesn't talk enough by the age of 3 take him to your local school district and have him tested.  I bet by the time he is 2 1/2 he will be talking and communicating just fine.

Answer 2

My son was 2 and wouldnt even say mumma, though he had once or twice in the past, He wasnt saying anything really. I stressed out!

Then when he was about 2 and a half, he began talking and wouldnt be quiet :)

His now 3 and his speech is excellent.

Just wait it out. Boys tend to take longer then girls.

Answer 3

please take him and have him checked by early intervention/ birth to 3 in your area. He is delayed and the quicker you get him into speech therapy the better. Your son sounds just like my son at that age. If you teach him some basic sign language the frustration goes away. I used a really good set of DVDs called signing time. Early intervention bought them for him.  I saw what I call a "language explosion" after about 3-4 months in speech therapy. He now talks all the time, you just can't understand some of what he says. sometimes he has to sign too to get his point across.

If you contact me I can explain a basic screening for apraxia to you. I suspect that your son may have it too. I can also send you some copies of flash cards that my son's speech therapist uses with him. She copied them for me to use at home with him

Answer 4

he might have autism. go to a specialist fast so you can start aba therapy.

Answer 5

My daughter didn't talk until she was 2 1/2 (she had some words, but was not stringing them together at all) . I was starting to get concerned, but my pediatrician said as long as she's understanding you and is voicing, not to be concerned until she's 3. My nephew didn't speak until he was 3 and he's an incredibly smart, successful business man (who still talks too much).

There is so much to learn in those first few years that most kids can only really focus on one skill at a time...so you might want to wait for the potty training...he's not even 2 yet.  

Kids are different and most of them catch up, and it is not a sign of intelligence either.

Keep reading and keep talking. It will come. If you are still worried at his two year check up, ask your doctor about it, but if everything else is as you say, I doubt he or she'd recommend doing anything just yet.

BTW, I totally understand about the frustration! Sometimes, I think I put too much pressure on her to talk.

Now, I wish there would be a few moments of silence when she's about!

Answer 6

Definitely talk with your pediatrician.  Each child is different, but you do not want to take your time if there is an underlying problem.

My son is 15 months old, and doesn't say any real words either.  He just had his 15 month checkup and the doctor said that at this age it is okay, but if he is not speaking more by the time his 18 month checkup arrives, she will send him for some kind of testing.

Answer 7

Talk this over with your health visitor who will then probably referrer you on to a speech and language therapist.

Answer 8

To me he sounds like a normal 21 month old if you want to encourage speaking you could try a picture bored get pictures little ones of things he wants or needs then put them in places accsessable to him. velcro them to the refridgerater or by his toys so when he wants something he just grabs the picture of the item and gives it to you . then you just say milk oh you want milk ok get him milk this helps reduce frustation and helps his speaking because he hears each word eventually he he will be telling you what the pic is

they should be about the size of a cracker and only one pic on each and dont get frustarated with him stay calm

Answer 9

Reading to a child helps increase his vocabulary. Also whenever you do something narrate it for the baby. For instance when you are making his breakfast say mama is taking out your cereal now I am putting it in a bowl, now I am putting milk on the cereal. Also show him where is body parts are as you name them. My son was slow at speaking but he had something traumatic happen to him. I had to be put in the hospital several times before he was 2 with another pregnancy and it upset him. He talks now! Just work on it. And if things do not improve ask your Dr if maybe he is having some hearing issues. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 10

Not sure, one of my kids didn't speak plainly until he was 2.5, then it was complete sentences after that.

Answer 11

Listen to your husband or boyfriend. He is fine. My brother didn't talk until he was 4. We were all worried and everything seemed pretty much the same as your son. Don't worry about it. As strange as it seems, he's just lazy. He will come around. Don't talk for him, that will only make it so he doesn't need to talk. He's not frustrated because he can't tell you what's on his mind, he just doesn't want to. My brother actually started talking through animal noises. He knew they weren't real words (I'm sure your son will understand too) and so he said them and then one day, he just realized that talking was necessary. give him a year, he's not even 2 years old. If you are still nervous, have him evaluated.

He is a bit young to be potty trained, I would wait a few months... But my brother was the same age when he was potty trained. Because he wasn't able to talk, and very reluctant to be potty trained, my mom took him to the toy store and let him pick out ANY toy he wanted. She bought him the toy and put it on a shelf near the toilet. She showed him that he could only use it if he did "peepees or poopies in the potty". and when he used the toilet, she allowed him to play with the toy for 20 minutes, if he didn't, he just couldn't use the toy. He really didn't want to use the toilet, but the bribery helped big time, and he was potty trained very quickly! Good luck with your son!

Answer 12

I've worked with children for 17 years and if children are not saying at least 10 words by 18 months then we would refer them for speech thearpy. I now own my own child care and by 21 months all of the children are using 2-4 word sentences. There may be nothing wrong and he may catch up, but there may be something simple as he is not using his tongue correctly. The earlier you get him help the quicker he will get his speech. If you wait too long and say he is using his tongue incorrectly then it may take years before his speech is where it should be. I would talk to the doc right away. Also, make sure you are talking to him and with him, when he attempts to say something like say ball and he pronounces it ba you need to get down on his level pick up the ball and say ball correctly for him and tell him to try. He will not speak if you do not make him. When he wants a drink make him say cup, milk, drink, etc... before he gets it, of course the first couple of times it will not be clear, but he needs to try to say the word and once he attempts the word you say the word the correct way and say good try and give it to him. If you are a stay at home mother you need to be doing this throughout the entire day. Just by paying attention to his speech and correcting him and making him say words he may start speaking within a few months. As a child care worker I am doing this from the first word on so anywhere from 3 months on, I will repeat the word that they say if it is said correctly and if it isn't said correctly then I say it correctly and encourage them to say it again. Children under a year old are refering to me as a shortened form of my name instead of calling me mommy, because I know moms feel bad when their children call their care givers mommy. Speech really does start at birth. My nephew is 26 months old and I watch him during the winter and he is speaking full sentences, by 12 months he was using over 42 words on his own and by 15 months he was using 3-4 word senences, he is now potty trained during the day telling us when he has to go potty. I also watch a 16 month old girl and she is using over 20 words on her own and when asked if she has to go potty will say pee pee or pooh pooh and go back to the bathroom. Here are just two examples of little ones who are developing normally. It is better to get help early and please don't live in denial, because you think you are doing something wrong or you don't want to admit he might be a little behind, your sons well being is more important than your neighbor finding out your son may need speech therapy. Good luck.

Answer 13

my sisters twins are over 27 months old and still arent talking.

i think that maybe its a first born thing