How Much Does Yours Talk?

My daughter is 16 months old. She says mama and yeah. That's it. She says yeah daily and mama occassionally. My son could say close to 100 words at her age, so there is definitely a difference in their vocabulary, but I'm not concerned at all. My nephew didn't talk until he was almost 3 years old, and now he's 8 and talks more than anyone I know!

I hope this is encouraging to you! :)

My first child talked early, clearly, and often..and had a huge vocabulary.

My second child (they are five years apart) was doing the same as your youngest child..not talking much. A few words here and there, just the basics. She is now 21 months old, and talks up a storm. Just in a matter of a few months, she's grown by leaps and bounds in the talking department.

I think second children don't have to strive to communicate so early because they have an older sibling who does all the talking, and as parents, we are "in tune" to needs more than the first time around.

I wouldn't worry too much until after two, but kids learn to communicate in what ways works for them. The pointing & squeeling is working for her, so there's really no 'need' in her mind to learn those silly words :-) if you'd like for her to expand he vocabulary, make her current communication not work anymore. When she's pointing say the word for her of what you can tell she wants. Require her to say it before giving it to her. She'll begin speaking more very quickly! But as everyone says " each kid developed at their own pace" she probably excels at other things your DS couldn't at 17mos. I think she's well within normal range and. It a cause of concern.

Wow, your story sounds just like mine! I too have a 5 year old (in a few months) and I also have a 16 1/2 month old. She says almost the same things as your baby.....actually, it sounds like your baby says more then mine. She was just standing next to me staring at me. I told her, "if you want something honey, you need to talk to mommy." she took her binky out and grunted at me and walked away.............
My older daughter also had a huge vocabulary at a young age. I'm sure I am doing the same things, reading books, doing puzzles, the alphabet, but she is just not picking up on it (verbally) like my other daughter. She'll point to the object, but never attempts to say the word.
I have to assume that it will catch up with her eventually, and she will speak.
Who knows, we might not be able to shut them up when they get older......
that would be just my luck!
Your not alone!!!!! Take care.

She should be ok--it is far too soon for concerns.

My oldest son was speaking in paragraphs by 18 mos.
My middle son barely had 4 words until he was 2. He's now 2.5 and we can hardly get him to stop talking.
My baby is 10.5 mos and has about 3 words.

They're all so different. I would just take her in for her 18 mos check-up and mention it to her doc. I am sure the doc will reassure you that she's ok.

I had a very similar situation with my two. My girls are 3 years apart. My older daughter was talking so clearly and maturely, knew all her ABC's, etc., at 2 years old. My younger daughter didn't really talk at all until she was nearly 3 years old. At her 2-year check-up I voiced my concerns to her pedi and he reassured me that most verbal development occurs between ages 2-3 and that I shouldn't worry. Sure enough, by her third birthday, she was talking and learning new words every day. Now, she talks very clearly. Remember they all develop at their own pace and try not to compare one to the other. I know its hard.

I would also keep an eye on her hearing, especially if she has had chronic ear infections. Both of my kids had chronic ear infections and the older one would talk less clearly when she had fluid in her ears. My younger one had a speech impediment because she ALWAYS had fluid in her ears, and it resolved itself immediately after we had tubes put in.

I think every child is different. My 4 year old started talking EARLY and used full sentences by 2. My now 26 month old talks, but it is just now starting to become fluent... but I always stop him when he is pointing to ask for something and say "use your words" - which he does.

My doctor told me as a general rule 1 to walk, 2 to talk. Both of your children sound perfectly normal to me. :)

My first was like your first and she was/is WAY ahead of all her cousins her age, like WAY ahead. Her little cousin is almost 2 1/2 and he doesn't say much more than your little one so don't worry, he also has older siblings so that very well may be what the issue is.. my daughters vocabulary is scary big, she has the vocabulary of a 5 year old and she's not even 3 yet but the doctor warned me that all kids are different and we soon may find something she's behind in and with our son not to expect the same things.. she sounds fine, at that age there's such a difference in milestones for kids, it'll all even out soon enough!

My oldest walked by 10 months.He was also able to speak clearly by 10 months. His ped was so amazed. By a year old he was speaking clear sentences ( he hasn't slowed down any either lol)

I thought something was wrong with my 2nd when he wasn't even trying to walk or talk as good by a year old.

By 2 he was right where he should be.

My youngest son didn't even start talking until he was 2. He did the same things he would point and everyone got him what he needed. He didn't need to talk when you have 3 older brother who gladly got him what ever he wanted. His ped kept saying he will be ok, he will one day just start with sentences. Well that didnt happen but at 2 we started making him ask for things and he did start talking pretty quick afterwords.

Each child does go at thier own pace, but it also doesn't hurt to encourage them to at least try to stay it a few times a day before just giving it to them.

I'm sure this has probably been mentioned, but does your son "translate" for your daughter? My son and first daughter were 15 years apart... and he was in awe of her and afraid, LOL. But my daughters are 28 months apart. Madelyn somehow knew what Fynn (currently 18 months) wanted or was trying to say from about six months ago. We were so relieved! But it hampered Fynn's need to work it out on her own, so we had to help Mad stop being the helpful big sister.

Your son sounds like a genius. She is right on target. She is just her own person.

My son had about 10 words at 18 months, so pretty much where your daughter is. He didn't have an older sibling, but we did know what he wanted a lot, so I think that is why he didn't start sooner. By the time he was 2 he had hundreds of words and spoke in full sentences. Your daughter sounds like she is doing just fine.

My 18 mo old talks just as much as your 17mo old does. My almost 3 yr old started saying words at 7 mo old and she now has the vocabulary of a 4-5 yr old and she has also done just about everything else at an amazing speed, she's just a smarty pants!!However my 18 mo old is the complete oposite and she has done everything at her own slow pace :) My other 2 girls did everything at a "normal" age.

She sounds about the same as my daughter - she would say Mama, Hi, Bye, and maybe a couple other things. But she understood everything you told her, and that usually happens first before they are able to verbalize.

It's easy to get caught up in comparisons, but it sounds like your son was really exceptional verbally, and really, your daughter is average. Some of it could be him talking for her, but I know my daughter was the same way at that age and she didn't have any older siblings speaking up for her.

You could always look into some basic baby sign language as a way for her to learn more words and have an easier time communicating.