Should I worry just yet? - Not many words

coasterqueen wrote: Yep, you guessed it this topic is about Megan who's made me into the biggest worry wart I could be. Not only am I still worried about her weight, which in 2 months she hasn't gained a pound, won't drink much milk when she's not nursing, doesn't nurse much AND we are still only at a few words. I recall the doc saying last time that she needs to be saying 10 to 15 words (using them consistantly) by now and all the material I got from Early Childhood at the school says the same thing.

Megan says "daddy" when referring to me or Dh. She'll say "hi" along with saying "daddy" that she uses regularly when she greets us in the morning. She also says "doggie" and "kitty cat". And just the other day she started saying "this" regularly. That's really about it. She does a TON of babbling that makes absolutely no sense, well sometimes it does but I wonder if I'm hearing what I want to hear.

I have a feeling the PED is going to refer us to a speech therapist. Anyone take their kids to one that early of an age?

ETA that she'll say a few other words but not consistently.

amynicole21 replied: I'm no doctor, but she sounds pretty on-target to me. I think she's probably saying words you don't quite recognize yet. So, to answer your question, don't worry just yet

coasterqueen replied: Well I do know she understands a LOT. I think she understands a TON more than Kylie did at this age. I can tell her to do things and she'll do them or shake her head no, but Kylie just looked at me like "HUH?". I guess she just doesn't want to express things verbally just yet. I don't know for the life of me why not. She gets so darn frustrated when she wants something and I have no idea what it is.

kimberley replied: she's a little young to worry about this, isn't she? Jade was still mostly signing at 1yo but now at 3yo.. she talks a mile a minute i am sure she will be just fine. if she understands, i wouldn't really worry. just teach her signs if she is not ready to talk.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I wouldn't worry too much yet either. Usually around 2 the speech really starts to pick up more. It's so hard to tell when they are only 1 because all kids are on so many different levels at this age. Remember, even if a word doesn't come out perfect or even if you can barely understand it, it counts as a vocabulary word. For example: saying "ba" for ball. It still counts. I wouldn't worry too much yet. Whenever you get a chance to get her to talk more, give her those opportunities. Like if you ask her a question, try to get her to say "no" or "yes" instead of head gestures. I hate saying "making them talk", but in a way, it's what it is. Encouraging it I guess would be the best way to put it. I'm sure she's fine!

coasterqueen replied:
She's 17.5 months and Kylie was saying sentences and tons of words at this age, hence my reason for worrying. I know down deep she's ok, but it just seems like one more thing, ya know? I know the doc said if she wasn't speaking at least 10 words and actually using them in their right context at 18 months we'd have to 'visit' the issue.

My nephew didn't speak til well after 2, he didn't say a word, so I know Megan will be ok. I'm worried that her forward tongue thrust movement issue is causing the problem, though, and that would more than likely have to be correctly with therapy. Question is to do it now or later, which would be better?

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Do you have a birth to 3 program near you? They are great programs, but you have to get them in by the day before their 3rd birthday. It would probably be too early now, but around her 2nd birthday they may not mind testing her. You don't want to wait too long, but you don't want to jump the gun either.

coasterqueen replied:
Is that like Early Childhood? Our school district has an Early Childhood program and then goes on to Pre-K, then Kindergarten, etc. They gave me the info on where Megan should be when I went to have Kylie tested for Pre-K.

We've dealt with speech therapists before for Megan with the forward tongue thrust movement in the beginning. They were part of her "feeding team" through the gastro doc. So we might go back to them, I guess.

Brias3 replied: Honestly, it sounds like Megan is right on track. She's making the efforts to communicate through verbal means, whether or not you understand them. I was in the same scenario. While my first two were fairly early talkers, Mason worried me. To be quite honest with you, his vocab didn't even really go through the roof until he was just over two. Up until then, he had a really limited understandable vocabulary but was always babbling and "communicating" that way.

coasterqueen replied:
Thanks. I AM having fun coming up with my owns words for what she's babbling about.

julesmom replied: I had my dd evaluated at 2 for speech therapy and she didn't qualify because she said 5 words!

5 words at 2!?! I thought that was nuts, but that was the determination. Plus, her receptive language was high. She understood everything we said to her.

But, at 3 she did qualify for speech therapy based on her articulation. She still doesn't say as much as other kids, but she is talking more.

I am in NY, so I don't know if it varies with other states' Early Intervention Programs.

Jamison'smama replied: Jack is 20 months--a couple of months ago he was babbling and saying several words but not always consistantly. We are currently at my parents and he is constantly being talked to and in the last 3 weeks, his vocabulary has exploded--three word sentences and many many more words. I would not be concerned at this point. When they say that kids should be saying X number of words, that's the average---clearly many kids are speaking fewer. They are still taking into account her prematurity right?

coasterqueen replied:
Yes, they are taking into account her prematurity. Although I've noticed Megan is not just a month behind, she's many months behind, but that's consistent in a lot of things, kwim? And I don't think the doc is taking that into account. But then again there are things that she does a TON better at this age than Kylie ever did.

I'll just be a patient, worry wart momma. thanks ladies. I know she'll get there, it's just hard to remind myself of that sometimes.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Madison is 15 months and she barely says 3 words consistently. I like you am worried because she is slow on everything - slow to walk, slow to talk. I'm trying to take the attitude of counting my blessings - I'll really be in trouble when I've got 2 toddlers talking to me 24 hours a day.

coasterqueen replied:
You know I really am too because Megan IS my last baby and it's nice in many ways that she's so slow to do things because it feels like I get that baby stage a bit longer.

Our Lil' Family replied: I'm right there with you in worrying Karen! Thomas will be 17 months tomorrow and says about 5 words, yet he understands just about everything we tell him. I think this is one thing that they really do develop at their own pace! It's so hard not to compare children but I do think Megan is fine. The one thing my pedi recommended at Thomas' 15 mth visit was to read read and read some more....so we bought more books and we've tried to read as much as possible to him.

Good luck...If you try not to worry, I'll try not to worry!!

Maddy'sMommy replied: My dd is almost 18 months and just recently started talking up a storm. She knows quite a few words.... but it happened all of a sudden. One day she started repeating words that I only told her once or twice. I also babysit a little girl everyday and she is almost 20 months and I really only hear her say maybe 3-5 words a day. I am sure Megan is just fine. They develop at such different rates, just like walking and crawling. She sounds just fine to me

moped replied: I don't think you should worry at all! At christmas time Jack really didn't say much. Now he says everything and puts 4 words together

SHe will start talking

sunrosejenn replied: Eliana see's a speech and occupational therapist through early intervention. She started seeing them in Jan 06 when she was 14 months old. She is now 21 1/2 motnhs old. Eliana has reflux and delayed gastric empying (food empties out of the stomach slower then it should). Both of these have caused delays in speech. I know for a fact that she does not use alot of words let alone daily. Eliana's favorite phase is "mumma mumma" She does not say more then 20 words and only uses a word on small occassion. Eliana does understand alot. She has been following directions (not sure the right word) real well...example...go get your shoes and put them on and go to the door so we can go outside. if you tell her find something or bring something to you she does. According to her evaluation in Dec 05 her speech was 37% delayed.

Email me jeannette.kaufmann@elpaso.com I will email you some speech activities to help Megan until your pedi appt.

For the first time since she was 9 months old she has gained 1lb 10oz the most at one time since 9 months old. I can't remember does Megan have health issues?

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Kind of. Birth to 3 is a special program, usually free for children who have any kind of delay and it's NOT based on income usually. After they are 3, then they go to the school system for evaluations, which are free. We have that here in WI and it is wonderful. All you need is to be referred by a doctor, daycare teacher, etc. The appointment is free and they test them. I've even had them come out to daycare classes I've taught in just as a free service for families and have parents sign a waiver saying it's ok.

Every state is different though. You might not have this program, or it could just be called something different depending on where you live. It seems like your doc is on the up and up though. I probably wouldn't be too concerned until the doc says to do something about it.

mummy2girls replied: i wouldnt worry ..easier said than done eh?... jenna took forever to talk and she was 18 months when she really started to say more words.. but not much... but jenna was just lazy with a lto of things, walking and crawling and such!

The girl i care for .. she was 13 months when i started and all she said was hi and daddy. she was well over 18 months when she talked more and now at 2 she is a dictionary with feet...LOL...