[Disneycrazed]

Hi all
I haven't been on here in forever. Malea is now 20 months old and doing great. i'll have to update pictures.
Here is my question. For those of you that have had your little ones home for quite a while and they are around this age how many words are they saying?
I've always been prepared for Malea to lag some in this area since we were told it would happen but she really doesn't say many words at all. She is always talking but only a couple real words.
No mommy or daddy. She is trying to comunicate and there are some parts of words etc...
When I hear about other people's children that are saying "down please" etc.... at this age I start to wonder.

Where are others at with this?

[ana-mom]

Ana has a vocabulary of about 15 words (including Mama, Papa, teeth, agua, book, eat, baby etc.). She will also say small sentences (one more, read book, night-night). She can also name some body parts (arm, nose, eye, ear, mouth), aticles of clothing and identify the letters A, B, C and the number 1.

We read to her often, and she has a number and letter set to play with in the tub. I also feel being in daycare for half days has really helped her vocab.

One other note, I can understand her really well, I have to translate about 50% of the time for DH.

I believe every child develops at a different rate though. My nephew was a very early talker but his sister was about 6 months slower in speech but much but with fine motor skills.

[JustBarbara]

DS came home at 5 months and just turned 2! At 18month check up DS had 10-12 words and I was rounding up - he was saying dadda, up, down but no mama. I asked the ped if I should be worried - no says she but let's make a 21 month apt and if you're still concerned we'll set up an EI appointment. At 21 months he was speaking about 30 words - including Mama at 23 months over 100 words and I have now lost count. Every day he is speaking more words, putting 2-3 together - his latest is to run into the kitchen when the kettle is boiling shouting 'coming' ... followed by pointing 'hot tea' and then 'dangerous - no touch' So, while he was a bit of a late starter he is perfect now - a week ago he was saying his ABCs and got to G and then Sunday he just said the whole darn thing - though some of the letters were quite mumbled. Often in his crib I'll hear him talking to himself just listenting to how words sound. Very cute

My nephew only started talking around 2 and his twin sister a couple of months later - they are now 5 1/2 in kindergarten, great spellers and readers and my ... great talkers

[maramal]

I wouldnt worry too much. Isabelle is 22 months old and up to this past week only said a few words. My pediatrician said that after about 25 months we would revisit the situation. This week something seems to have clicked and new words keep flowing out. I am actually shocked on how quickly her vocabulary is increasing. Isabelle is an only child and does not go to any kind of daycare so I believe that has a big effect on her speech.

I bet before you know it you will be buying ear plugs!!!!

[GuatabeeAMum]

I've been a bit worried about our daughter as well, but the pediatrician thinks things are ok...she is 18 months and has about 12 words

[carrie2adopt]

My daughter says the following...

apple
banana
it's good
computer
mama
GG (what we call my mom)
eyes
flower
press play (sad, I know...she's a wiggles junky)
it's hot
no
cheese
down
shoes
socks
Peaches (my mom's dog)
ohs (cheerios)
Mickey (as in the mouse)
cracker
bunny
let's go (new this week)
night-night

[CEB]

Michele - great to "see" you again. I would love, love to see recent pictures of Malea if you get a chance to post.

To go to your question, Curtis (who is about 6 weeks older than Malea and came home about a week after she did) has less than 10 words (around 5-7) and was not making much in the way of progress on new words for a few months. I was concerned enough to call the early intervention program in Westchester and had him evaluated in early Feb (our pediatrician said we should wait until Curtis was at least 20 months/home a year and, if it were him he would probably wait until 24 months but he knew I would probably be too stressed to do that). They found him to be developmentally on track or ahead in every area but speech, where he was evaluated at 12 month level (which is delayed enough to qualify for EI services). Starting this month, he is getting in home speech therapy twice a week through EI. I just spoke with his therapist and she is totally impressed with his focus, and his memory but finds him to be extremely cautious of trying new sounds. She is having him blow bubbles and touching his mouth into the right form, bombarding him with simple words (and we do the same through the week). He probably would be fine with more time and without the therapy, but I wanted to know I am doing everything to allow him learn and express himself. I am impressed with the EI program and quite frankly, cannot see any harm in having an evaluation done if you have any concerns. Really the biggest issue I had was accepting it/my pride upon hearing my child was delayed.

Let us know what you decide to do.

[Theslaws]

Ill chime in as the speech therapist. My biggest concern is when kids themselves are frustrated that they are not being understood (either their words arent clear or they dont have a strong means of communication).

I say trust your instinct. If you are worried contact early intervention. I always prefer to err on the side of caution and have them checked out.

If Im doing the math correctly your daughter came home at about 7 months old, correct? If that is the case the second language shouldnt really be an issue at this point. She had spanish for such a short time. Our youngest came home at 8.5 months. She was quiet at first and clearly didnt understand what we were saying. I'd say by her 1st birthday she was age appropriate for what she could understand and saying a few words. Im assuming (hopefully correctly) that she is only exposed to English now and that has been the case since coming home. If so the first few months of spanish shouldnt be having an impact on her right now..

I say contact early intervention if you are worried. THey can do an assessment and let you know what you should do.

Good luck!

[Disneycrazed]

Thanks folks. I like hearing what everyone else is going through. Malea is an only child and my Husband is our stay at home parent so I'm sure that her not being around other children makes a big difference.
We do take her to story hour and work with her but I think we need to work with her more.(and get her around more children)
We see the Dr in April (she needs to be weighed again. She is very healthy but like many Guatemalan children is not even on the weight chart)
So I'll talk to the dr. again.
She probably has more words than i'm thinkig she has and I just can't really understand them. She can follow any kind of direction and knows her body parts and can point to them so in those areas she is doing great. Just concerned about words.
I'll see what the Dr. says but I love hearing from other parents!!!!

And yes I'll post updated pictures of our silly goofy little princess sometime this weekend. She is too funny!!!!!I can't believe she has been home over a year now.

[maramal]

Michele - I just realized we had the same embassy appt day!!! It is crazy to believe its been over a year. Times sure flies!!!

[Disneycrazed]

Originally Posted by maramal

Michele - I just realized we had the same embassy appt day!!! It is crazy to believe its been over a year. Times sure flies!!!

WOW I talked to quite a few people that day. Were you in the back room? we were there until around 10:00am.
Yes time flies. What a great year!!!! Hope all is well with your family !!!

[redru2004]

Lucas is 20 months old, an only child and he's not in a daycare environment, he gets to hang out with me all day and he's not saying a thing. He makes lots of sounds and noises but no real words yet. He had tubes put in his ears in early December due to chronic ear infections and his ENT Dr thinks that the ear infections were affecting how clearly he heard things. Lucas didn't come home until he was almost 11 months old, I've expressed some concern to Lucas' Dr's but both said that they weren't too concerned and if things hadn't improved by 24 months we'd talk about EI. Lucas does understand us very well, if we tell him to go get a book or a ball or put something away he'll do it.

[bbeard72]

Our 20 month old son came home the same time your daughter did and we weren't told to expect delays. Our son is an only child and is in full time preschool but says about 10 words-our pediatrician(she's an international adoption ped) is fine with it and we aren't worried.

[KarynB]

Hi!

Our guy came home at 5.5 months and is saying no words at 20 months!!! Well, he says "mom", but not always at the right time! He understands tons though, and I also think being home all day with him and having two doting older siblings has delayed him a bit. I was worried for a bit, but now that he is understanding so much more I am not as worried - I also had him screened for EI and they will take him but only in 7-10 months, hopefully we won't need them by then...

He has always done things on his own time - but once he starts - look out! So I'm sure this will be the same...

So nice to hear others are going through the same thing,
Karyn

[calebs dad]

My son came home at 11 months old and is now 21.5 months old. I've been concerned also about his speech. He only says about 5 words and not clear. He says Dah Dah, dog, bird, stinky, GG( His aunt), Papa. The thing is he will say words and then wont say them again for weeks. He's very smart like if you tell him to get his shoes he will get them. If you tell him to throw something in the trash he will. If you tell him to cut the TV off he will. He will come and grab your hand and lead us to the snack cabinet. He also has aced his Melissa and Doug puzzles and is very good with matching things up. He feeds himself with a spoon and is now trying to dress himself. I feel he's very smart Im just very concerned with his speech. He babbles all the time. This forum is awesome for its support.