Feeling Sad/Like A Bad Parent

DD is 18 months old. She says these "real" words: mama, dada, hi, up, nom-nom, uh-oh, all done. She def. "talks" a lot but it's all babble to my husband and me. I don't see a lot of consistency with her words and she doesn't mimic us very much, if at all. With sign language, hand motions and facial expressions we understand her very well and all of her needs are met through this. But here we are thinking she doesn't verbally communicate very well. She is in EI for physical therapy and I brought it up because they do say if the child is working so hard on gross motor skills, the language skills kind of go on the back burner. I wanted her opinion. The PT agreed but she brought to my attention all of the words DD says that we just kind of ignore because it sounds like babble/just sounds to us. She says we don't speak "kidspeak" and that it is hard to understand/distinguish but that DD is saying "banana" "apple" "thank you" "i got it" "i know" etc. I hear/see it more now-- but it makes me (and DH) feel terrible like we've not been encouraging her efforts/appreciating those words because we honestly just didn't realize they were her words before. I don't know. It's so hard to hear them but I feel like a terrible mom. Like I'm too hard on her because I only want to count/hear "real" words, you know?

Re: Feeling Sad/Like A Bad Parent

i know what you mean! my son had/has apraxia of speech & i remember BEGGING him one day to say "mama" (in the beginning he would only say "ma" and "da")

why not get your daughter a speech eval if you are that concerned about it?

Re: Feeling Sad/Like A Bad Parent

Don't feel bad. They are trained in this stuff. Plus I feel like my DD who has EI pays attn. and will take direction more from the teacher. She wont even sit for more than 30 seconds with me for a book, but will sit with her for 45 min playing with toys and books, etc.

Half the time my other DD is saying words (her words) that she will repeat over and over and I still have no clue what she is saying. She must mean something but I have no clue what! Most of her words are partial words too ("dee" for drink"). She often refuses to repeat even the words I know she can say. She talks when she wants to.

The ped said at 18 mo they should have 3-5 words. And partial words count as words too. Many kids have word explosions later on too.

Message edited 2/21/2014 10:56:54 AM.

Re: Feeling Sad/Like A Bad Parent

Re: Feeling Sad/Like A Bad Parent

Re: Feeling Sad/Like A Bad Parent

Re: Feeling Sad/Like A Bad Parent

I would get DD evaluated if you are concerned... but at least she does say a few words! My DS is the same age and really does not say much but I know how you feel about saying you feel like a "bad parent". My MIL told me last night that because DS is not in daycare, thats why he doesn't talk I tried not to let it get to me, and think that all kids are different and if DS does qualify then at least he will get some help.

Feeling Sad/Like A Bad Parent

And if you are concerned with her not speaking I would make an effort not to just "understand" her with he movements and facial expressions.

Make he use her words.....even the partial ones.

I saw the biggest explosion of words was when he was with kids slightly older than him that were talking. I suggest being around kids as much as possible. They learn so much from each other its amazing.

Re: Feeling Sad/Like A Bad Parent

Re: Feeling Sad/Like A Bad Parent

And it's funny b/c my DD who says a bit more says partial words where others are like "what is she saying?". Then the one who doesn't say as many words and gets speech therapy will say a word so clearly that there is no mistaken it. Like Tree, not tee. All kids are different. I think a lot of parents question what their kids are saying half the time until they really learn to speak and communicate.

And I'm sure the teacher just picked up on it also b/c she isn't around your DD all day where you are and just saw it as her usual babble.