Happened at 17 months for us, but my daughter's dad and I are both extremely verbal people who talk to her all the time. She also has no older siblings to talk for her. (or any siblings.) She was the first in her preschool class, and the boys and younger siblings definitely talked later.

When your kids do start talking at all, make them try to use their words for everything. Finishing their thoughts for them or letting them gesture when you know they know the word lets them be lazy. (this comes from a speech therapist friend of mine.)

For both my girls, 2.5 years old but they are being raised trilingual (well, bilingual but my DH speaks his language with them as well.) I was a bit worried but I read online that bilingual/trilingual kids often speak a bit later. My 5.5 year old is now completely fluent in her two languages and understand's DH's language as well.

With our twins around 20 months (b/g) but they were experimenting and competing with one another a lot.

With our third (girl) not a SINGLE word until 17 months and then right before 18 months EVERY word and combining them too. I was about ready to push for a therapist because all she did was growl. Now she is way ahead on the timeline.

DS1 - 26 months maybe? He didn't combine until after 2.
DS2 - 2yrs on the mark.

it's happening right now at 19 months for my DD

Anonymous wrote:Right around his second birthday, maybe a month before.

Yes, 23 months for us too! Right now his favorite topic of conversation is Bao-Bao. As in Bao-Bao zoo. Bao-Bao dad. Bao-Bao milk mom. (at the zoo we learned Bao-Bao is still nursing). Boo (bamboo). Poo. Bao-Bao poo--ew! It big. Big poo. Bao-Bao!

At two we had a few words, just starting to string them together. At 2.5 was speaking in complete sentences.

Anonymous wrote:ours was late on the explosion. Lots of single words but no combinning till 23 months. I would say that around two we hit the explosion. We went from single words to 7 or 10 word sentences in just a month or two. Beginning at 11 months and lasting till 22-24 months, he added consistently 10 words to his vocab a month (though he lost some too).

boy btw. Our pediatrican did send us to a speech therapist for the not combinning of words by 22 months though standard is to wait till 24 months. Within one session he was combinning. He probably didn't need it.

ours was late on the explosion. Lots of single words but no combinning till 23 months. I would say that around two we hit the explosion. We went from single words to 7 or 10 word sentences in just a month or two. Beginning at 11 months and lasting till 22-24 months, he added consistently 10 words to his vocab a month (though he lost some too).

20-22 months. DS started saying a lot more words and started repeating words we were saying. He has a couple two word phrases now, but it's mainly single words.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17.5 boy: he went from saying 5 words to repeating everything.
I would not worry OP, most kids in DC's play group say very little if anything. My child does not say much around other kids as well, so you would never suspect him in being chatty

OP here, this is interesting. DS is very "chatty" too, when he's home. By chatty I mean, he just babbles away, as if in real conversation with us. He repeats everything, but he only has about 40 single words or so. He has his moments at daycare, but is mostly quiet, just like the other kids in his classroom.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

This sounds like my 18-month-old girl. She has about 40 or so words, and jabbers and chatters a lot at home, but is much more quiet out of the house.

1 boy - didn't put more than one word together until 2 1/2, and had limited single word vocabulary. I wouldn't worry about it, even if late. They all develop at different stages. DS is now in AAP, so it didn't slow him down at all. You'll be fine.

Anonymous wrote:DS would babble jibberish and had a decent vocabulary, but would only say one word at a time until about 22-23 months. He turned 2 earlier this month and I swear that he started saying full sentences overnight a little bit before his birthday. He now tells you all about everything.

NP here. This is good to hear! My 19 month DD has about 80-90 words but no sentences whatsoever. I keep hearing about other children her age stringing words together and it has gotten me worried a little.

2 boys, for both of them it was maybe 22 months - 2.5 years.

DD at 18 months and DS ag 2.5 yrs.