Concerns about 15 month old development?

M

Marie C

New member
I think you can relax. Your daughter is developing beautifully, and is actually much more advanced than many other children her age. They often lag behind in one area while forging ahead in another area.

The main issue with speech at her age is this: how is her RECEPTIVE language? In other words, does she understand everything YOU say? Follow commands? Respond to what you are telling her? If this is the case (which it sounds like it is), you need not worry about her speech. Many children do not start talking for real until they are between 18 and 24 months.
 
I am concerned about my 15 month old daughter's development.

She seems very advanced in some areas, but delayed in others. At this time she has been showing signs of preparing for potty training. She constantly comes to the restroom with me, and is interested in the toilet and flushing. So I placed the "big girl potty" in the bathroom about 2 months ago. She will walk up, open the lid, and sit down on the potty. She typically lets me know as soon as she has a BM and isn't to pleasant when she is wet.

She is also a very sound sleeper, and prefers to sleep on the couch or in bed with Mommy at nap times. Since we were considering potty training soon (18-19 months) we thought moving to a "big girl bed" now would make sense and not spring two big changes at one time... She has slept in her toddler bed 3 times since Saturday afternoon when we put it together. (I am impressed).

She is using a fork, has massive temper tantrums, understands right from wrong, has been helping us dress her for at least 4 months now, but...

She isn't developing in the area of speech. She says "Mama", "Dada", and I have heard "Doggie" a few times, but that is it. She waves "Hello" and "Bye bye". She responds to "No" and her name... She points at items she wants, but all she says is "Ehh, ehh, ehh, ehh..." over and over again...

I have 3 friends with children 3 weeks younger to 4 months older than my daughter who seem much more advanced speech wise than my daughter but behind her in other developmental areas...

Is this normal? Am I being paranoid?

Also, she was 3 weeks early, but appeared fully developed and weighing 7lbs 3oz at birth.
 
I think you can relax. Your daughter is developing beautifully, and is actually much more advanced than many other children her age. They often lag behind in one area while forging ahead in another area.

The main issue with speech at her age is this: how is her RECEPTIVE language? In other words, does she understand everything YOU say? Follow commands? Respond to what you are telling her? If this is the case (which it sounds like it is), you need not worry about her speech. Many children do not start talking for real until they are between 18 and 24 months.
 
Children develop at different rates. My own daughter is severely speech delayed due to medical conditions that prevent her brain from growing, while my 17-month-old is about 6 months ahead in speech. My daughter is 3 but developmentally is only 18 months old.

I wouldn't be too concerned right now. By 18 months, she should be able to label things, such as "Dog" "car", etc, and by 2 years should be able to string two words, like "Daddy car" or "big dog".

If you are concerned, take her to a children's development centre and ask for a speech assessment. If they find anything of concern, they will be able to pinpoint exactly what is delayed and work out a program to help her development. While my daughter can say some words, she is considered non-verbal, and therefore communicates using the PECS program, in which she hands us a picture to tell us what she would like. This program has worked wonders for her.

Good Luck!!
 
Children develop at different rates. My own daughter is severely speech delayed due to medical conditions that prevent her brain from growing, while my 17-month-old is about 6 months ahead in speech. My daughter is 3 but developmentally is only 18 months old.

I wouldn't be too concerned right now. By 18 months, she should be able to label things, such as "Dog" "car", etc, and by 2 years should be able to string two words, like "Daddy car" or "big dog".

If you are concerned, take her to a children's development centre and ask for a speech assessment. If they find anything of concern, they will be able to pinpoint exactly what is delayed and work out a program to help her development. While my daughter can say some words, she is considered non-verbal, and therefore communicates using the PECS program, in which she hands us a picture to tell us what she would like. This program has worked wonders for her.

Good Luck!!
 
I think you can relax. Your daughter is developing beautifully, and is actually much more advanced than many other children her age. They often lag behind in one area while forging ahead in another area.

The main issue with speech at her age is this: how is her RECEPTIVE language? In other words, does she understand everything YOU say? Follow commands? Respond to what you are telling her? If this is the case (which it sounds like it is), you need not worry about her speech. Many children do not start talking for real until they are between 18 and 24 months.
 
I think you can relax. Your daughter is developing beautifully, and is actually much more advanced than many other children her age. They often lag behind in one area while forging ahead in another area.

The main issue with speech at her age is this: how is her RECEPTIVE language? In other words, does she understand everything YOU say? Follow commands? Respond to what you are telling her? If this is the case (which it sounds like it is), you need not worry about her speech. Many children do not start talking for real until they are between 18 and 24 months.
 
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