Development

READ to him as much as you possibly can get him to sit still for. I started reading to my 3 month old last week and it has already increased his little babbling.

if he is babbling I wouldn't worry to much. Does he say "dadadada" or mamamama? If you are truely concerned ask your pediatricain for a referal to the regional center (I highly recommend them, its a free service that if your child is behind on things they send a therapist to your home). All kids/babies do things all there own time. My oldest was talking at 10 months (like 10 word vocabulary) my second at about a year, my 3rd didn't start until he was about 15 months his sister did the talking for him. I wouldn't worry!

I agree with the other moms. A lot of reading!!
At that age it can be hard to get them to sit still for an entire book, so I would play games with the picture books.
Ask your child questions about what he sees in the pictures. For example "Where is the puppy?" , ect....
"Can you say puppy?" ect.... As time goes on and he is able to identify objects, and say what objects are, then move onto colors and shapes and so on.
My oldest daughter had a speech delay, I found that this helped along with flash cards with pictures on them. She enjoyed the game and now plays it with her 3 year old sister and reads to her new baby brother on a daily basis.
I think sometimes an only child can develope a little slower because they dont have other children to model after. My second child was saying 3-4 word sentences by 14 months, where my oldest was only saying 8 or so single words at 18 months. Every child is different. Just keep reading and before you know it, he will be talking up a storm.
Take Care Heidi

my 13mo little girl only says a handful of words (mama, dada, dog, rara (rascal), uh oh, hi, and she tries to say her name and whats that) other then that its all babbles and sounds that will mimic what we say. i think your son is fine and as long as his dr isnt concerend you shouldnt be either.

Heidi,

Both of my kids started talking a little bit before 1, but they really started to take off verbally around 13 or 14 months. I was concerned more with my daughter because at 11 months she barely said anything other than mama and dada. Finally once she turned 1 she started talking a lot more. She is now 14 1/2 months and says about 20 words. I would really suggest working with your child. When I realized my daughter wasn't talking a lot I would do things like if she was playing with a ball repeat the word ball a few times and show it to her. I also used baby sign language with both of my kids. It helps them express wants and needs if they can't verbalize them. I know that some children don't talk much until they turn 2. I would do as much as you can though to help your child communicate. I used baby einstein videos and lots of reading and that also helped my kids talk.

You can check out www.weecansign.com.

Hi Heidi,

I am a mom of two girls, now 9, and 11. My personal experience is that they all atart in their own time. It seems to me too early to be worried about it. At age two, I would start to wonder, but 13 months is still in the normal range for develpoing speach. What does your pediatrician say?

Shari

My son didn't say his first word until around 15 months. Talk up everything you do, kind of narrarate to help build his vocab.

The bottom line is you're looking for 20 words by 20 months--and words can be words your child uses for a thing that maybe only you and he know---so it's not necessarily intelligible specific words. I would also recommend testing for early intervention for speech--but they usually don't start that until 18 months. Good luck!!

Boys generally start "talking" later. There is a definite difference in the genders as related to development and talking. Don't let peoples comments un-nerve you. My son is the same way, as compared to his sister.

13 Months is still early. Your boy is babbling & strings sounds together, so that's good and he uses sounds. You can also try and teach him baby sign-language now... they really learn it fast. He also seems to have various undulations and "sing-song" sound variations to his babbling... this is also a good thing. It's not "monotone."

If you are really worried, just have him assessed by your local Easter Seals "zero-to-three" program...they do this free of charge. In my area, Easter Seals is the regional resource for this kind of service. But, I wouldn't worry too much. In my son's case, at 19 months, I had him assessed, because he too was not "talking" yet & people were making comments... however, his hearing is fine, and the Assessment consultants said that he is actually "advanced" for his age and his comprehension is that of an older child...he just isn't ready to talk yet. My son' uses sign language, and he even "sings" and communicates quite well with gestures and sounds, and uses object specific sounds to "say" what he wants and to express himself. My friend's boy, he didn't talk yet either, until about 2 years old.

Teach your son sounds for things.... car sounds, animal sounds, and what not. Talk to him and explain the "names" for objects etc. Is he able to follow simple one-step commands correctly? This would show comprehension and understanding of language that he "hears." Have him point to the things in books after you name what it is.... ie: "where is the cow?" , where is the truck? etc. Teach him the names for his body parts too, and have him point to it. This is all appropriate for his age now.

To teach him the names of objects, hold the object up and next to your mouth.. .then enunciate it. Show him how you form your mouth as you say a word. Simple words for now. This will help him to learn words and sound formation.

Some children don't "talk" yet, but when they do start, it will be in sentences already. Each child is different.
My girl on the other hand, was talking by 12 months and was very chatty. She is a girl, and girls start earlier.

Hope this helped, just sharing what I do, and what I've learned with my boy. Good luck and take care,
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

Here is a good link to refer to: cut and paste it:)
http://www.babycenter.com/0_developmental-milestone-talki...
Remember, that all kids talk at different rates. Has he said "mama" or dada or any other words? It will come when he is ready.
MY little guy who is two, is at two word sentences, sometimes three. Some of his friends say a little more, and some less...it just depends on the kid. Is the doctor concerned? What did he/she say?
I think they all progress at different things...different times.