Stopped Talking

2 ideas:

Is she trying to walk more...? Their brain can only develop speech or walking; can't do both simultaneously. So, if she was verbal and then recently started developing more mobility, then it is possible that her brain has shifted from verbal development to mobility.

Or, she's just getting frustrated at trying to communicate what she wants. Like, she knows there is a name for it but she doesn't know what it is... So the point and grunt approach is more direct (and is working!). Keep talking to her, singing, try those touch & feel flash cards. Babies learn vocabulary through listening, so she could also be in an temporary "absorbing information" phase.

Same thing happened to us. At 9 Months my daughter started saying Thank you and puppy. Said them all the time. Then we never heard them again till almost 19 months. Doc said it was because she started walking a week after the words stopped. She is a healthy 3 year old that NEVER shuts up!!!;-) No worries mom she will be just fine.

You sound really concerned and I do wonder what your doctor will say (pediatrician?). Since this is your first child, you have lots of time on your hands for worrying.

I agree with Karen. There will be times when a child will seem to regress. From my experience, I would say to give her a little more time. I think the vaccinations and missing having her grandparents around is just a coincidence. Learn to adapt to her current method of communication. Give her limits (sounds harsh but babies need to know where they are safe, within what bounds). Limit choices (of drinks or of snack) to just two. Tell her you can't understand her when she cries. If she will nod her head when you point to, say, the graham crackers, without crying, that will help her feel a lot better and help you stop feeling her frustration so painfully (been there myself).

Anyway, just my thoughts and opinions. Good luck.

Is she developing normally in all areas? I do not want to scare you by any means, I want to empower you. I have a now 5yo son with high functioning autism. I never saw regression and I personally did not see any changes with vacc's. We have a complicated history. He was diagnosed at 4yo. Regular Ped's will often blow this stuff off. Our's did and I loved her as a doctor. They honeslty don't know. You can have her eval'd for Speech therapy #1. I have many specialists in my bag of tricks and you can always email me privately if you are worried. You know your kid. Again, please know I am not trying to scare you and think it is autism. There are many signs.... my son at that age just was not social, although he is now. He never cared that much about other babies. He never pointed to anything he wanted. It is hard when they are this young. I hope she is ok and just stressed from recent changes. However, if you are stressing out about it, she will react to that as well. One woman was correct, IMO, that when they are focusing on a new skill, they let go of others. But... I am here, I have resources and can connect you to folks that can better help you asses your child. Go with you gut feeling mom! I was just introduced to Children's Memeorail Hermann yesterday matter of fact. We have gone through TCH for all our testing (we are new to TX) and it was a the worst medical experience i ever had. #2. My motto is nothing in life is free, want something gotta ask. Model language, model language, model language. For her age... "want juice"? Just keep repeating it and she will understand if she wants juice she must say juice, want juice, more juice.... #3 talk to her about everything!! Tell her details of anything and everything. Even in the car, point out the birds, the tree, the man walking, everything. #4. Sing!!! It uses a different part of the brain than spoken language. Sing song anything and everything you do. Walking down the aisle at Kroger, start singing about the bananas and how they are yellow. The grocery store is a great learning evironment for kids all ages..... I'd love to say don't worry, but I know that is impossible! Take a few days or weeks and try things, especially try to relax and see what happens. She is so young still. My son didn't start therapy until he was 4yo and is in regular kindergarten and doing great. I am here....and I know more than I ever wanted to know about Autism and resources here in the Katy/Houston area for a newbie of one year.

Sounds like you already susspect the vacciens. Call the doctors office and find out what kind of preservitaves are in them. Then do a search on Jenny McCarthy and autizm ( sp ). I have been looking this up myself. Find out about the vac. if it had any of the preservitaves that Jennys website states could be harmful. Btw I doubt this is what it is. Just so you can scratch it off the list. Also Jennys son has a lot of his vocab back just by changing his diet. God bless your baby girl. Bet its just a phase.

Definitely have your daughter evaluated. If you are concerned about vaccines, consider doing one at a time, doing an alternative schedule, or discontinuing them altogether. Delay the MMR until she is at least two. Read Vaccine Safety Manual.

Our youngest "lost words" at about the same stage. We took him to the doctor, who referred us to ECI - Early Childhood Development. They sent someone to our house every week for play therapy. We saw improvement within about 8 months. We also had lots of testing at Texas Children's Hospital. It all ended okay, but I would always be proactive when it comes to your children.

My daughter is 14 months old & we've experienced the same 'dry' talking spells at times. Don't be alarmed though, she will ramble on again. As you've said, it's only been a week, that's not very long to get a scientific reading. She might be growing in other areas & the talking is taking a back seat for now. At one years old, your child's lack of words doesn't seem alarming. Just keep encouraging her to mimick you & strengthening her other skills she's learning as well! Good luck.

I think maybe she is sensing your anxiety about her talking and is now not talking as a power thing? Why don't you stop asking her and stop talking about it in front of her and even try and let the doctor know why you are there without her hearing. Maybe she is is picking up on your stress. I know what you're thinking, and I pray that it is not the case. The little stinkers can totally pick up on your fears and manipulate you. If you find this is what she is doing-be proud! That's one smart little girl. I honestly think if you drop it, she'll start talking again. When she does, act like it's no big deal (in front of her, and then go in the other room and scream!). Good luck!

Afternoon R.;

First of all, I am so happy that Tarzan is a professional voice over artist! I bet he keeps you in stiches!!
Your problem is simple, just do not give her what she wants when all she does is point! I know, I know that is hard but,
after a couple of times, she will start speaking again!
Good Luck,
B. C.

I would almost bet that her grandparents got her everything all the time. If this is the case make her ask for it first, do not give in. Hold it in front of her say the work and when she says it then give it to her. It will work after a few try's and a few tears for both of you. Good luck

It's a phase. Everything is just a phase when it comes to babies and toddlers. If she seems fine otherwise, I would not spend one more minute worrying about it.

How funny, my 14 month old has done the same thing. He was up to about 4 words and over the last couple of weeks he quit saying them. We just figured that it is the quiet before the storm of words. I am treating this as a phase and just keep encouraging him to learn. You're doing a good job, mamma.

Did she start any new physical development lately? If a baby starts walking, for example, the speech can take a backseat for a time as baby works on the new skill.
Talk to your doctor if it makes you feel any better, but it's probably Grandparent withdrawal!

P. (mom to three boys ages 7,5,& 3)

I can understand your concerns. I had the same experience with my 2nd child. She was about a year old, doing the talking and all, then one day she just stopped. Pointed and whinned when she wanted something. I took her to my pedi and everything "appeared" normal. My friends have children who developed "slow" and asked me to contact Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) I did that and after she was accessed, we had a person come to my home 2-3 times per week for speech therapy. This was totally awesome. The thereapist would bring "his" toys, get on the floor and "play" with her. Her surroundings, her ideas, her time & her pace. This was great. I loved it and she slowly began to increase her words once again. The best part about this it was FREE. It took a while to get started but was worth it all.

Good luck and your baby will be fine. Just keep working with her.

I know you have gotten so many awesome responses but I just wanted to say that my son was similar. He stopped saying some words as regularly but now that he is just turning 16 months, he understands pretty much everything we say to him. Like I can say, let's get your shoes on to go outside, he runs right to his shoes and sits down to get them on etc. I think he slowed his roll on talking because he was gaining so much understanding. I think the talking is about to blow up. I bet she is absolutley fine :)

That sounds fairly normal to me. Kids usually stop language development when they focus on a new skill. For example, my boys started the whole point & grunt scenario when they decided stairs must be conquered. Also, if she is attached to her grandparents, it is likely she misses them if she saw them daily for what was essentially a big part of her life. I would go ahead and meet w/ the pedi since it's your 1st and she's only a year, but as long as everything else is as it should be, I would not worry too much. Do try to relax - kids pick up on your stress.

If you are concerned call ECI and have her evaluated.

###-###-#### is Easter Seals phone #,

If you want her to stop doing this, and use the words that she has before, you might try not giving her what she wants until she uses her words. This is a common practice in child care, and teaches the child not to cry or grunt to get her way. If it continues to be a successful behavior, she will continue doing it.

According to a renowned development book (Touchpoints), children often regress slightly right before they are about to make a develpmental 'jump.' For ex., your child may have been walking along furniture for a while, then suddenly stops, and then starts walking independently. They regress slightly to store up energy in order to make the next developmental jump. I wouldn't worry too much unless this goes on for quite some time. Good luck and have fun...she'll be back to talking soon! :)