I posted this on another thread before I found this one, so I apologize for the duplication.

It was been a WHILE since I've had a toddler and can't remember exactly what age to expect words. My grandson is 18 months age and can only say a couple of words (Mama, Dada, Bubba, Papa, Nana) that's about it. He won't even attempt to copy a word and seems to say the same word for a lot of things. I was told that they should be saying about 40 words at this age. Is there a problem? Should I say anything? I don't want to be a meddling Grandma.

Your grandson sounds just fine. My son is 16mo and all day long it's "dada, baba, mama, nono". Some kids speak a lot, some little, but in the end, most are just fine and say too much. They are expected to say 2-3 words but NOT clearly (not 40 words). This is what I found on the net:

By 18 months, most
children will:

understand words and point to parts of their bodies like "nose, ear"
look for things when asked to, like "get your hat"
make new gestures and/or words like you do
make gestures or ask for "more" or "again"

When to call for help:

Your child does not make sounds or gestures like you do.
Your child started to use words, but stopped.
Your child does not use any words.

Hope this helps

I agree with the above poster my DS at 18 months could say maybe at the most ten words. I think your grandson is normal.

I appreciate so much both of your replies. My oldest grandson started talking REALLY early and was saying sentences at 18 months old. We were told at the time that he was very advanced for his age so I guess I just wasn't sure what normal was. Can't find my children's books that I had when the oldest was born. Gee, just can't believe I can't remember all of this.

Again, THANKS!:)

My DS is 17, almost 18 months, and he says "dada, mama, sissy, bubba" all the time. Then he'll copy words we say. I think your grandson is fine. He sounds perfectly normal. There was another post on here and someone said they should be saying 50 words, and someone had said their 17 month old was saying 200 words, but I personally don't think it's possible. Perhaps those kids do say a lot, but I think they are the exception here. Our dr said that as long as toddlers this age are talking, and trying to copy words and gestures, then that is fine.

That's me who's DS is saying about 200 words, he makes simple three words sentences also. I didn't think it possible either, and sometimes I wish he couldn't! he narrates everything! It's also scary, cause soon he will be able to talk better than me, lol.
But I think your grandson sounds like he is doing fine, boys also tend to talk later and less than girl babies.

That's me who's DS is saying about 200 words, he makes simple three words sentences also. I didn't think it possible either, and sometimes I wish he couldn't! he narrates everything! It's also scary, cause soon he will be able to talk better than me, lol.
But I think your grandson sounds like he is doing fine, boys also tend to talk later and less than girl babies.
WOW!!!! I can't IMAGINE a little one talking so much. Must really seem strange with them being so little. You're right.............better be careful, he will be able to talk better than you. You must really work with him.

I do work with him ALOT I stay home with him most of the time and since the day I brought him home, I have spent time everyday teaching him sounds and words. Everyday I try to teach him something new, he has a really long attention span and he will sit on my lap and watch my mouth as I say words for a long time. It also helps that he is an only child and that he doesn't hear any other children talk, that seems to make children talk less. I think because they learn to talk by emulating what they hear, and when they hear another small child talk, they probably don't enuciate clearly and that is what they parrot. Today he learned a bad word, lol! He just walked around saying it, it was so funny, but we tried so hard not to laugh. At first he just said it, then he realzied why to say it and he dropped a toy and said it! I dont' know what to do now! He also watched the Baby Einstein videos and I really think they helped him, some of the first words he learned were words on those videos.