my baby is not able to speak..... he says.... mamma papa only.... Should I worry???

Question

Accepted Answer

my baby is 20 months old

Accepted Answer

the child will be able to say meaningful words by 15 months to 18 months of age and by 2 years of age the child will be able to say 2 or 3 words with meaning in a sentence.
sometimes the child may not be able to talk but the child would be able to understand and follow the commands and orders given by the parents. 
if you feel that the child is having some delay it is advisable to meetd the pediatrician who will decide if the child requires any therapy or not in the form of speech therapy as well as other modes of therapy for development in social and language milestone.

Accepted Answer

If your baby is only saying a few words like "Mama" and "Papa," and you are concerned about their speech development, it's understandable to want to know when they might start saying more words. Here are some key points to consider:

### 1. **Typical Speech Development Milestones:**
   - **By 12-15 Months**: Babies often start to say their first words, like "Mama" or "Dada."
   - **By 18-24 Months**: Most toddlers have a vocabulary of around 20-50 words and can start combining two words to make simple phrases like "more milk" or "big truck."
   - **By 2-3 Years**: Toddlers typically have a vocabulary of 200-300 words and can form simple sentences.

### 2. **When to Be Concerned:**
   - **Limited Vocabulary**: If your baby is over 18 months old and is only saying a few words, it may be worth discussing with your pediatrician.
   - **Difficulty Understanding**: If your child seems to have trouble understanding simple instructions or doesn’t seem interested in communicating.
   - **Lack of Nonverbal Communication**: Limited use of gestures like pointing or waving.

### 3. **Encouraging Speech Development:**
   - **Talk to Your Baby**: Narrate your activities, name objects, and describe what you see and do throughout the day.
   - **Read Together**: Reading books to your baby can expose them to new words and concepts.
   - **Respond to Sounds**: Even if your baby is babbling, respond as if they are communicating. This encourages more vocalization.
   - **Use Simple Words**: Use simple, clear words and phrases that your baby can mimic.
   - **Limit Screen Time**: Interaction with people is more beneficial for speech development than time spent watching screens.

### 4. **When to See a Pediatrician:**
   - If your baby is 18-24 months old and still has a very limited vocabulary.
   - If your baby isn't making progress with speech or seems to be losing words they once used.
   - The pediatrician may recommend a hearing test to rule out hearing issues, as well as an evaluation by a speech-language pathologist if necessary.

### 5. **Possible Interventions:**
   - **Speech Therapy**: A speech-language pathologist can work with your child to improve their speech and language skills.
   - **Hearing Test**: Ensuring that your baby can hear well is crucial for speech development. If there are any concerns about hearing, an evaluation is important.

### Conclusion:
It's common for babies to develop speech at their own pace, but if your baby is approaching 18 months or older and still only says a few words, it might be a good idea to consult your pediatrician. Early intervention can be very effective if there are any underlying issues affecting speech development.