Anxiety over talking
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I know it’s so hard not to worry; but I don’t think you need to be concerned just yet. It is a massive skill that comes and different times. My eldest only said mama, up and more until 2 and a half - our HV wasn’t concerned as he demonstrated understanding in other ways. He is 6 now and a complete chatterbox. We were advised to keep talking to him, keep reading and it will probably just come with time, which it did.
It’s so hard not to worry. My little girl has been a bit behind with milestones, she crawled at 13 months, and just started walking at 17 months…. She only says mama and dada…. No real sign of talking yet… I always wonder if it’s something I’m doing wrong (I’m not much of a talker myself) so I worry about that.. But I think they all get there in the end, some are just slower. You are doing a great job, the fact that you are worried shows that 🥰
Well we are nearly 18 months and we are lucky if we get a ma ma ma ma. He points a lot and understands some things like yawn, tap your head, high five. But he is an only child and Dad works away from home for large chunks of time. He loves reading books and will make sounds of some animals like a lion and a mouse. But really he is pretty behind the others in his room at nursery. I’m noticing but trying not to worry. Hopefully just something he is a little slower at and that’s ok, and if not we will deal with it when we know for sure. We are all different and milestones and comparing doesn’t really tell us anything but we all do it. He also only really started walking more than a few steps in the last few weeks. But My Son has all his baby teeth, can eat a whole apple uncu and can use a spoon to scoop…. Sometimes and only hummus but it still counts. Try and celebrate what they have accomplished, that’s what I’m trying to do anyway. Sorry for the ramble, but yeah I feel you.
Honestly, there's a BIG range of normal from 12-24 months which is why health visitors and GPs won't do anything until the child is 2. Your kid can say 2 words at 17 months and be speaking in sentences by the time they're 2. My girl had communication delays at 10 months and didn't even babble yet. Now has some words but is hit and miss. I try to focus on what I can control - her exposure to words and my interactions with her. It keeps my worrying lower. We read a lot of books which she LOVES. I sing a lot of songs to her. We chat a lot, and eat snacks together and I talk about our day whilst we eat. We do some sign language to help her communicate but she's not overly into it. I can control my daughter's exposure to language, but I cannot control her response to it. Either she will get on track by the time she's 2, or she will not, and then I will worry and I will seek her the help she needs. For what it's worth, I did not speak until I was 4. I now don't shut up when it comes to my close friends!