Baby question

[Jennifer Piersol]

> --- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, chnc1024 at A... wrote:
> > Hey Moms, and well Dads too for that matter, I was just wondering
> > if any of you could help me with something.  My daughter is 
> > nearly 9 months old, and she still doesn't talk.  

<snip>

Then annemehr replied:

> Don't worry!

<snip part deux>

A big ditto to that.  My toddler didn't say her first word until she
was about 11 months old - and then she didn't say it again until
around her first birthday.  And then, for the next year, she was just
quiet as a mouse, barely saying anything.  I'd say, her whole second
year, she maybe said about 15 distinct words, mostly family names.

Now she's 2 1/2, and she just won't shut up.

It's amazing how much they learn when you're not paying attention. 
They're just listening and listening and taking it all in, and then
once they think they've got it, BOOM!  Language explosion!

Okay, now "professional" opinion as a non-practicing linguist:

Don't worry.  ;)

Seriously.  If her hearing tests come back normal, and her
pediatrician hasn't noticed any strange problem with her
mouth/tongue/throat, then there's really nothing you can do until
she's around 1 1/2 anyway - when it's going to be a more "obvious"
problem.  And then, he/she will probably refer you to a pediactric
speech therapist, who will check to see that all her neural
connections are working right, who will double and triple check her
hearing, and then check her reflexes, tongue movements, teeth
position, palate, vocal cords, etc.

I'd just take it all calmly, and do what you're doing now.  Read to
her, talk to her, play with her - all the things I'm sure you're
already doing.  And if you're still concerned after we all tell you
not to worry (hehehe), then by all means, ask your pediatrician what
he/she thinks you should do, and if he/she thinks you should get in
touch with EI (Early Intervention) specialists early.

But mark my words... I'll bet in about 4 1/2 years when she's in
Kindergarten (like my oldest!  How did that happen???), you'll be
grateful for bedtime, because you'll finally get some peace and
quiet. :)

Hope that helps!

-JenP
with help from Ginger (almost 6!) and Allie (2 1/2)