When my little girl clocked one year, I was so proud of her. She had achieved numerous milestones, and her bubbly nature saw her make friends everywhere. I remember the first time she walked unaided-it was by her 9th month. By 12 months, she’d sleep, play and eat independently. A month later, I started worrying about my 13 month old not talking. Like me, your cute baby started baby-babbling eight months ago and still can’t make audible words at 13 months of age.
Don’t let it alarm you yet. Development is asynchronous and unique in every child. It’s even harder to understand if your baby’s older siblings would talk fluently by their first birthday. Relax, my baby started talking at two years. It took me patience, and in my quest to understand my baby not talking, I have compiled detailed reasons why your 13 month old is not talking yet. Read on.
Why Isn’t My 13 month old Talking?
13 month old not talking is a perfectly normal thing and you don’t have to fret about it. There might be various reasons for your 13 month old not talking, such as Genetics, Chronic ear infections, Down syndrome and Autism. Further, if your family live in an environment prone to Mercury exposure, your baby is susceptible to delayed speech compared to their peers from different settings.
At 13 months, every parent’s memorable moment is to hear the little one mention their first word and witness them make wobbly steps. This is what toddlerhood is all about-fun and bitter-sweet experiences.
Your baby should make verbal noises, defined bubbling and one-word sentences by this time. They can now confidently call ‘ma ma’ and ‘da da’, meaning mum and daddy. Additionally, some can say ‘he yo’ for hello. It is the beginning of your baby’s journey toward talking- though not in fully complete words, you both can understand each other perfectly.
However, don’t let the question why isn’t my 13 month old talking make you frustrated if your 13 month old seems to lag. Every child is different and may talk earlier or later. Healthline gives 10-14 months as a range to expect your baby’s first word but waiting until they hit their second birthday is okay.
Your baby’s language development milestone includes the receptive aspect, which involves hearing and understanding instructions/words, and the expressive landmark involving talking/sounds. Ideally, both milestones rarely take place together.
Your little one could be good in speech and poor in hearing or vice versa. That doesn’t mean it’s a speech condition. The toddler is perfectly normal if you can hear babbling sounds, and they react when you talk to them. However, I know some of their peers can audibly speak at 13 months. Others started earlier, which may make you panicky and worried about your 13 month old is not talking yet.
Relax, I’ll give you well-researched reasons to your question- why isn’t my 13 month old talking yet? Let’s find out.
13 month old not talking yet- 4 Reasons
Here are the most common reasons behind a 13 month old baby not talking yet. Remember, this is normal, and you necessarily don’t have to panic.
1. Chronic ear infections- Medically referred to as Otitis media, the infection causes severe inflammation and gathers fluid in your child’s inner ear. Tyke talk describes ear infections as one of the most common illnesses in children.
This chronic infection muffles sound causing difficulty in hearing. When your child can’t hear sounds well, they take time for talking, responding or imitate actions.
- Observe your child for signs of otitis media such as:
- Constant ear pulling, scratching.
- Fever and poor body balance when walking, jumping and running.
- irregular, disrupted sleep patterns and appetite loss.
- Little or no response to general sounds. For example, they may delay looking at you when you call their name.
Consult your healthcare provider or ENT specialist early for proper examination.
2. Genetics and Hereditary factors- If you took time to churn your first word or there’s someone/people in the family who were late talkers, you shouldn’t worry much about your 13 month old not talking yet. Delayed speech could run in the family.
If your toddler is developing well in other aspects, they are normal. Based on your family history, you need to relax and be patient. They’ll talk in due time.
3. Autism spectrum disorder(ASD) and Down syndrome- toddlers with developmental disabilities delay in language skills, motor milestones and cognition. Essentially, they experience social delays in most growth aspects, including talking, due to brain issues.
According to CDC, detection of ASD is complicated and could take up to 18 months for a conclusive diagnosis. Trust your instincts if you feel your munchkin is experiencing delays in your 13 month old talking, walking and social interaction. Consult a pediatrician for behavioral screening and diagnosis of ASD and Down syndrome.
4. Neurological damage due to exposure to Mercury- Mercury contamination has become a worldwide concern, with primary sources being fish and seafood from fresh and salty waters. Children and infants mainly get traces of Mercury from their mothers during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
When toddlers experience brain damage from Mercury, they may get speech disorders and physical disabilities. Talk to your doctor for further evaluation of your 13 month old, who may have been exposed to Mercury, hence having neurological damages that could delay your 13 month old talking.
While some children utter complete words as early as nine months, it doesn’t mean yours has a speech disorder. My assurance is that your tiny adorable is still within the normal range. I know you’re yearning to hear them talk. It’s one unforgettable moment.
However, be patient. It’ll eventually happen. It takes 0-14 months for most babies, each at their unique pace. Before their second birthday, it’s difficult to conclude if one has speech delay disorder.
How To Encourage Talking In Your 13 month old Toddler
At 13 months, your youngster can call their brother/sister, mum and daddy though not in complete words. They are also attentive, responsive and good mimickers. You’re a worried parent since your neighbor’s child of the same age communicates well while yours only makes cooing and babbling sounds. Speech development is a natural process.
The following tips will help to improve speech:
- Help your baby build vocabulary- toddler talk doesn’t involve actual words but half words. Help them complete terms. For example, they may say ‘mama’ when they mention ‘ma’. Also, name new objects in the surroundings and give them time to imitate you.
- Read with your baby often- point at pictures and name them together.
- Talk to your munchkin, ask questions, and show them objects- Interact more during bath time, meals and diaper change. The little ones learn a lot from us.
- Sing songs and nursery rhyme, especially those with actions such as: ‘if you’re happy and you know, clap your hands.’
- Get a musical toy – such improve children’s listening, vocabulary and language skills.
- Give objects and actions simple names that the baby can easily understand.
- Reduce screen time-Your toddler doesn’t gain much from watching TV or smart devices. Research shows infants and toddlers below two years who spend time on screen as having delayed speech. Replace screen time with physical interaction and play.
When to Worry if My 13 month old isn’t Talking
If your toddler can respond and understand you, they are normal despite not expressing themselves in words. Nevertheless, seek help if you note the following at two years of age:
- Baby doesn’t use gestures like pointing fingers to express themselves, lifting hands, shaking their head to say no, or nodding for a ‘yes.’
- Can’t point to some of their body parts.
- Your little one is alarmingly quiet and doesn’t make babbling sounds or look when you point at objects.
- You don’t hear any word from 15 months to 2 years.
- At 16-24 months, they can’t respond to simple words like ‘bye’ and ‘give’, among others.
Before worrying about your 13 month old not talking yet, remember children with special conditions, including Autism and Down syndrome, have unique growth patterns. Your pediatrician is best suited to diagnose and refer your baby to a speech therapist if the need arises.
Frequently asked questions about 13 month old not talking yet
Is It Normal For A 13 month old Not To Talk?
Yes, as long as they are making babbling/ cooing noises, uses gestures or baby jargon for expression and recognizes objects and names. It means they are internalizing language and will soon make their first word sooner than you think.
What Non-Verbal Language Milestones Should I Expect In A 13 month old Baby?
Language development milestone is in two parts—using words and, secondly, using gestures (non-verbal). A 13 month old baby should be able to look, point at objects, share gifts/toys, give/take items, copy emotions and wave goodbyes.
Should I be Concerned if My 13 month Old is not Talking yet?
You should worry only if the baby doesn’t make baby sounds and also can’t do non-verbal communication such as pointing at things, shaking their head, giving, sharing and looking when you show them objects. There is no cause for alarm yet. The verbal (words) part will soon come. If there’s no verbal and non-verbal communication, talk to your doctor.
What Is The Best Age For A Baby To Start Talking?
Experts explain that babies start learning language skills from birth. They start babbling at four months, jumbled consonants at six months and simple words like ‘ma ma’ from 9 months.
However, ‘Normal’ is relative when it comes to talking. Generally, from 9-15 months, your toddler will say their first words. Some go up to their second birthday, and it’s still okay.
Wrapping Up
Now that you know the answer to your question “Why my 13 month old is not talking yet?”. Your munchkin is 13 months. Welcome to the fun world of toddlerhood. By now, the baby is an exciting human being making shaky steps and uttering incomplete words. There’s so much to celebrate a month after their first birthday.
Nothing beats the feeling of hearing funny words from your toddler. However, if your child hasn’t said a word, it could be due to hereditary factors, ear infection, brain damage due to exposure to Mercury and developmental conditions like Down syndrome.
Before panicking, improve your baby’s speech by reading together, singing, talking to them, and cutting on screen time. If you feel worried about your 13 month old not talking, talk to your pediatrician or speech therapist for professional assistance. Hugs 💚
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