Language development

[belltree]

My ds is 15months old. He is starting to acquire words and signs more and more. But I also noticed, that when I don't keep the signs up and don't keep reinforcing his words, he looses them again. I feel he still does understand, but he won't say them anymore. I feel a couple weeks back he knew more signs and said more things than he does right now. Is that normal development? Do I need to worry,i.e. do I need to look for help?

He never was a very verbal/talkative baby, I don't think he is very behind, but he's definetely not advanced.

[tzs]

just lost the response i typed but to be brief...we're at 16 months and getting alot of new words and she's trying alot of new ones out. we don;t sign at all and still alot of the words she really knew seem to be lost..or at least she's not using them or replacing them with something else....even when i repeat the old one. not worried...she's trying so much new stuff out every day, i've really been able to see the wheels turning the last couple weeks.

[PatchChild]

That was pretty common for my son at that age as well. He'd work on a set of words, then go onto work on another set of words or signs. At this age, I wouldn't be too concerned.

[belltree]

Thanks for the feedback. It's good to hear that other kids are similar. Being a working mom, I sometimes miss out on meeting other little kids and being able to compare.

[mkksmom]

I just posted about this last month at 15 months. My LO is the same way. She has said a ton of words, but only keeps maybe 10 or so in her vocabulary at a time.

[beebalmmama]

Yes, yes and yes. 14 month here and exactly what you described. I know ds knows a lot of signs but just isn't doing them or will start and then drop them again. He is responding and so I know he knows what I'm saying. He also was very non-verbabl/ pretty quiet. Although he screeches up a storm now, another reason communication would be helpful here.

I'm not a big fan of the signing videos but we rented Baby Signing Time from the library. I noticed the week we had the video he was signing a lot more. I think it may have been the continual repetition in the video which kind of drove me crazy but ds obviously enjoyed it. I've thought about renting another one to see.

[belltree]

The signing time videos are great. I've noticed the same effect. The more we use words and signs, the more he uses them. And then he gets confused between words and signs at daycare and at home.