My Baby Boy Is Of 17 Months. He Used To

Posted on Wed, 10 Oct 2018

Question: My baby boy is of 17 months. He used to say dada, ma and meow before but past one month he does not say any words. Whenever i teach him saying any word he is busy in playing and ignores to what i say. I am worried alot that whether he will talk later on or not as compared to other babies of 17 months. Should i show to a speech therapist. My pediatrician said that at 18 months he should say 6 words atleast.

Is this normal?

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Its just a phase

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor service.

I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

In my opinion he is having normal development. Bablies usually excel in one skill and may lack in another skill. It is fine.

Does he not respond to any sound? If he is responding to other sounds but he is not responding to your voice, then his hearing is normal. Only problem could be that he wants to play and he is not interested in learning beyond his capacity. Another reason could be that due to excess pressure from his gaurdians to start speaking, he has withdrawn.

We can give him some time to start learning new words. You can help by talking to him frequently and let him take his time to absorb words and then he will talk.

Hope this helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (6 hours later)

Do i need to show him to a speech therapist as my pediatrician said he should say 6 words minimum.

Till what time i should wait. He is having heat rashes on his back, neck and hand. What cream or lotion i should apply.

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Boys are slow in developing language skills

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

Boys usually develop language skills later than girls. In fact many boys will develop some understandable language by 3-4 years of age. So there is no need to worry.

Speech therapy can be done after 5 years of age.
Currently you and other caregivers in house must talk to him, irrespective of his skills. He will learn new words from you. If you cant spare enough time, then let him mingle with other kids in neighborhood.

For heat rash you need to keep the area clean and dry. Best is to keep him in air-conditioned room during afternoons and sleep. Give him regular baths and cold sponging. Wear cotton clothes, single layer.
You can also apply little bit of hydrocortisone cream 1% over it once or twice a day for 2-3 days.
Better to upload photo of the rash, so that the diagnosis is same.

Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (3 hours later)

https://www.healthcaremagic.com/MultiAction?task=documentAccess&documentId=166067

I have uploaded photo of heat rashes. Please do reply me the cream name to apply on it.

Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (49 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes you can continue Hydrocortisone

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Yes you can continue above mentioned cream and other measures.

Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar