I did not speak at all, not a peep, until I was 2.

And everyone but my mom and dad thought i was retarded, and that they were being neglectful for not being worried about it.

I ended up not being retarded. I think. FWIW.

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Susan, I was somewhat speech-delayed as a baby, and was in speech therapy from ages 4 to 11 and then again from about 14 to 16. As an adult, the only thing anyone notices is that I have a bit of a lisp. (I really have no idea how noticable it is -- my father insists that he doesn't hear it at all and can't figure out why I'm sometimes self-conscious about it, but there have been other times when I've had trouble making myself understood and have had to stop and rephrase what I'm saying with less troublesome sounds, so I really don't know.)

So I'll second all the people who said that if there is a problem, it's something you can deal with, but it's probably far more likely that she's fine.

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She might know, but she hasn't worked in a hospital for almost two decades, and she's also in the Group Health system, so her knowledge of outside practitioners is going to be slim to none.

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What Plei said, although if my hubby could find a good job in Seattle we'd probably flee the Bay Area. ('cuz we're so warped Seattle houses sound cheap to us!)

The only osteopaths I know are second cousins in Waterville, ME and Hilsdale, MI, respectively. I can ask the Seattle friends who aren't Seattlistas if they have any recommendations.

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I was somewhat speech-delayed as a baby,

Oh dear. She might only be as smart as Hil! That is a problem...

t /tongue very much in cheek

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OK, the nurse at the pede just called back, and took the time to let me detail my concerns, which was cool. She said that she really wishes they'd change, or at least finesse the wording, of that item on the checklists, because there is such a wide normal range for language acquisition. At 15 months, they worry if a child doesn't babble and make sounds (which Annabel does), or doesn't seem to understand speech and generally interact with the world around her (which Annabel does in spades), or seems to have hearing problems (certainly doesn't seem to be the case, because she responds to sounds, dances to music, etc.), but 18 months is more the appropriate time to worry about using words. She said it sounded like I was doing a fine job and don't need to start following Annabel around talking to her all the time, but I might help her and give myself peace of mind by making a point of reading to her daily and talking to her about things we see when we're out together. Also that not talking at this stage probably says very little about her intelligence and much more about her personality and/or learning style. And I've already pegged Annabel as being fairly introverted, an observant type, someone who learns through intuitive leaps, and quite possibly a bit of a perfectionist, all of which might lead to late talking.

So. Feeling less worried, and happy that I finally got someone who didn't just handwave my concerns away.

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I can ask the Seattle friends who aren't Seattlistas if they have any recommendations.

Oh, that would be great, Sparky. Thanks. She's had a sort of rotten run of luck with bod in the last year, and she's just so frustrated. I'm guessing she has good coverage, given who employs her.

She might know, but she hasn't worked in a hospital for almost two decades, and she's also in the Group Health system, so her knowledge of outside practitioners is going to be slim to none.

Okay, thanks anyhow, Plei.

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Oh, that would be great, Sparky.

Emails sent. Might take a few days, but I'll let you know what they say.

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Sparky, I'll let her know you've put out the word. Thank you so much.

Susan, that's great.

At 15 months, they worry if a child doesn't babble and make sounds (which Annabel does), or doesn't seem to understand speech and generally interact with the world around her (which Annabel does in spades), or seems to have hearing problems (certainly doesn't seem to be the case, because she responds to sounds, dances to music, etc.), but 18 months is more the appropriate time to worry about using words.

That's what I had in mind when I said leeway. That tracks with the kids I've known (none of whom know how to shut up).

When a kid is slower to come along than we expect, or seems not to keep up with her peers, I think it's pretty much par for the course for a parent not only to worry, but to feel the sort of guilt you were feeling. Do you think that the guilt fueled your worry even more than Annabel's actual verbal development?

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Good nurse! Good news!

I'm glad you talked to her, Susan.

and happy that I finally got someone who didn't just handwave my concerns away.

Do you think we were handwaving? Because we said pretty much exactly what she said.

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