Granddaughter doesn't talk yet

IMO, NemosMum has some excellent advice. And obviously, she knows more than me. I just want to add, once again, that, in the end, only the parents can make these decisions, not a granny (unless she has custody/guardianship). So you can relay this advice to the parents, Margsus, but then it's up to them. I hope they make the right choices for their child.

I'm also wondering if the adults in GD's life talk to her very much. Since her understanding is good, they probably do. But if they/you don't, maybe it's time to start. And I don't just mean the obvious comments, which, clearly, are already being made. I remember reading, when I was a young mom, that it's good to talk to babies about anything and everything, even stating the obvious ("I'm changing your diaper now," "Look! Here's your bottle!" "Ooo! Hee, hee, hee! I'm tickling your tummy!" - all while making sure she sees your lips moving. That may help and it's something you can do when you're around, if you haven't been doing it already.

Best of luck!

Just wanted to add, there are some quite helpful Apps these days. One of which I am aware is Speech Quest. There is a basic free version with advice etc. then there is the all-singing, all-dancing one in which you can record your child's progress and give indicators for professional input. I think it's less than a fiver to buy. Was well reviewed in professional journal as a good aid to parents/grandparents. Good luck with your endeavours.

My DD1 started talking well before she was one year old! and has never stopped talking since I might add! When she was 15 months old we went on holiday to Yarmouth, and in the train station there was a booth where you could record a short message. We made a recording of her saying nursery rhymes and telling us what present she had bought for her nanna.

What is that about dummies impeding speech? My dd2 had one and didn't give it up entirely until after she started school, but she talked as early and as fluently as dd1, who never had one.
When she was just 3 we were in the car with my folks after not seeing them for ages, and dd2 was chattering non stop. My mother, half laughing, said, "where do you get all your talking from?' Dd thought a moment and said, 'From my mouf!'

For the record, a BIL who was/is extremely clever, barely uttered until he was 3. My MiL once told me how worried she'd been - but once he started, it came out in sentences. He had evidently just been taking it all in, in his own time.

All you proud grandparents out there (and I am one, of course), I know you want to reassure, I know you want everything to be alright, but sometimes, just sometimes, it won't be! There are lots of reasons why children are late to talk, and in many cases, everything will turn out fine, but not every late-talking child will be an Einstein (who, by the way, almost certainly had Asperger's). I used to have many a granny come to my clinic assuring me that there was nothing wrong with their DGC, who were embarrassed to find that there was a hearing loss/developmental dysphasia/verbal dyspraxia/dysarthria of speech/phonological disorder/autistic spectrum/selective mutism to name but a few of the conditions which I saw daily. Please do not let the rose-tinted glasses of grandparenthood stand in the way of finding out if there is a problem. Speech and language disorders affect a child's education, social development and psychological adjustment. If there is a worry, get an assessment! At the very least, get the Speech Quest App (other Apps are available) to see if you have something to worry about. Wishing best of luck to all.

I just want to support NemosMum's input in this thread.
I was an EP for many years and we had a Speech and Language Unit on our premises which did brilliant work, (1970s -80s) various professions on the staff including 2 specialist speech therapists. I'm still in contact with the teacher in charge, one of my best friends.
But in addition, having assessed many very young children, it's fairly normal for them to be advanced in some areas of development, and delayed in a few others. When language is delayed a hearing test is the first thing to do. Don't babies have a routine hearing test now? and are they reliable at a young age?

And in addition, I know this is a sensitive subject, I think the prevalence of TV, computers, ipads smartphones etc as a substitute for personal conversation and physical activity has a lot to answer for in the apparent increase in language delay .
Which is part of the "autistic spectrum."

My MIL once told me that her eldest son barely uttered until he was 3 - she was getting really worried. When he did start, it came out in whole sentences. He subsequently got a scholarship to Cambridge and later did a degree in Paris, in French.

I think I read somewhere that Winston Churchill was very late starting to talk - might be mistaken, though.