When I was fourteen months old, my adoring mum, who was very proud of my vocabulary, made a list of all the words I could say. There were about 100.

I made the mistake of compiling a similar list for Jack. There were 130, and more he could understand.

It's quite unnerving discovering that your son is cleverer than you.

I've attached the list below as an exercise in child psychology. What matters when you're fourteen months old?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Jack SAYS about 130 words including:

Mummy
Daddy
Grape
Shreddies
Shoes
Puppy
Up (stairs)
Down (stairs)
Toes
Hand
Foot
Eyes
Hair
Car
Tractor
Teeth
Ear
Knee
Finger
Flower
Wee
Poo
Pooey
Willy
Apple
Fruit
Yoghurt
Bubble
Kiwi
All gone
Water
Chair
Oh-Oh
Steady
Wow
No
Yuk(y)
Raisin (“ryas”)
Toast
‘tatoe
Jack
Grace
Lily
Mary
Sara
Archie
Emilia
Laura
Sarah
Nanny
Swing
Go
Book
Bee
Star
Pretty (lights)
Keys
Milk
Ta
Bib
Nap-Nap (nappy)
“Shut the door”
Lorry
Truck
Hat
Trousers
Shower
Sock
Arms
Sneeze
Atishoo
Sniff
Blow
(put) Back
Wheel
Cow – moo
Cat – miaow
Dog – woof (“foow”)
[Mouse] – ee ee
[clock] – tick tock
[horse] – clip clop
Sheep – baa
Frog – hop
Duck – quack
Lion – roar
Tiger – roar
Jocko (neighbour's cat)
Whale
Spider
Fish (“shish”)
Teddy
Tree
Kiss (action)
Ball
Blocks
Spoon
Cup
See…? (as question, to be lifted up)
“So big” (+hands up action)
Hiya
Hello
Seeya
Bye
Goodbye
Strawberry
Step
Buzz (bee)
Tongue
Sticky
[monkey/gorilla] - ooh ooh
Brush
Pull
Push
Ticket
Tebbies (teletubbies)
Go
Here
(get) Out
Shh!
Digger (“dig dig”)
Detol (“duhtuh”)
Rake (+ action)

Jack UNDERSTANDS all the above plus:

Potty
Hungry
In a minute
Here we are
Wait
Round and round
Roly poly over
Ready steady go
‘Fingers’ (as a warning not to get them trapped)
Garden
Coat
Pram
Buggy
Where
Eat it
Head
Tummy
Banana
Hot
Sit Down
Grandma
Grandad
Albert
Walk
Bounce
Bottle
Dance
Transporter
Funny
Fire Engine
Helicopter
Lid