Anxiety over talking
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I know it’s so hard not to worry; but I don’t think you need to be concerned just yet. It is a massive skill that comes and different times. My eldest only said mama, up and more until 2 and a half - our HV wasn’t concerned as he demonstrated understanding in other ways. He is 6 now and a complete chatterbox. We were advised to keep talking to him, keep reading and it will probably just come with time, which it did.
It’s so hard not to worry. My little girl has been a bit behind with milestones, she crawled at 13 months, and just started walking at 17 months…. She only says mama and dada…. No real sign of talking yet… I always wonder if it’s something I’m doing wrong (I’m not much of a talker myself) so I worry about that.. But I think they all get there in the end, some are just slower. You are doing a great job, the fact that you are worried shows that 🥰
Honestly, there's a BIG range of normal from 12-24 months which is why health visitors and GPs won't do anything until the child is 2. Your kid can say 2 words at 17 months and be speaking in sentences by the time they're 2. My girl had communication delays at 10 months and didn't even babble yet. Now has some words but is hit and miss. I try to focus on what I can control - her exposure to words and my interactions with her. It keeps my worrying lower. We read a lot of books which she LOVES. I sing a lot of songs to her. We chat a lot, and eat snacks together and I talk about our day whilst we eat. We do some sign language to help her communicate but she's not overly into it. I can control my daughter's exposure to language, but I cannot control her response to it. Either she will get on track by the time she's 2, or she will not, and then I will worry and I will seek her the help she needs. For what it's worth, I did not speak until I was 4. I now don't shut up when it comes to my close friends!