Venting about toddler not talking

Terra - posted on 01/05/2013

My son is 3 years and 2 months (nearly) he hardly speaks. I've counted over 20 words that he says, if i ask him to. We've had a speech therapist, occupational therapist and a behavioral therapist/early interventionist. Unfortunately, they all had to stop giving him services since he turned 3 years old. We were told he had some Autistic like traits, but not enough for him to have that "title". PDD-NOS i think.
Around 18 months, he was not repeating any words. He only ever said mama and dada for the longest time. He just seemed so uninterested. Currently, he is a program offered by an elementary school with children in about the same situation. So far on top of the words i get him to speak is "cracker" --he says "krker" i'll take it! ;) and "open" which he learned from his 17 month old sister.
My daughter was very late sitting (10 months) crawling by (11/12months) standing upright (13months) and now she's currently learning how to walk. She's doing a lot better, we currently have a physical therapist and early interventionist working with her. Right on Christmas Day she started standing up from sitting position all by herself. She says has already identified 3 colors (orange, yellow, and green). She says "open" all the time. If it's chocolate... "open???" lol I love her :)
But children are so unpredictable. I do hope my son starts spurting out sentences soon. Every moms dream huh? Then i hear once they start.. they don't stop. lol. I think i can't wait lol :)) Well anywho... good luck to everyone with a non-talker!

Christal - posted on 12/19/2012

I'd Love to say he's all caught up with speech but he is coming along slowly. He's up to about 5 or 6 word sentences..Sounds great but they r sentences he always uses like "I want" phrases. He will repeat phrases from shows and books now, which he never did before.. He did get into a great Speech, Language, and communication private school, about 2 months ago for kindergarden. He is coming along, today he has his first a holiday play in school, they r just singing 2 songs, but enough to get me crying cause 1 yr ago he could of never done this! I've come to realize, I need to have patience, my son takes baby steps, takes him longer to process things, learn new things, and baby steps toward communication.. But at least he is moving forward, I have to be grateful!..But I still Worry if he'll ever be able to live an independant life..He's 5 now but it feels like I still care for an infant.. I just Pray everyday

Ruma - posted on 12/19/2012

Hey Elizabeth!!!

My toddler is just same as yours...he does not talk rest he is all boy...he just turned 30 months on 14th dec 2012.I am too worried for him not talking,where as his cousin brother who is 3 months younger to him speaks out a whole sentence .

since your post is a year old...please tell me has your son started to talk and since which age.

Lai - posted on 10/11/2012

My son will be 2 in january, he only says, momma, daddy, stop, and Nana-neenee, he also walked later than his siblings as well. I am trying to attribute that to him being the baby, but I am not so sure. He also does not point, he has a strange way of picking up things and he does not respond to his name. Should I be worried?

Candice - posted on 10/02/2012

I have three kids and my middle child is 23 months old and she can only say about 10 words or so. I have speech therapist come to help her with her speech. She also signs the words she cant say on her own. The more she works on it the better she gets. I have her older sister and the rest of our family help her with her sign and speech and its helping.

Donna - posted on 09/04/2012

I am very frustrated with my son, too. He is 20 months old and isn't saying anything except "Mamamama" but it's like he says "Lalalalala" or "Yayayayaya" That's it. He understands when we tell him things, he tries to put his shoes on and even tried to help his daddy put HIS shoes on yesterday, but I am a stay at home mother with my son and all day long he makes a droning sound like he has some kind of deficiency. It's also weird, he doesn't ask for anything to drink, he won't ask for food. He would go hungry and thirsty all day I swear if I didn't ask him if he was hungry or thirsty and when I do, if he is, he cries. If I tell him to say cookie when I am giving him a cookie, he screams. If I tell him to say Daddy. He screams. I yelled at him to stop it today, I feel like the biggest jerk but he was making a sound like he has to go to the bathroom with a mouth full of marbles all day and his baby brother is picking it up. I was at my wits end today. That's why I am online right now trying to look it up. My pediatrician said if he's not talking by his 2 year checkup then we will go to speech therapy so he is caught up with the rest of the children so he can start school on time. I guess a speech delay can either catch up quick or it can lead to further delays down the road. I don't know, it breaks my heart that he doesn't even seem to want to express himself. He doesn't point, he just grabs and doesn't ever bring me toys to show me. He plays alone all day, if he needs a diaper he comes close to me and puts his butt on me so I can tell he needs a diaper. Sometimes when he is filling his diaper he starts flushing his toy training potty which is cool because I think he might want to potty train but I have nightmares that I might have to change his diapers for the rest of my life.

Christal - posted on 08/30/2012

Many children that r delayed in speech learn visually..my son was not speaking at 2 1/2 n i purchased "Your Baby Can Read" books, dvds, and flash cards..This helped my son b/c he reads the words then says them.. Definitely a great purchase for any child

Stephanie - posted on 04/24/2012

I am at the same place you are. Nicholas knows 35 words, and can do 3 word sentences. But I feel like he should be talking more. He really whines a lot to express what he wants, and throws tempertrantrums. But If I ask him what something is, he will point to it. He does what I ask most of the time. He understands what I am saying, but he whines a lot through out the day. I am also upset with myself, feeling like I haven't done enough with him. it's hard to get him to really sit down with me and learn. Often before this it was much easier, he just wants to be doing other things. He was picking up one word a week, but were at a hault. I am very down and stressed out on myself, feeling like I did not do enough. I am trying to spend even more time with him- but its frustrating for myself.

Elizabeth - posted on 04/23/2012

UPADATE:

My son has definitely shown improvement since I wrote this original post. He is speaking more words but not many phrases. He is, however, learning signs very well. It seems like every time I teach him a new one he learns it immediately; then, after a few days he is attempting to say the word. His imitation skills have also improved. He tantrums have significantly improved in that he is not nearly as frustrated as he was because of the communication barrier.

He is learning so much and growing so fast! He can now put together 12 piece puzzles and knows all his letters and numbers 1-10 as well as most of his colors. He loves to climb, jump, run, give hugs and kisses, get his bath, and his giant stuffed bunny!!!

I'm still struggling as to what's causing the delay. My anxieties come at the most terrible times, and yes, I'm still 'comparing' him to other children. I know it's bad to do that, but I can't stop. Sometimes I compare what he can do that they can't and other times it what they are doing (speaking) that he is not. I really wish I had a crystal ball that would tell me what the reason for his delay is.

We are in speech therapy 1 day a week and developmental 1 day a week. He just completed his hearing evaluation (we were not concerned with his hearing but did it to rule it out) and he passed with flying colors. We are about to have a feeding evaluation to determine if there is a texture issue. Also, we are going to see and OT to determine if he needs inserts for his shoes because he has flat feet.

Some days are better than others, as with everything, but the better days are more often now. I'm learning to take a step back and just enjoy what he is doing and not dwell on what he is not doing. It just melts my heart when he comes running into the kitchen while i'm cooking to give me a hug. But, sometimes my heart gets broken, like when Coulton was at the park and he wanted to play so badly with two other boys that were there (they were probably 4). These other little boys called him stupid right in front of me. My son does not know what that means but I sure as hell (excuse me) do. I know that they are kids and kids do that, but my son is 2 not stupid. Ugh, anyways...

I hope you enjoyed this, those that wanted an update, and I hope it encourages those who are also having troubles with speech.

Destinee - posted on 04/20/2012

Definitely don't feel bad about yourself! As several others have pointed out, each child develops differently. At 21 months, is it a little odd? Yes. Personally, I wouldn't worry, but I'm not you, and I don't know the full extent of the situation. So, if you're really worried that there's something "wrong" or that he might need some help, talk to your pediatrician about speech therapy. You could try what we did, if you'd like-our son has some problems from oxygen deprivation at birth, along with a couple of inherited things, and he was having a hard time connecting what he was seeing and hearing, so we took him to occupational therapy starting at about 18 months, and she suggested sign language to help him connect his world. Now, at 21 months, not only does he speak and speak well, half the time we can't get him to stop talking long enough to answer him! Good luck, and remember-he will talk when he's ready to!

Rosie - posted on 04/17/2012

Hello,
I can understand how scary it is to see your child developing at a different pace, than others. You might want to look into speech therapy. Ask your pediatrician if they can refer you to a community based clinic for speech therapy. Does your son, have any behaviors that concern you? If so you may want to address these issues with his Dr. as well, the reason i am asking this is because I have 3 children that are autistic. Please DON'T think that i am suggesting that your son has autism, please! I'm just pointing out that speech delay & regression is one of the main components in diagnosing the disorder. All three of my children had speech delays & regressive language, and two out of three had early intervention which made a world of a difference!!!

Debi - posted on 04/17/2012

Girls most always talk sooner than boys. Boys most always walk/climb/run earlier than girls. He may think she talks too much, LOL.



It's hard not to compare our children to other children, even within ones own family. But just enjoy him right now. Watch him of course, but my pediatrician told me not to worry unless my son was 3 and not talking. So keep doing what you're doing, you're doing great.

Erin - posted on 04/12/2012

Back again, my 2 and a half year old is doing much better since my last post and i think after visiting the speech pathologist is feel better about where he's headed. We were so worried that he might have mild autism because he is just not a cuddly child and watches other children but doesn't have any interest in playing with others but now i think he's just an individual. We are still on the really long waiting list to see a speech pathologist after our assessment interview as in australia if there are problems the government only helps out financially till a child reaches five so we don't want to discount anything but also don't want to wind ourselves up. He is learning new words every few days so there is something to encourage us. And with a lot of encouragement he is starting to say two word phrases when prompted repeatedly although he is super stubborn and won't try if he doesn't have to which is easier to accept on days when i'm not tired.

He is potty training at the same time which is another encouraging point, well, on the days he does well it's encouraging. It's swings and roundabouts most days and some days i do better than others but my advice is to forgive yourself. Development is such a touchy subject and most mothers i talk to hold the guilt-card and beat themselves up. So try your best but take time out for yourself too. A trip out by myself sometimes revives me and makes me so happy to rejoin my kids and i feel refreshed enough to encourage them in the right way not the angry pushy way. Good luck to any of you suffering with wanting the best for your child and feeling like you're coming up short.

Alexandra - posted on 04/03/2012

I was in this boat ( and commented on this thread too!)... My son just turned two and a half a month ago. He's been in speech therapy since November. Over the past two or three weeks he's had a total explosion in his utilization of speech. In HIS case, I believe this isn't due to the therapy, rather just his individual development, but i continue to take him to speech to assist with his articulation... He enjoys it and I see no reason to take him out at the moment. I just wanted to follow-up my original post from a few months ago bc the feelings you feel as a mom when your child is (seemingly?) confronted with a challenge are so strong and guilt- inducing; I wanted to share the progress of my son to show that in certain cases, it all just comes together! Lil T (my boy) is now using two and three word phrases when at his second birthday he was only using 20-25 words. I was proactive in getting him enrolled in speech but I truly believe the "milestones" charts aren't to be taken TOO seriously. T was always active and only now is his mouth catching up with his feet. Hang in there, see an SLP, be patient, and follow your instincts. There is no shame in seeking help. Your kid will love it and you'll ease some stress off your shoulders knowing you're doing the best for your kid- whether they need the help or not.

Merrissa - posted on 03/31/2012

I know that hearing this may not be of the most help, but I feel your pain, my 20 month old is also doing this! I was so relieved to read your story (as well as others on this site) it made me feel that he is ok, just doing his own thing. :) I think our boys are fine - I think they have just reached that age where they like to test us...and they know what pushes our buttons...I guess for us it is their talking that can get us worried and worked up lol. :) Hope to hear an update soon!! ♥

Tiana - posted on 03/31/2012

i was starting to feel bad as a parent because my son is also a bit behind the average child, but we put him on a schedule he woke up we had breakfast, brush our teeth get dressed, we read 3 books and he tries and tries to copy what i say but he points to the words as we go along:), i use shapes,counting,color's ,and animals flash cards:) he loves those we turn the into a game almost:). then we have lunch, brush our teeth, go to the park or library(depending on the weather), then we come home read a couple books and then he plays on his own for a bit i make supper and we eat and watch a family program while doing so, then its bath brush teeth and play time until bed he has a snack and then we brush our teeth and snuggle into bed and read a story and sing a song and then say goodnight. my son is 2 and a half 3 in June, and he can count to 10 now just in the past two months or so, knows most of his color's, and shapes but has a hard time pronouncing some of them. we go to the library 3 times a week to get books starting story time program on the 4th, all you can do really is try and help them patience is key.My son went from hardly talking to learning at least 4 words a week. it does make me feel bad as a parent to see other children much more advanced but my son is happy healthy and smart he just has a little bit of a harder time learning quickly. hes now fully potty trained which let me tell you wasn't easy lol. i would just say keep up with learning games and interacting at the park is great to:)

Adriana - posted on 03/30/2012

i got my son evaluated cause he is 27 months and doesn't talk a lot. the speech therapists were horrible they were talking amongst themselves and then on there phones. they kept saying he was saying all these words that he wasn't close to saying. i need to find a new organization i don't want to deal with these irresponsible girls..... i know my son should of got approved

Lenore - posted on 03/30/2012

My daughter is the exact same. She just turned 3 and all she does is jibber jabber. Once in a while I will catch her saying something but she never repeats it for me. You're right, It is VERY frustrating. We are on the waiting list for speech, but I'm also curious whether there is anything I can do in the meantime to help get her talking. I hate seeing her when in playgroups, with all the other kids talking like crazy n her just in her own world. I read to her as much as possible and i point things out to her, but she just doesn't seem to want to speak our language

Heidi - posted on 03/02/2012

Our son is slow to talk as well, but it has gotten better...daddy thought he understood him to say, "eat" and "cereal" this morning. :) he pretends to "read" books...and imitates what we say...it is really a cute stage. :) But can be frustrating...asking God to help us

R E L A X and let him develop at his own pace and not to compare with others. Hang in there. :)

Britney - posted on 02/24/2012

My son is 2(just turned 2) and im in the same boat. My son has two old twin brothers and I read that kids with older siblings dont think its necessary to talk b/c their older brothers will just do things for him. But yes I am also worried b/c he can say probably 15 words at the max. Im just giving it time and I continue to work with him everyday. People say he will start talking on his own so impraying for the both of us. But your not alone.

Zoe - posted on 02/20/2012

I have been where you are . My daughter was saying mum and dad at 18 months and I was horrified when family began saying something not right. It took me along time to want to ask for help. Like u i was still hopeful that at 21 months she stopped talking and i held out in hope she would wake up one day and say. Good morning mum . She never has , and I finally decided to get her assessed . Like u it made me feel like I had failed her . It turns out my daughter has a speech delay and needs a little help to catch up to her peers but she loves therapy and all the games she gets to play. She has neen going for a few months and has come such a long way . We use baby signing and she loves it we got some products from signing stars . Good luck and remember to trust ur self. Every child is diffrent and learns at their pace u can't rush it

Zoe - posted on 02/20/2012

I have been where you are . My daughter was saying mum and dad at 18 months and I was horrified when family began saying something not right. It took me along time to want to ask for help. Like u i was still hopeful that at 21 months she stopped talking and i held out in hope she would wake up one day and say. Good morning mum . She never has , and I finally decided to get her assessed . Like u it made me feel like I had failed her . It turns out my daughter has a speech delay and needs a little help to catch up to her peers but she loves therapy and all the games she gets to play. She has neen going for a few months and has come such a long way . We use baby signing and she loves it we got some products from signing stars . Good luck and remember to trust ur self. Every child is diffrent and learns at their pace u can't rush it

Charlene - posted on 12/12/2011

@Dawn, I was really upset too when my son went into speech therapy; I felt like a failure and a horrid mother, BUT, you can't think of speech therapy as something that will just be there to 'make up a lack'; instead, think of it as a brand new and yes, extremely fun activity for you and your son to enjoy. My son had a hoot in his speech group (it didn't help him talk, but it did get him socializing) and he absolutely loves going to his Strong Start program. Think positive about these things instead of getting mad at yourself :)

Dawn - posted on 12/09/2011

i feel the same.we went to my 19 month old sons check up today and his dr asked if he was talking yet. we told her that he has said a few words like mama, bye-bye, up and hey but he chooses when he wants to talk. when he does he will say that one word all day long (usually mama and bye-bye)then go back to not talking. so then she says she wants to get his hearing checked and put him in speach therapy which upset me cos i know his hearing is fine and i know he can talk he just doesn't and being told something could be wrong just hurts. every mother knows their child and i know he will talk when hes ready. also all kids reach each milestone at different paces and ages they aren't all the same. i feel bad when i see kids aidens age or younger talking. makes me wonder if theres more i could do, but i just keep reminding myself that he will do it when hes ready. plus hes always done something on a birthday or holiday..like mothers day he said mama on my bday he walked!

Jessica - posted on 12/08/2011

I understand also my 18mth old lil boy wont talk either says mama or dada once in a while but thats it only grunts and babbles baby talk all the rest the time!

Valerie - posted on 12/04/2011

I understand where you are coming from completely! My son is almost 18 months and can't seem to get one word out except "mama" which sounds more like babble and maybe "yeah" which could easily just be a noise. I have been working with him on sign language and he will do a few here and there. But mostly it is just high pitched yelling or squealing. He points and makes it clear what he wants. He is very bright, follows directions, and has basically done everything else development wise early. He just won't talk. And like you, we read ALL day long, sing songs, talk to him, don't watch a lot of TV, and encourage him to talk all the time. And nothing. I have heard kids 6 months younger than him articulate better and more.

And many days I feel like a horrible parent because my child isn't talking. My husband says that all kids talk at different ages and the scale is so varied that I shouldn't be worried. And while I have a degree in child psychology and know that he is right, I still feel like my son should be doing more.

However, bottom line is that your child will talk when he's ready. I have learned that you can't force things to happen, you have to let them happen. And this is way harder to do than you might think. My son also is not a big eater and is in the 3rd percentile for his weight. So many people think I don't feed him and that I should make him eat. But he is growing normally, is very active, healthy, and doing fine. When's he hungry, he eats, not a lot, but he still eats. So try not to stress too much and realize that if you are worrying as much as I think you, then are probably doing everything right for your child. You can't compare your child to others. It's not fair to you or your child. Your son is unique and you have to just do what is best for him.

Good Luck!

Susan - posted on 11/29/2011

My nephew who is now 14 barely spoke at all until after 18months, after which he would not stop talking, some children/certain personality types just absorb everything and then suddenly talk all at once. He is a normal intelligent you man. That said its always good to keep an eye on it as you have been doing as you never know there could be an issue. Try not to get frustrated I know its hard but its not your fault if he has a different way about his development, all bubbs are different anyway. Good luck.

Toshia - posted on 11/27/2011

my son didn't talk much til after he turned 2 & my daughter is the same way, she turns 2 in Dec. My son didn't pick up a lot of words & have good vocabulary till he was about 2.5 now he's the best in his class. He teacher asked me the other day if could read, I told her I think he just guesses & sometimes gets it right.

Melissa - posted on 11/27/2011

From my experience and the kids I know or family, the girls always seem to speak before boys. I've heard that boys will always lag a little behind compared to girls. My son's Pediatrician at his 18mos and 2-year check ups told me to just make sure my son can comprehend things -- That it was most important. I was so worried about my son because he has family members who were saying all sorts of things at his age, if not younger. My son is now 30-months and he talks up a storm! After his 2nd birthday, he became a chatterbox after what seems just overnight! Just try to talk to him all the time. At the grocery store point out everything you see and answer open-ended questions that require an answer other than "yes" or "no". If you're doing all these things, then keep at it and sure enough he'll start talking your ears off and you'd wish he wasn't! Lol.

Trisha - posted on 11/21/2011

thanks for the update elizabeth!! it gives us all hope :) i hope he continues to improve!!!

Corie - posted on 11/19/2011

My son is 2.5 and just in the last few months has really started talking. Most of the time I have to tell people what he is saying. I have had speech therapy come out 2x and both times he had proven he can talk. My granddaughter is 13 months and talks up a storm. All kids are different. Use lots of words when talking to him, and try to learn sign language to teach him. It worked wonders here.

Lucy - posted on 11/19/2011

i am in the same boat with my son tyler soon to be 4years old..it sad kids make fun of him... we have been doing speech , 4 days a week for a hour each time.. no improvement.. im at a loss.. help someone..
Lucy Wells

Elizabeth - posted on 11/18/2011

UPDATE:
I can't remember what my last update was about...so, i'll start where i think the info is pertinent...

We started speech therapy at the beginning of Oct. and developmental therapy the end of Sept. Coulton is now signing "more", "help", "please", "thank you", "finished", and since he started signing he is starting to talk more. He still jabbers 90% of the time, but he says "baby", "santa", "mama", "dada", "papa", "gamma", "backpack", "num nums", "baseba'''", "football", "banana", a few peoples names, and a few other words. he's something else, now...his personality is definately shining through now as he is seeking out so much independence. He shows his stubbornness quite often, also. It's almost like if he can't do it himself he wants nothing to do with it. He will not let me help him eat or anything! If i even try to help he refuses the rest of the meal.

It's so hard being a mom, lol. you're told not to compare your child to other children yet at the same time watch other children to see if your child is doing the same type of things other children are doing in his age range. i'm the type to overreact and let my emotions run wild when something gets in my head. i've always been like that and there is nothing i can do to change it.

anyways...that's the update. we'll see what happens next.

Loretta - posted on 11/18/2011

As long as your son understands what you are saying to him the talking will come when he is ready - My little girl was two last month and talks really well for her age, but every child is different. Try using makaton signs to teach him new words, saying the word at the same time. Eventually your son will stop signing and say the words - works wonders honestly. Good luck!

Wendi - posted on 11/15/2011

My 2 year old will say mama and bla for blocks and B for his sister and will smile and point to daddy when asked to say dada. He understands everything we ask him to do and does it even can point out blue red and green but sometimes since he prefers blue he will point to it first grin then point to the correct color so I would not worry about it. My mother in law said that a cousin of theirs did not talk till she was 5 and she was prefectly fine and now they can not shut her up.

Renee - posted on 11/15/2011

Thank goodness! It's great to see so many other mom's with this same issue. My daughter was talking up a storm way before now, so my son just barely having mommy and daddy was concerning me. He knows how to communicate without speaking, i.e. if he wants me to open something, he grabs my hand and sticks what he wants opened in it & literally tries to move my hands to open it. If he wants something to eat, he grabs my hand and takes me to it and points at it. He jibber jabbers up a storm, and he appears to try to sing along with all the nursery rhyme songs with his sister (though it all sounds like jabber), but he uses the correct amount of syllables, but you can only make out the occasional word. Then suddenly he'll be watching something (i.e. Dora) and he'll just say clear as day "backpack", but if you try to get him to say it again he won't. I was told that boys take longer than girls and I shouldn't worry. It's just really hard because his sister advanced WAY faster! She's just turned three and can count to 20, can count backwards from twenty, can count to 10 in Spanish, 5 in Irish, knows all her ABC's, colours, and can read some words. I worry that I don't work with him as much (because I've my hands full with two of them now) and I feel like I'm letting him down.

Cahrolle - posted on 11/14/2011

i have this problem too. my son just turned 2, last month. he does not mimic words. he kept on saying "ta" on everything. he pretty much understands every instruction you give him and knows all his stuff, body parts, etc. he will not call me Mama, or Dada. He did say Daddy once, and never again. does he needs therapy or I need to give him more time?

Amber - posted on 11/14/2011

Don't stress. My son has about 4 words that he might say when asked. Otherwise he whines and points. I know he understands what I'm saying because he can follow simple commands. It'll just take time for him to develop at his own pace. Just keep talking and singing to him and read books together.

Nicole - posted on 11/14/2011

Don't stress, Jazzie will be two in a week and she is only just starting to say some words (that we can understand). Coulton will make it in his own time, at least he understands what you are saying which is the main thing!
I know what you mean though! It can be so frustrating when they just point and grunt!

Rachael - posted on 11/11/2011

Hey there!
I feel the same as you...my son just turned 18 months october 21 and he only really says mommy thats it!! I have done soooo much to try to get him to talk!!! I have videos that we watch together, books that we read and learning posters all over the house to try to teach him to talk!! I sing abc's I everyday...nothing seems to be workng!! my son like yours understands and follows commands he is just not interested in talking! makes me feel like i am not doing my job right!

Becky - posted on 11/10/2011

My daughter wasnt talking and she was like 14 months I was worried but I knew it was because her older brother (they are 17 months apart) knew what she wanted so she didnt need to..But none the less I started signing to her and she did show alot of improvment... she wouldnt sign back she would just say it..not she will not be quiet lol

Ioana - posted on 11/05/2011

my son is just the same! I do not worry though, as I know that this is only due to unsufficient development yet of his vocal cords. I am using the bundle for baby signing, and it does wonders with reducing his frustration and giving him ways of expressing his needs, so try look into that for now. The talk will come, not to worry! My first born started talking at 3 and a half, and now we can't stop her! LOL ( http://www.signingtime.com/shop/product-... )

Elizabeth - posted on 11/01/2011

I have a son who is almost 2. He babbles all day and I hardly understand anything he says. However, I agree with other mothers on here. You can not compare him to others. Every child is different, even if you have other children they all start at a different age. My daughter started early because she learned from her brothers and sisters, my son who is almost 2 he just babbles a lot, but he does understand what I tell him so I know his motor skills and other skills are on level. He can throw stuff away, pick up toys, get a diaper, what ever I tell him he knows. Give him or her time and they will be talking in no time. Once they start it is a never ending thing. Its great to hear them say ma ma or da da, and it is even greater to hear them talk more, but just give them time.

Loni - posted on 11/01/2011

I totally undersatnd although we forget that or parenting methods are different from others. example i was pregnant with two of my sisters and their babies are younger than mine, they are all talking a walking and my son is not. But they also have older childeren around to learn from where my son does not. And i didnt realize til our pediatrician pointed it out but we had out son on a feeding and diaper changing schedule. Where he never cried to eat or have a diaper change so we just thought he was such a good baby. But we were told that its better if they have a chance to tell us cause that how they learn to communicate. I never thought of that so I kinda cut back to see if he would let me know now... hmm they may be right about that. althought i love having an unfussy baby =0)

Meg - posted on 10/29/2011

my baby is already 20 months and he's still not talking :(

Jackiie - posted on 10/28/2011

i understand what u mean :(
my son is about to turn 2 and he doesnt talk. hes taking speech therapy but its frustrating that he just doesnt wuna talk. i feel like im doing something bad or i dont know, but hopefully he can start talking non-stop soon. :D

Crystalin - posted on 10/27/2011

mine daughter whines when she want things or points

Alexandra - posted on 10/25/2011

I recently bought a set of two DVDs called Baby Babble.. developed by a team of SLPs. My son (25 months) really likes them... the DVD is make up of simple words and phrases (directed at 3-30 month olds) in relation to different toys (Ball, Ball Down, Ball Up, etc). They also uses clsoe-ups of facial expressions made when producing certain sounds. it seems to really encourage him to use his own voice, he enjoys saying the names of the toys he knows and blow raspberries with the SLPs... they also have a sign language segment and he's picking up on a few signs.

I also bought a book (I think it's called Play to Talk?) to help me find ways to encourage him to speak. I thought it was interesting that thesuggest speaking only as much as your child and to use whatever verbage coming from your child as play... to encourage more sounds and more oral motor exploration... ie) if you're child is just saying baabaabababbaa, say it back, then add other noises, wait for a response. seems to be working for me and my son...

Charlene - posted on 10/24/2011

BING! I feel EXACTLY the same way about my guy. He understands everything around him, his motor skills are superb, but his expressive skills are in the toilet and he's 2.5! But according to many friends with boys, it's a common issue (many of them had boys who didn't speak til 3 and better, in spite of what the experts said). It's frustrating, but all you can do is keep at it and know that you are far from alone :D

Mastoora - posted on 10/24/2011

My daughter just turned 2 and she is just starting to talk...the more you work with him, the better. Just give him time. Keep reading to him and all the other stuff, whatever you do with him, tell him what you are doing, explain it to him and eventually he will start and then you`ll wonder why you wanted him to start talking (I am with mine! lol) You are worried that he`s not saying anything at 18 months..and mine didn`t start until she was 24 months lol. Nothing to worry about Mama :)