Saying words with his mouth closed?!

Lai - posted on 05/17/2013

my son is now being tested for this reason with other symptoms. he was full term.

Sujuan - posted on 03/23/2013

Latosha, Thank you for the information! It is very helpful to me! I will try to practice with my son.

Latosha - posted on 03/23/2013

Hi Sujuan,

Yes, my daughter used to purse her lips ALL the time. She is 4 now, and will NOT stop talking ;) No more troubles with her mumbling. Everything she says is VERY clear with proper pronunciation. Between 3 and 4, she did speak with her tongue through her teeth/lips or her bottom lip tight/top teeth sticking out whenever she was nervous. However, we conditioned her out of that habit by explaining that we could not understand her when she talked like that and encouraged her to pull her bottom lip out so we could clearly hear her beautiful voice. After a couple months of encouraging her to speak clearly so we knew exactly what she wanted or needed, it no longer became an issue.

Continue to read, speak and converse with your child. One thing we have done with both of our kids is speak to them like we would any adult; clearly and directly. We didn't use much baby-talk in our home other than 'Ba-Ba', 'Change your diap', 'Ma-Ma' and 'Da-Da', etc. Every home is different, but I do feel that our children have flourished with language skills because of their environment; lots of books, conversation, etc.

Sujuan - posted on 03/23/2013

My son is 2 years and 10 months. He speaks with mouth closed from several weeks ago. I feel he can speak anything around him and I teach him with his mouth closed. I really worry about it. Would anyone give me the confidence he will speak with his mouth open some day by telling me your children's experience? It seems that all the above information was posted more than two years ago, have all children started speaking with their mouth open?

Lacey - posted on 11/09/2012

mine too! she is 19 months, reading this to figure it out

they say they stop talking as much when they start working on something, something physical, like walking....

Jen - posted on 12/06/2010

Ahhhhhhhh...I thought my daughter was the only one to do this!!!!! She was not born pre-mature, and does most of everything else asked of her...however, wont say words outloud. She will say mama, dada, nana, and map from Dora. We go through words ALL THE TIME....alas, she repeats them with her mouth closed. her "mumble of the mouth" does sound like the words i am trying to get her to say. I too, am at a loss. She knows her colors, shapes, animals, etc...but this is the one BIG issue we are having.

Penelope - posted on 11/06/2010

My one daughter did this (older of identical twin girls) for what seemed like forever. Then, one day, she flipped the switch and started barking out proper words. My theory: she was insecure about saying them out loud. She's 21 months now and the words are coming in droves. I can't even keep up with how many new ones we get each day! Hang in there for a bit longer...

ps-my twins were born about 4 weeks premature (37 weeks)

Melissa - posted on 11/05/2010

Hi Kelly,
My daughter has just turned 21 months and she says, "Share" with her mouth closed and it comes along with a scary look!! I think she means to say, "Miiiinnnne" :) lol

I seriously wouldn't worry, some kiddies aren't even talking at this age and some are just mastering running, they are all different so it's just an age thing.
It's hard not to worry though I know!

Charity Lungi Beryl - posted on 11/05/2010

I'd say give it some time and have a little faith.He will grow out of it.I know this girl who was in my class in tertiary you would say colledge. Who was so brilliant! She always got A's. i only found out later on that she as premature, thats when we were working together.

Jaedyn - posted on 11/04/2010

My daughter was a week overdue. She doesnt speak at all, not one word pronounced properly yet she does this 'speaking with a closed mouth' thing too. I think alot of the time when children are slow at speaking, its usually because you have a special closeness with them that lets you know what they want without them having to actually tell you. Me and my daughter are together 24-7, have been since the day she was born and I try every single day to teach her new words, alot of the time she will jus hum back to me the amount of silibles that was in the word I jus said, so if I say to her "Whats this Ruby.. Biscuit".. she will hum back to me "Hmm Hmm", using the same amount of silibles that was in the word 'biscuit'. I use to worry alot about her not speaking yet, but this past week she's been babbling quite alot and is clearly close to jus coming out with full sentences. Children will develop at their own pace, its not a race, they'll do things when they're good and ready.

Latosha - posted on 11/04/2010

My daughter also purses her lips when she talks sometimes. She was on-time, in fact, 11 days over due! (Not like I was counting or anything). She hasn't used a paci since about 4 months old. She talks and talks and talks. I can't even count the number of words she knows, but I do notice that if it is a word she has used for quite a long time (Ball, Momma, Daddy, All Done), it is VERY clear. However, as she is soaking up new words (like a sponge), she tends to mumble them at first. It is as if she knows the sound the words should make, but she hasn't quite figured out how to move her mouth/tongue to go along with a particular word(s).

Jamie - posted on 11/01/2010

No i think its just a stage my daughter Anijah does the same thing! I think its more of a comfort zone for them. Not talking to much means they stay babies. lol

Nicole - posted on 11/01/2010

My son does this too and was born on time. I've always spoken to him normally and his older sister talks up a storm too. I have been reminded him to open his mouth when he talks and I'll open my mouth when i say it. He seems to understand and will open up afterward. Our friends joke that maybe he will be a ventriliquist. ;)

Stephanie - posted on 10/30/2010

My daughter is also 20 months. She was not premature. She has a great vocabulary because I am with her 24/7. I have never baby talked to her and I am always teaching her with everything and talking through everything. Her pronunciation is not always the best and I am constantly working on that with her. She has been a binky/nuk/pacifier user until 11 days ago. I don't know if yours uses a binky but I believe my daughter talks with her mouth closed sometimes because she would talk with the binky in her mouth. The funny thing is I understood it! :) Since the binky has been gone she is actually talking with her mouth open more. When she is tired or being shy she still is talking with her mouth closed but I think that it is about security/shyness at least for her. I think it is a faze they go through until they are comfortable with everything. Keep in mind if your child was a premature baby the age is based on what it would have been if they were born on time so your son seems to be ahead of the game. Keep up the good work mom....I think your doing just fine ;)

Jennifer - posted on 10/29/2010

My son was born right on time, and does this also. He used to say so many words, and he doesn't say them as much now. He is also 20 months. But he does talk with his mouth closed all the time! I will try the annunciation thing.

Kelly - posted on 10/26/2010

Thanks Brandy! Its interesting, some words he picks up immediately like 'blue' (blues clues) then yesterday we were at the park and he said 'squirrel'!! I will definitely try more annunciation for sure!

Brandy - posted on 10/25/2010

my daughter was born premature as well and occasionally does this, her dt suggested that i try more annuciation and it seems to be working pretty good. but it sounds like your son has a good vocabulary already i wouldnt worry about it so much if i were you, i think because our kids were preterm we push them a little more and they usually have access to alot of extra help with programs and such so they tend to do really well, ive noticed alot of kids their age arent saying much at all which really suprised me!