2 Years Old and Not Really Talking

My oldest daughter was doing the same thing when she first turned two and I was getting really worried about it. She's always babbled in her own little language but she knows what she's saying. My husband kept reassuring me to be patient and sure enough she started talking around two and a half. She just turned three and now you can't get her to stop talking somedays. Her sister is about to turn two and I'm amazed by all that she says now compared to Grace a year ago but I know they're both healthy and just developing differently. So I wouldn't worry too much about it.

My oldest son did the same thing. At first everyone thought that I was just catering to him, and not "making" him talk. When he wanted juice I would stand there and try to make him say "juice". He would get mad and just walk around me and get it himself. At about 2 1/2 he started talking in almost complete sentences. My dad used to say he didn't talk because he didn't have anything to say. I am starting to think he was right. That was almost 5 years ago, and he is now a perfectly healthy talkative first grader.

Yes all children develop at different rates, but if you are concerned, you should follow your motherly instinct!! Go to your appointment so you will have peace of mind or answers. Moms are experts because we follow our motherly instinct!! Hope everything turns out fine!!
C. B.
www.MoreTime4MyKids.com

Look up your local ECI (early childhood intervention) they may be able to come out and do an assessment and I heard that before the age of 3 they will do house calls. Or you could bring him to a speech pathologist. I got a referral from my pediatrician because I am concerned about my son (almost 3 now). HE JUST started talking recently and is doing pretty well now but has lots of word salad or jumble. Like he says "puc" instead of "cup" the app. is friday. there is no harm in getting them assessed.

My aunt is going through something similar and her doc kept telling her not to worry for a long time. Turns out he only had 40 percent of his hearing and needed tubes in his ears. He just turned 3 and still doesn't talk. He just got the yubes though and hopefully will improve soon!

My sister-in-law has boys that are 4 & 6 now. by the time they were each 3, neither of them would talk hardly at all. When they did, only a few that were around them all the time could understand them. She put the older in speech therapy at age 4 and the younger at age 3. This started to help them out some but we seen even more progress when they started attending pre-k and daycare. They didn't attend all the time, just 2-3 days a week. It also gave mom a little break too. Hope this helps.

My daughter will be 4 this summer and still has "baby-like" words. With my daughter, I think it was because she was learning English, Spanish AND sign language from her school. Also, she's been a HUGE fan of Dora and Diego since birth. In a psychology class I took in college, they say teaching them 2 languages from birth will help them excell later in life, but it does make understanding them as toddlers really difficult.
I've had a few people (my mother in law included) concerned that my daughter doesn't speak perfectly clear English, but I'm not really worried. Her mental capacity far excells in other areas (memory, organization skills, etc). I know she's a brilliant child and I just do what I can at home to help her learn to speak correctly. It all comes with time.

I want to let you know you have reason to be concerned. My son did not talk until almost 4 except for labeling a few items. Most people told me not to worry. I should have worried. By the time he was five then people often looked at me as if why did you not get him help earlier.

My son is 7 and after much speech therapy he can talk. However his langage development turned into an indicator to short term memory issues that we work on every day and impacts his academics. He is a very bright little boy, but it has impacted his ability to read, which then leads to some behavior problems, because he becomes so frustrated in not being able to find the words he wants to communicate. Also many coaches, teachers, and adults do not understand that his failure to follow instructions is not because failure to attend but failure to process. BIG DIFFERENCE!

I am not familar with the programs in San Antonio, but in Houston you can try the University of Houston Speech and Hearing and see if they can refer you to someone locally.

Trust your gut.

E. S.

Both my kids (ages 3 and 5) were slow to talk much. I asked our pediatrician and she said, "If you want them to talk then send them to daycare, they'll have to talk. Otherwise, don't pressure them, they should be comfortable at home." Try for some playdates if you have other kids around.

i don't think you have anything to worry about. my son is almost 2 and he is doing basically the same thing yours is. He doesn't talk nearly as well as his sis or bro at that age, but all kids develop differently. I would just work with him. Bring it up at your next drs appt but I bet your dr will tell you the same thing mine did, which is be patient. once they start talking they don't stop. lol.

Have a great day!!

D. Mattern-Muck
The MOM Team
Raise your income and your rugrats at the same time!
www.formyrugrats.com
"The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6