Stuttering

I'm a grandmother and I have a problem with studdering myself. This may help but it will take a little work from you. Next time she starts stuttering tell her to take a deep breath and start over slowly. She is probably thinking to fast for her mouth to catch up. Just an idea. Good luck. Nancey F.

Both of my girls when through a stage of stuttering at that exact age. One of them worse than the other. I was concerned at first, but soon realized their brains are just working faster than their ability to communicate. This is also a time when tantrums are common for that same reason...

My daughter stuttered a lot last year but has out grown it. She is 3.5 years now and doesn't stutter any more. I think most kids out grow it on their own. Their brains are working faster than their mouths can spit it out.

My son stuttered when he was a toddler until he was about 5 yrs old. I was really worried about him being teased when he became old enough to go to school. I was being told by everyone that it's pretty common and usually goes away without the need of a speech therapist. I was advised by his pediatrician not to make a big deal of it or point it out when he does it. Sure enough, it went away on it's own.

Before it gets worse, I would talk to a speech therapist. It may be that she is just getting excited and can't get her words out but who knows. I always err on the side of caution. Disabilities are hard to overcome sometimes and the sooner you get help usually the better.

Hi, I have had lots of experience with this and it is a totally normal phase. At this point in development she is moving around great and is probably communicating really great. What happens is the thoughts in her head are racing and she can't get them out of her mouth fast enough. That is typically why at that age they stutter now if she's doing it past 4, then I'd talk to your pediatrician about seeing a speech specialist. I hope that helps! My nephew did it and my 2 1/2 year old is starting to do it, right on cue.

K.

Talk to your pediatrician about it and get a refferal. My son did the same thing and went to a speech therapist for evaluation and found that it was just his brain going faster than he can get the words out. He was 4 when he was seen but it took 6 months to get the appointment so do it now! They gave us tips on how to just listen and not rush him to speak and also the therapist talked to his preschool teacher at the time and gave her tips on how to notice the different levels of stuttering. (I hope that made sense) Anyway, my advice is to seek the doctor now and don't think you are over protecting your child. You will know in your gut if it is the right thing to do.

I have a four year old and a two and a half and they have both done this. When my son started this at about 2 1/2 or 3 I asked my good friend that happens to be a speech therapist and she told me this was development that would pass and sure enough it was over before long. My daughter is now in the middle of it and I'm not worried at all. My friend told me to just let them do their studdering without interfering and give them all the time they need to express them selves, don't draw attention to the "problem" so they don't become nerves about it.

Good luck,
Hafdis

Dear Mom, S...........I would contact a speech therapist right away...Your little girl is not too young to begin "over coming" her stuttering. I am sure that the medical field has a plan for treatment. Ask your babies Dr. for a referral...

Regards........A Grammy of 37......

All I can say is have a lot of time and make sure you let them know you love them very much. That is the most inportant thing of all. Things will be ok, just let god help you out. He will never stear you in the wrong direction, all you have to do is listen to him and your family and your loved ones. I wish I could help you out more.

I have a four year old who has been in speech since two. He also started stuttering around three and his speech pathologist has kept an eye on it, but has told me to only be concerned if the child starts to notice it or become frustrated by it that is the time for a speech therapist to step in.

I have a 13yr old son who started stuttering around the same time as your daughter. When he first started it was really bad and all the time. I was told it was due to his brain working faster than his mouth can move. He has had problems with stuttering off and on his whole life. Most of the time his speech is fine. The stuttering gets the worst at times of stress; moving, new school, sometimes new school year or when he is very excited and is trying to talk too fast. For the most part you can't tell. I wouldn't worry about your daughter until she is older. If it is bad when she is school age they have services to help and you can try other options then. For now it is probably just normal.

I have a degree in Speech Therapy but I haven't used it in years. However, there is a normal time period where kid will stutter but if you are concerned then have her seen. One of my accounting clients is a speech therapist with Blue Sky Pediatric Speech Therapy ###-###-####. She is fabulous. Give her a call and see what she says.

There is one other thing you can play with, stutters do not stutter when they are singing or chanting. I don't know whether this has to do with right brain vs. left brain but you could do sing song kind of games and see what happens. Slowing down the words can also help. Sometimes their brain goes faster than they can get the words out. It is the same for those of us who don't normally stutter and we are amazed at how we are tripping over our words. The key is to relax so your child doesn't stress out over how her words are coming out.

Good luck.
C.

Hi S. speech therapy is good but what precedes that neurodevelopmentally is the completion of activities such as crawling and creeping which organize the brain and the efficiency of its functions .If you wish to kmow more call me at ###-###-#### lovingly C.

My husband stutters and is on the board of the NSA (National Stuttering Association). He also runs the Seattle chapter support group for adults. Also, my son has had a stutter and has received speech therapy in the past. At 8 years old, his stutter is quite a bit better. Stuttering can be a normal phase, however, since you can't predict that, we are firm believers in getting an evaluation and therapy early. The earlier the therapy starts the better the outcome. I and or my husband would be happy to speak with you more if you are interested.

I am a speech pathologist and its completely normal for youngsters to experience a period of dysfluency (where they start to say one thing and then decide to revise the phrase.) It usually is not considered a problem unless the dysfluency persists beyond the age of 4. Some types of dysfluencies even at 3 years of age can be indicative of a problem. But you would really need to have her seen by an SLP to know that. Otherwise check out the Stuttering Foundation of America website for more information:

www.StutteringHelp.org

I don't really have any advice or where to send you, but....

My brother started stuttering one day out of the blue, and sometimes it was worse than others. Then slowly, it stopped. He's 31 now and can't tell he ever stuttered.

Hope this helps, I don't know how much it will! LOL

K.

I wouldn't be surprised if your daughters brain has all of a sudden taken off and her mouth hasn't quite caught up yet. I would encourage her to slow down, think about what she is going to say, and then say it. My son is 4, and sometimes he is so excited to say something, or he is distracted, that he says a phrase over and over until everything lines up and his idea comes out. I'll bet that she grows out of it as she grows up!

My son started stuttering and then I realized it was because I was always in a hurry, so I was rushing him while he was speaking. I was making him nervous. So I stopped rushing him, and stopped making him nervous while he was talking, and the stuttering stopped. Also, doctors have found out that when the child sings, they can't stutter. I don't know if you like to sing, but having your daughter do some music and sing can also help the stuttering.

Hi S.. My little boy will be two in July and just got through this phase. He stuttered for about 4-5 months and I was freaking out thinking that we would have to go to a therapist to get him to stop. We just kept telling him to slow down and breathe and then talk to us. This is pretty normal from what our doctor and our friends with children have told us. I wouldn't worry too much. I hope this helps a bit. Have a great day!

Hi S.!
My name is K. and I am a speech-language pathologist that has worked extensively with preschoolers in the school system and private practice. Here's my advice based on what you have written. Of course, without seeing your daughter in person, this is a very generic response, so please trust your instincts as a parent. :-) Yes, it is very typical for a child to go through a period of disfluency or stuttering in his/her preschool years. Often you will hear children repeating whole words or phrases or inserting "ums" for example. And it is also very typical for this to be cyclical, meaning that it can be more prominent at different times. Some children go through periods of disfluency for weeks. Some may have more disfluencies at different times of day, when they are more excited, etc. Often I will see that children's disfluency may increase when there is new information learned at school, a change is made in a school or family structure, etc. When it is due to change like that I would expect it to level off once her system has adapted. It most likely is a very typical stage that your daughter is going through. That being said, if you daughter continues to stutter for an extended period of time and you notice things such as repeating a sound multiple times (b-b-b-b-baby), prolonging sounds (often heard with a sound such as /s/), struggle (e.g., facial twitches, moving parts of her body or face, tensing her face) or an overall difficulty even getting the sound out (as if she is stuck, may see tightness/tenseness in face or neck) you may wish to seek further advice. The Stuttering Foundation of America has helpful brochures for parents that may help you make an informed decision. They also have information on their website. http://www.stutteringhelp.org/. Know also that if you have concerns you can seek out your local school district and they will determine if she is in need of an evaluation. Of course, private practice is also an option.

It really depends on the kind of stuttering: does she repeat whole words or sounds in the middle or end of the word, or just sounds at the beginning of a word? Is she bothered by it: does she get frustrated, or incorporate body language (scrunched up faces) while struggling with it?

If it's just beginnings of the word, and she isn't bothered/show signs of struggling it's probably nothing to worry about. Most kids this age do this (a sign that they're thinking really quickly and having a hard time keeping up with their own brilliance:). Ignore it. If you draw attention to it, she'll probably notice & it could turn into something that she struggles with.

If she is struggling, or having difficulty with more than just the beginning sounds of words you should ask her pcp for a recommendation.

My son went through a stuttering phase at that same age, for about 6 months. I was told that it was normal, and probably just a phase (like so many things,) and it was. But if in doubt, ask your Dr.

Hi S.,
Children often stutter to keep the moment, fearing that the listener will lose interest and not hear the whole idea the child is attempting to issue. Also, the stutter is to try to connect the words appropriate for the sentence structure they are attempting to build. Most children lose this pattern quickly (within months) and then simply yell everything for fear no one will hear them. Enjoy and don't worry. Kids are designed to worry us to death while giving us the most joy of our lives.
J. S

My youngest son has done this, and like you, I was concerned. BUT, he did out grow it. I found a few things, 1 - when there was added stress for him like a big move it is increased. 2 - when he gets excited, 3 - when he is trying to talk fast enough to keep up with his brain.
I would just focus on your child, bend down so he knows you are paying him attention and let him take his time. I would guess it will pass within a number of months.
My son did it at 2, then again now. Both are at the back side of major changes in his life, both he is outgrowing it.
Blessings

My daughter began stuttering at this age. We realized that her brain was thinking faster than she could talk so we would stop her and tell her to slow down. Eventually by age four she had stopped the stuttering and she is now 9 and a perfect reader! Hope this helps!

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Speech-Disorders-987/Toddler-S...

True stuttering is something that will not come and go. She would stutter all the time. Also, a child that is truly stuttering is usually distressed by it while toddlers going through the normal stuttering phase are not bothered by it all that much. The reason for this phase is that your daughter is learning so many new words. Her thought process is becoming much more complex. Basically, her mind can think up these thoughts faster than her mouth can spit them out. The best thing to do is totally ignore it. But, if you are anything like me, sitting back idly is easier said than done when it comes to your daughter’s phases. If you feel like you need to do something, then just say “slow down and try again”. Often, they just need to be reassured that you are going to continue to pay attention to her and listen to what she has to say even if it takes a while. Young kids think that adults are only going to listen for a few minutes, so they need to get everything they want to say out quickly. Compare how quickly you speak when you speak to an adult compared with how slowly your daughter talks most of the time. She is trying to mimic you. If the stuttering is just a normal phase, then you will notice it getting worse when she is distressed or tired, but better when she is happy, calm, well fed, and well rested.

My son stuttered, too when he was around that age. He is almost 7 now and speaks just fine...it is just a phase. My 4 year old has a little bit of it, too. I think that their mouths don't work quite as fast as their brains are thinking and as they are so young, they are still developing the brain connections. Be patient with her.

S.,

My son started to do this as well. After talking to my in-laws I learned that one of my sisters-in-law did the same thing as a child. Long story short, is was because they both were being pushed into doing things they didn't want to do. With my son it was encouraging him to say hi to people and interacting socially, when he really didn't want to.

Don't force her to speak to new people if she doesn't want to, and let her know that it's ok to be shy. My son is now 4 1/2 and will sometimes hide behind me even with people that he knows, but hasn't seen for a while. OR, he'll just tell me that he's going to be shy today. I let it go at that.

Once I stopped pushing him to be social, he stuttering stopped almost immediately.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

I haven't quite gotten to that stage yet (my son is only two), but I've helped raise my nephew who is now nine and he had a horrible problem with stuttering when he was little and it was simply because his little brain was working faster than his mouth and he would just get stuck trying to get the words out. We were told it was just a phase and we worried a little bit, but it went away and he's fine now, no problems at all.

I have my son going to a speech therapist, and she is absolutly wonderful. My son loves her and she has helped him alot. He is only 4, but has had a speech and stuttering problem since he was about 2. I listened to everyone when they said to wait it out and he will talk in his own time. Well here we are two years later and he wasnt talking better,and he has some serious speech delays, which now have also caused some social delays in preschool. He has alienated himself from the other students because of this and now we are trying to undo what was done. He has to do another year of preschool and we are hoping it helps. I am not telling this to scare you, but I just wanted to urge you to get the help she may need. I waited and now I regret it. I know a speech therapist sounds scary, but if it helps its worth it. Good Luck.

My daughter is 5 and stutters when she either gets too excited or can't think of how to express herself verbally. Usually all I have to do is either tell her to slow down or tell her that she only has to say it once because she'll repeat the same word several times also. Sometimes I even have to tell her to stop, take a deep breath, and try again because she's talking too fast for me to understand.
I think some of the TV shows have something to do with the repeating and stuttering. Because with a lot of the PreSchool shows when the kid gets excited they'll say something like "I know! I know! I know!" or if scared stuttering their words. My daughter tends to mimic them and it doesn't take a lot to correct her. She started the stuttering around the same time as your daughter but it's controlable, more so over time.

My two-and-a-half-year-old son has also started stuttering recently. He's very verbal and loves to talk, and I truly feel like he just gets so excited and tries to "hold the floor" while he's talking, and then he gets going and can't get his thoughts out quickly enough.

I've also read a couple of articles on stuttering and they identify many different types. It seems that if they are repeating whole words and phrases, it is more developmentally "normal" than if they get stuck on initial word sounds. I also read that if the stuttering is accompanied by facial tics or extreme frustration or anything more severe, then it is probably time to get a real evaluation.

All in all, I think it is VERY common for kids this age to stutter a bit. If you're really worried, I would call your pediatrician and start from there, but otherwise, waiting a couple of months, being extra patient with your daughter and trying to ignore it (and making sure her other caretakers do the same) is probably your best course of action for now.

Hope that helps!! :)

My daughter has also began stuttering, she will be three in June. When she is totally calm or saying a simple sentence she is fine. It's mainly when she is telling a story or has to really think about what she is saying that she stutters, which is what I think the problem is. I just wanted to let you know she is the same age and going through the same thing.

My son turns three in June. He's very verbal and bright (don't all moms say that?!) and around December he started to stutter the las parts of words (ie: daddy-y-y-y). At first it was barely noticable, then he started to stutter more. I freaked out, looked online and talked to others, and heard the same thing you did...it's very common for little kids, and most kids grow out of it. He only did it for a few weeks, and I haven't heard the stutter since. I think if you're really concerned you should talk to your doctor, but it seems to me that when kids are that little their brains sometimes get ahead of their mouths, and that's what causes the stutter.

give it some time. it really can be a phase. it is important not to make a big deal about it to your daughter as anxiety could just make it worse. my nephew went through this too and he's fine now (and 4 years old).

Hi S.,

The stuttering is absolutely normal. Little ones' brains get ahead of their tongues. My daughter, who's 10 now, stuttered a lot and I was concerned so I talked to a good friend of mine who is a speech therapist and she said I had to completely ignore the stutter. She said that if we drew attention to it then our daughter could possibly become a stutterer (is that a word?). It was hard for me to ignore because I'm a worry wart but we did ignore it and she speaks great now. I can't remember exactly how long she stuttered but it didn't go away over night. Now her little brother (he's 4) does it a little bit when he's excited to tell us something -- this time around it's much easier to ignore :)
Anyway, don't worry it'll go away on it's own and the less you do about it the better!
Good luck,
M.

I am a Speech Pathologist, and trust me, it's normal. Try not to make your munchkin self-concious about it and nine times out of ten, they will out-grow it. I know it's easier to say than do. I am an SLP and I know better, but when my kiddo went through it (and one of my kids went through it really, really bad), I was convinced that it was not normal... But it was and he's a completely normal talker now! But if you really are concerned, there are definitely SLP's that work with kiddos that young.
Good Luck!
--E.

S.,
My daughter will be 3 next month. I've recently noticed her stumbling over her words from time to time. It suprised me because she was my early talker, she is the youngest of my 4 kids. I notice if I seem busy or she is overwhelmed a bit, whether it be just sheer excitement or talking about something, at times she slows down her words and almost questions herself. I have been going to her at eye level and focussing eye to eye as she speaks to me. Sometimes I repeat slowly, in confirmation, was she is saying. I also pay attention to my facial expression, as she has been noitceing expressions of people, lately. Many have said, their little minds are really so full of information and so many interesting things to say about it all! no worries
D. D

Hi S.,
There is an organization in the area called EC Cares that will evaluate your child's speech for free and can tell you if she needs help. They are an organization that helps get children ready for school by dealing with speech, and other development issues. If needed they also provide speech therapy. Insurance is not needed. You can call them at ###-###-#### or visit their website: http://eccares.uoregon.edu I am a part time preschool teacher and they have assisted many of the children at our school. Hope this helps!

My son started stuttering at that same age. The advise that I got from his preschool teachers was not to draw any attention to it what-so-ever and it will go away. That's the advise I followed, and it went away!

This is an age when they are attempting to master language, which they can intellectually, but the muscle work seems to lag just a bit behind. No worries - it catches up.

If the stuttering is still there in a year, then it may be time to address it.

It's normal for a young child to stutter some - they have so much to say and are learning so many words that it sometimes gets kind of jumbled. The best thing is to just be patient, let her say what she wants to say without any interruptions or interjections. You don't want to talk for her. Definitely, if things don't get better/improve (in about 6 months to a year) then you should consider a speech therapist. (from a speech therapist)

Hi S.,

You've gotten a lot of good advice. I'd just like to add a little extra info.

If you decide to have your daughter evaluated by a speech therapist, check with your local school district first.

In Washington State preschoolers are entitled to evaluation and special education services free of charge, if they meet certain criteria. I'm not sure how it's set up in Alaska, but it may be worth looking into.

As far as the stuttering goes, I like to rule out serious problems if something seems "off" with one of my kids, if for no other reason than to hear from an expert that everything is fine.

Keep up the good work S.,

D.

S., I (experienced grandma) would simply ignore it for now. It is common for kids at your daughter's age...I think what happens is that their little brains just get ahead of their mouths. Just don't draw any attention to it and she'll likely get over it within a few weeks. P.

Stuttering at this age is almost always a normal reaction to something. Sometimes it's just a part of the learning to talk process.

And sometimes it's the result of feeling pressured. Even if you're not paying attention to the stuttering when you're with him he feels your anxiety.

Before going to a speech therapist I recommend finding a way to relax and be OK with the stuttering. Never bring your daughter's speech to her attention; especially not the stuttering.
And closely examine what is happening in her life that might cause her to feel pressured. Feeling pressured doesn't have to be a reaction to social situations tho that seems like it would be the obvious.

Incidently, if it is ppossibly shyness, my 7 1/2 year old granddaughter is very social, talking even to strangers, but when we meet someone, even if she knows them, she also hides behind my back. She is definately not shy! But she becomes shy in that situation.

My brother stuttered at that age. My parents were separated and we were living with an aunt and uncle. Once our parents got back together and life settled into a comfortable routine his stuttering stopped. That did take a couple of years.

I know from personal experience that it is difficult to be calm in this sort of situation. My grandson was late in talking. At his 3yo exam his pediatrician said he should be examined. She gave us the number to the Multnomah County Intermediate Education Service office. Every counting in our country provides this service. They evaluate and provide treatment if it's needed. There is no charge because they are mandated to do so by Federal law. We have been very pleased with their services to Chase and him parents.

If I were you I'd first try ignoring the stuttering, finding out if there is anything happening that might be making her feel pushed and correcting it. Be as relaxed as possible with all parts of her life. Definitley do not bring attention to her speech, especially her stuttering.

If she is still stuttering in a month, revisit the question of seeking a professional evaluation.

S., when I was a newlywed, my husband had a friend whose daughter (about 6 or 7 yrs old) stuttered. They'd been taking her to counselors, and weren't having any luck. My hubby & I decided to try taking her to our house a day or two each week, as we perceived that as the youngest in the family, she might benefit from being the "only" for a few hours a week.

We lost touch with the family for a while, and about two years later, they called and begged us to come for dinner. We were sitting and laughing and talking and I kept feeling that I was being stared at. Finally I asked point blank, "What am I missing?" and the mother said, "Kathy isn't stuttering."

Oh my goodness, I was so excited for her, and so proud of her and I hugged her and apologized, telling her that it seemed so natural to me, that I had totally forgotten that she'd ever stuttered.

Her mother said, "But it's you and Terry who got her through it!" I must tell you that I was shocked. This dinner was Kathy's "thank you" to us.

All that Terry and I had done, was to stop what we were doing and listen to her and let her speak. We had thought that she was very shy and unsure of herself, and all these chatterers around her made her keep feeling that way. So when she'd begin to speak, we'd give her our full attention and we wouldn't finish her sentences for her, so she got more and more comfortable with knowing she didn't have to hurry up and spit things out. And I'd hug her a lot. But mostly, it was just that we would listen with attention and show her our pleasure at having her talk to us.

When we'd take her home, her parents watched how she was talking with us, and noticed an improvement in her. And they started trying to copy us. Terry and I weren't aware of that. It seemed very easy for us (she was darling), but when we'd have her for a day or two and take her home, her parents saw a change.

I know this is nothing that you will probably ever see in a medical book. And we reacted from something within us that "recognized" something going on in the family that was hard for the little girl. I hope I am correctly remembering her name. I think of her frequently, but it was almost forty years ago, and my memory is horrid about details like names (even current friends, lol).

But I do really recommend that you not finish the child's sentences, not try to help her spit it out, and look at her with your full attention and a gentle smile when she begins to stutter (to not let her think you're worried ... and you should NOT worry!) There are many ways for you to help her. If it grows worse, perhaps see if she can sing the words. Make sure she knows that she must be one of the special people who is meant to think before she speaks (something that many of us grow to lament we forget to do).

And at her age, she is very young for you to worry about such a thing. When our children are just learning things, and it seems that they aren't quite the same in their abilities as others, that's the time that we should stop and look at them and let our imaginations soar with interest. We should ask ourselves what this is going to mean for them as an adult (in a POSITIVE way), and we should help them to achieve it.

Blessings;
B. (gonna be a great-gran soon, la la la!)

Hello S.,

I feel for you, so many stages of young childhood is hard to determine if it's normal or not. My youngest daughter stuttered abit at the same age, and we did put her in speech therapy and after a few years, with weekly help from a qualified therapist, it was gone.

I do believe that you should have her evaluated by a professional, and not listen to what everyone else is thinking you should do. The therapist will determine if this is normal or needs guidance. Some schools will have a speech therapist.

My sister's son stuttered at 3, she was told "he'll grow out it" by well-meaning friends, and parents, but he didn't grow out of it. When he turned 13, it was so bad, finally, my sister got him remedial help, but it took longer to correct due to habits he developed first. Poor kid, he went thru too many years of being teased, he had poor self esteem from that. If he would have been seen earlier, there would have been less/no grief.

Be your daughter's best friend in all ways, have her evaluated. This can be resolved easily and quickly. Don't feel you failed her if she needs therapy, but you will feel bad if you let it go.

Best wishes.

Many times stuttering is a normal phase; therapists mainly look at how long it has been going on & whether it's getting better or worse to decide if he needs help. They also consider whether or not your child is showing frustrations w/ themselves. My son had issues w/ "whole word stuttering" - or disfluency at that age. I kept thinking he would work through it, but it got worse instead of better and showed signs of frustration when trying to get his thoughts across. We didn't draw attention to it, etc. & followed all the "normal process". So, after checking around town, etc. we ended up going to the Alyce Hatch Center. He went through a series of evaluations and got admitted to their program. It is WONDERFUL! I so highly recommend it. He attends once a week for 2 1/2 hours. The progress he has made is simply amazing. He very rarely stutters and now is focusing on sounds, etc. that he became behind in while going through the stuttering phase. He loves his class & looks forward to it every week. They teachers are just excellent!

If the stuttering continues very long, it is definitely worth checking out the program. They will guide you through the process and determine what is best for your daughter.

Hello S.,
I was reading through the responses and absolutely, this is a very common and normal thing for your daughter to be going through. And, just to mention the other side of things, there are 2 general types of stuttering - the "learning to talk" phase that your daughter is most likely experiencing and then the chronic speech impediment. I am a stutterer (which started when I was 3) and on my father's side, many of my relatives are stutterers. I've been through tons of speech therapy and know intimately the importance of learning fluency skills early on. I have 3 boys (ages 6,4 and 1), and when my 2nd boy was about 3 he started stuttering, too. Thankfully, by 4, it has completely gone away. If it goes on for more than a year, don't be afraid to get professional help.
All the best,
R.

Hey S. - my two "boys" (now in their thirties) both began stuttering at about age 3. I was concerned about the first one (of course) and my doctor said "It's a tic; just ignore it." Hard to do of course, but both kids outgrew it fairly quickly and are excellent speakers today. I did find it helpful when they were "stuck" to gently say "huh?". Seemed to "reroute" them somehow. Hope this reassures you.

My Mother-in-law is a speech and language therapist and we just happened to be talking about this very thing the other day. She had a fancy name for it, but it is a very common phase that most kids go through as they get closer to 3. She said it's differs from true stuttering, in that with this, they are usually repeating an entire word over and over, not just one sound. Their mind is just going faster than their little mouth can keep up with.

Having said that......You are her mama. If you feel like somethings not right, it wouldn't hurt to ask your doctor about it.

Our son went through much the same thing at about 3 years old and my husband and I finally figured out that the stuttering became worse when he was extremely tired. It did get better after a while, but it took patience on our part. We did not take him to a speech therapist. The stuttering occasionally reasserts itself when he's had a really rough day and we've been told it could for a while until his mouth has a chance to catch up to how quickly his brain is thinking.

One of the other moms suggested singing. That did work well for my cousin - still does! Good luck!

Not all children have it, but it is a normal phase. My son began stuttering two months before his third birthday. It was so bad at times that we really felt sorry for the little guy. I spoke to doctors and kindergarden teachers. They all told me to wait and see what happens and that if it doesn't improve by the age of 4/5 to then do something about it.
Their reason sounded plausible: Their little brains work much faster than their capacity to put the thoughts into words and they therefor sometimes start to stutter.
My son is now 3 1/2 and has completely stopped.

I would recommend going to a speech therapist and/or having her take singing lessons. A good friend of mine who stutters in speech doesn't stutter when he sings :)