3 Year Old Picked up the Habit of Stuttering from Another Child and Won't Stop

I don't know if this applies to your situation, but I will share just in case. My daughter started stuttering when she was two and half. It started so suddently that I took her to the doctor who didn't even examine her but looked at me like I was nuts. She said "Little kids stutter." I told her mine didn't before yesterday.

Anyway, I called a coincidentally nice speech therapist from the phone book. She told me little kids sometimes stutter because their physiology can't keep up with their growing vocaulary and it blips the brain, but then the brain catches up and the problem resolves. My daughter only stuttered for a few weeks, but I can appreciate how frustrating it is.

If you're concerned that the problem's been going on so long, I say ask the doctor or even call a speech pathologist to see if an evaluation is in order.

My brother stuttered when he was in preshool. The docotr told my M. not to make a big deal about it...he eventually stopped on his own.

Explain to your sone that if he doesn't stop, you will NOT take your son to play with the cousin anymore...and DON'T.

The best advice you've already been given: If you are really concerned, contact your pediatrician and/or a speech therapist.

In addition, don't give the stuttering too much attention. It might aggravate the situation. Simply wait for you child to "get it out." If you finish his sentences for him or blurt out the words, he might begin to feel uncomfortable and it could make him anxious and lead to more stuttering.

One woman posted that she'd spoken with a pathologist, who said that frequently toddlers stutter. She is right. Their motor wiring and their brains just aren't in complete "sync" yet. That can lead to stuttering... especially when they are tired or over-excited.

Wait it out. If you are becoming more anxious, then trust your gut/heart and follow up with a pediatrician or a speech pathologist.

Good luck!

Stuttering does run in families, so there is a chance he is stuttering just because he was going to anyway.
There are other tactics you can do to help him get over his mental block too. Does he like to sing? Or talk in a sing-song voice?
I used to have a Great Uncle who stuttered terribly. When he was VERY stuck, another family member would say "sing it to me Ray" and he would... he could sing it, but not say it.
After a few sentences, he's revert back to regular talking. He just needed that little extra push to get going sometimes. (He never got help for this in school because they didn't have any way to help back then.)
Sometimes a firm "Stop. Swallow, now talk." also works. (My Mom occasionally gets flustered & starts to stutter & that's what I say to her because if she keeps doing it, then sometimes I'll start shortly thereafter.)
If he keeps doing it on a regular basis, a speech therapist is probably going to be a good investment. Better to treat it early so he can learn to work around it while very young.
Good luck!

My youngest son did this as well. His friend at preschool stuttered. He kept doing it and it drove me up a wall. I knew that he did not have the problem before this. It eventually went away when the novilty wore off.

its very common for children at 3 years of age to stutter. I dont thinnk this has anything to do with his cousin. it usually goes away on its own but if persists I think 6 months or more to see your ped about it.

C., I had an uncle that stuttered profusely, so it was always an interest to me. Studied it in high school and then wrote a huge paper on it in college.

Most children, especially boys, go thru some kind of stage of stuttering. The most important thing you can do is DO NOTHING. In fact, I IMPLORE YOU to do NOTHING. Leave him alone. He will outgrow it.

If he doesn't by the time he is 6 then you can look into speech therapy for children who stutter.

I know it is hard because my son went thru the same thing until he was 4 and inspite of the fact that I knew that this was normal, I talked with the pediatrician. He gave me the same advice I gave to you.

The best you can do is to let it go so that he does not feel anxiety from you. Your feelings can affect his behavior. And it is most important that whomever takes care of your children are told to do the same. TO NOT EVERY CORRECT HIM OR SHOW HIM HOW TO TALK.

Good luck, M.
www.spiritual-ethical-will.com

Does he do this at school? If he does it at school then you need to get some help. The school should be able to direct you to the correct help.

S.

Collete,
I too have a 3 yr old who started stuttering one day. I spoke to speech path's my ped and many other moms. All agree that little ones sometimes do this. I often have to wait a while for my son to spit out whatever it is that he is trying to say. Most of the time it happens when he is excited about something. Do not try to correct them, do not make fun of them, tell everyone you know not to make a big deal about it and try not to get agrevated with them. I have been waiting for it to stop for almost a year now, it has slowed down a bit and I am hopeful that it is just a stage. Continue talking wiuth your Ped and if your not comfortable with the answer call a speech path. Maybe they can help ease your mind. Good Luck! J.