My 21-Month-old and the Word "Huh"?!?

Updated on July 13, 2010
A.B. asks from Burleson, TX
11 answers

So, my dear sweet boy is constanly saying "huh" after being spoken to. My question, is this maybe part of his language development, did any of your little ones say "huh" all the time?? We always repeat what we say until we think he has picked up what we are trying to convey to him. Just wondering your thoughts.

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Y.C.

answers from New York on

I am sorry, I think is cute.
My daughter tells me: wait, wait, wait or plis (please) I think she thinks that is a magic word that would give her ANYTHING.
Just keep telling him to say, excuse me.
Btw, my daughter learn this word from Moose A Moose

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M.R.

answers from Columbus on

Could be a habit, but it could also be that he is needing repetition to process the languge, or it also could be a mild hearing issue, like fluid.

It never hurts to rule out issues when you notice a pattern.

I would ask if you use complicated sentences and maybe he needs more simple structures? There also could be some items in langauge that cause him to need to stop and think, maybe a weekness in a simple process like categorizing (apples, oragnges, bananas-all fruit, but he may need to think for a minute when you say fruit instead of the specific item.)

Since you have enough concern to ask, I would do some primary exploration to rule these things out. Start with your pediatrician.

Developmental issues are too precious to risk missing something that could respond to early intervention.

M.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

It's mimicry. SOMEONE in your son's life does this, and probably doesn't realize it.

My son went through both a "Well...." phase and an "Actually," phase. It was hilarious, because he was inserting them at the beginning of every sentence. He'd heard it enough (like please and thankyou) that he just automatically inserted them at the beginning of every sentence, just like inserting please at the end of every question.

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L.S.

answers from Dallas on

I have a 26 month old son and he does the exact same thing!! Everything we say to him, his response is "huh". I just let it go and don't worry about it. I dont think he didn't hear me, I just think that he likes to say it!! My husband on the other hand gets irritated by it and has been trying to get him to say "what" instead. The funny thing is that he will say what to me and huh to my husband!! I think its normal, kids always go thru stages of saying weird things! Be thankful that it's nothing worse then huh!! My nephew went thru a stage around 3 of saying "freakin'" Everything was "its freakin not" Of course he had no idea what he was saying but others did!! I would just let him grow out of it and if you are really concerned ask your ped about it!

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S.S.

answers from Detroit on

I think it's cute too. My little one not only says huh...(Hi Mommy, huh?), but she also says "see...see...see" when she wants to me to watch what she is doing. I could just eat her up!

So no, don't worry about it! Enjoy your little ones introduction into the speaking world.

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C.R.

answers from Seattle on

My daughter went threw this phase too. I actually caught myself saying Huh to her when I was trying to understand her so I think she got it from there. My husband and I just started ignoring it and didn't respond to it at all. Once we started doing that it went away pretty quickly. It's annoying isn't it!!!!

PS, both the neighbor girl and my co-workers daughter went threw this phase too. My co-worker also said she caught herself saying it to her daughter because she couldn't quite understand her.

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T.C.

answers from Minneapolis on

My son is going through this phase to and has been for a long time. I know he hears us just fine, so i ususally just say you heard me and dont repeat it. If i know he really didn't hear then i will repeat it. It is very annoying and i can not wait till he is done with it. He is almost 3 by the way. I will be curious as well to see if anyone has any good ideas on how to get him to quit.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter says it also. She will outgrow--until she is a tween. Right now I joke that that is my kids' favorite word-my other kids are 11 yrs old. Sometimes it is just a step for them to process what you said or not quite catching what you said. It can become a bad habit but usually broken as they learn more. My older kids stopped around 3 yrs old.

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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

I would break the pattern, because "huh" is rude. Of course your child doesn't mean it that way, but he is probably forming a habit that could be more difficult to break later. Every time he says it, encourage him to say, "I beg your pardon?" or even just "Pardon me?" instead of "Huh?" Once he has said that politely, go ahead and repeat yourself to make sure he heard you. I'll bet that when you draw attention to it, it'll stop.

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

Ha! My son went through that phase, too! We would repeat ourselves once and then ignore the ones after that. The phase didn't last very long. Hold on until the next one! LOL!

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J.C.

answers from New York on

Whenever he says "huh," follow up by looking him in the eye and saying, "Excuse me, Mommy?" If he is able to comprehend that, he is fine. Keep doing it and "Huh" will go away. If he doesn't seem to get it, speak to your pediatrician.

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