My Son Will Be 2 in July and He Isn't Talking That Much...

My brother was the same way. He just didn't want to talk. My parents had him tested only to discover he was fine. He is now a pharmacist.

I wouldn't be worried yet. You say he knows what things are and can say words . . . he just hasn't had the need to use many words probably because he just doesn't need to. He will start speaking more soon enough. Dont worry!

Have you brought this to the attention of your doctor? If not, do so and if the doctor is worried, contact your states Early intervention program. This program will assess your son and see if he has speech problems. If he does, he may qualify for services from the intervention program. My son never babbled or did the dadadada or mamamamama thing that most kids do. It may not be anything serious but definitely bring this to the attention of your doctor if you have not done so.

Hi J.. I would say not to worry. Talk with your son's doctor when you go in for his 2 yr old well child visit. Any questions or worries... TALK to the DOCTOR about them. Make a list and take it with you. Some of this will be covered during that visit, as asking how many words he speaks will be part of the examination. There are guidelines for this sort of thing. Make a list of words he can say, and take it with you to your dr. visit. Then you will know exactly how many words he says instead of guessing.

But I really wouldn't worry unless you think he isn't able to hear properly. My own son was talking quite a bit before he was two. But not all kids do. A friend's daughter only speaks a few words, and the family has to "translate" for me to know what THOSE few words are, and she will be 2 the same week as your son. Every child is different. Some children don't speak at all.. until they have completely mastered it. I mean, one day they just start talking in sentences! It's much like crawling/walking. Some kids start crawling at 6 months .. some it's 9 months. Then walk at 10.5 months or at 17 months or whatever. And then there are some like my niece who NEVER crawled - at all. She "scooted" on her bottom for a long time... then went straight to walking. Every child will learn new skills at a different pace, and sometimes in slightly different orders. If he is having a huge physical growth spurt or dexterity growth.. he may slow down on some of the verbal milestones. Or vice versa.
But if you want to encourage him to try, make it fun, and please don't feel like you should put him in daycare to help him learn to talk. I have read (and I agree) that "baby talk" slows kids down in their talking ability. When you are speaking with him, speak. Don't babble "baby talk". Use your grown up voice. Don't rush your words. Speak calmly and plainly. And ask him questions... Hold up two choices and ask him... "Which do you want to play with... the truck (pause) or the boat?" Then wait. If he just points... "label" the item for him as you give it to him by saying, "oh.. you want to play with the boat. Can you say 'boat'?" Don't make it too hard or pressure him. Make it fun! I'll bet in no time at all, he'll be amazing you with how many new words he uses on a daily basis. Give him opportunities to try out these new verbal skills he is learning... and enjoy his efforts... There are choices all day long, that he can practice his verbal skills on. Roll a ball back and forth with him... when you get it, say "ball".. then roll it back to him. He rolls it to you, you say "ball".. roll it back... etc.
Relax a little. You are right that he might not talk much until after two. It is a possibility. And if that is the case, it doesn't mean anything... except that he's been busy learning other things. Also... be mindful, that for small children, mispronounced words are STILL words. So take that into consideration when you are thinking about how many words he can say. If he says "muk" for his milk cup, then that is a word. My daughter said "Un" for months. We had NO IDEA--- it was just babble and grunts! She was YOUNG, and wasn't talking yet. Well, over the course of the next 18 months, we realized that she was trying to say her brother's name. It morphed. The "Un"s stopped and the "Urn"s started. The "Urn"s were replaced with "Urin" and finally, she called her brother "Aaron". We noticed a consistent pattern and realized that was what she was "saying" all along. But not with the first "Un". So listen carefully.. he might have words that you don't realize are "words".
Hope this helps~
P.S.

One more thing... (sorry about the length).. READ, READ, READ to him! Lots and lots of books... (I Spy books were my daughter's favorites. And of course Dr. Seuss's The Foot Book!).

Hello J.,
Have you gotten Colby assessed? My son is now 4 yo and I got my son assessed (hearing, autism, etc.)just to ease my concerns and cognitively he was actually testing 'ahead' of where he should be even though he was very nonverbal.

My son did not talk until after he turned 3, same thing with potty training.

From my own experience, boys take longer to reach milestones.

My son did not walk until he was 14 months, did not get any teeth until after he turned a year, didn't talk or wasn't potty trained until after age 3.

Every kid is different. But since you mentioned that he does understand, although nonverbally, he should be fine and simply will end up being a late talker.

HTHs

My daughter is only a couple of months old so I don't have direct experience with this. However I have been around many toddlers and every single one is different I know some that are talking already at 12 months and some that know a couple of words as the turn two. You are right, boys tend to do things a little later than girls do and that lasts up until middle school. As far as I know this sounds very normal but if you are really concerned don't hesitate to ask your son's dr. (do you have a 2 year well visit coming up) or give the dr. a call and ask.

I wouldn't be too concerned. He's obviously communicating with you by pointing or grunting...?
Make it a game, which kids all love. Instead of pointing, ask him "tell the name of this" (apple, book, cup, anything simple...) He gets a sticker for saying the word. Put a chart on the kitchen wall or fridge and let him place it in one of the many squares.
He should be able to say simple words as you are reading a book. Does he call you mama?
Know that once he starts talking, he probably won't stop!!!
Blessings

Encourage him to specifically communicate by gesturing/pointing to what he wants or by making sounds (words or word approximations). Offer choices between 2 things (milk or juice, book or truck) rather than trying to anticipate what he wants. I agree that checking with the pediatrician at the 2 year check up is important. Check this web site from the American Speech & Hearing Association for milestones which may help you decide if you need to be concerned.

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/chart.htm

If you are still concerned, you can contact the state Early Steps program located at the Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families. This site has a Developmental Clinic that provides evaluations for children from birth to 3 years. The Early Steps website is:

www.cms-kids.com/earlysteps

You can call ###-###-####, ext. 2121 which is the Developmental Center in Orlando (serving Orange, Osceola & Seminole counties).

You will be assigned a family care coordinator who will do a developmental screening to determine if your child should come to the clinic for a full evaluation. This is free. Best of luck to you!

Hi J.,
First, let me say you sound like a great mom! My "advice" would be Don't be worried but do trust your gut. My son was significantly delayed in speech at 2 and we played the "wait and see" game and lost. He did gain words but wouldn't respond to questions or answer to his name. We continued vaccinating (didn't know anything about vaccines and autsim at the time) and he ended up losing his language and significantly regressing at age 4 after the MMR BOOSTER (2nd one) He was diagnosed with PDD prior to this so I believe vaccines played a role all along but this was the shot that caused the most obvious damage for him. We are on a journey to continue to get him the help he needs.

I am not telling you this to scare you or even tell you not to vaccinate. I am suggesting that you do your own research into vaccines. I know there is another mom on here that has posted some great info in the past. If there is anything going on, the earlier and more intense you begin, the better the outcome.

Pediatricians are set up now to do a screening for autism at age 2 so be sure to ask your doctor about it. Just don't let him/her dismiss your concerns. If you really feel like you want him further evaluated to put your mind at ease or to identify any potential issue earlier rather than later, then push for that.

It is likely he is just taking his time. Continue to do all you're doing. Enjoy this precious time with him:) Love him for who he is!

If it does turn out that you need to look for services for him, please don't hesitate to call on me.

I hope that helps. Best of luck to you.
K.

Hi, J.. My son is only 9 months so I only know from what I have seen from my nephews and friends children. I have a friend that went through the same thing it sounds like that you are going through with your son. My friend was very worried about his son and took him to several doctors because he thought that maybe he was having trouble hearing and that was why he wouldn't speak, but it turns out that wasn't it at all. It was like a phase that he went through. He responded as if he knew what we said to him and he communicated what he wanted, just not with words. The little boy is about 5 now and is speaking fine. I think it helps to not give the baby what he wants right away when he tries to ask for something without speaking. Ask him to say what he wants instead of simply pointing or signing. I hope this helps.

In today's world where children are given what seems like a hundred vaccines, it's a wonder we aren't all frightened for our children's well being.

If by 2 1/2 he's not talking, you can see your doctor, but even then, you will notice signs if you think that there is a problem.

I have to admit that I used to think that I'm just talking to myself all the time and does this constant talking to my son really work. I have to say it does. I turn every adventure into a lesson; it seems like you're talking to yourself when they are really small but my son has been taking everything in and he talks up a storm.

Just because your son is not talking the way you like at this time, doesn't mean he's not paying attention; he knows everything that you're saying to him.

There are friends of our family that they didn't talk until they were four and they are Harvard Grads and very successful.

My brother didn't talk until he was three. He told my mother that he didn't have anything to say. Now, he doesn't stop talking.

Hi Jen,

My son was almost 3 when he started speaking, and he graduated from the Military Academy of WEST POINT.

But when in doubt concerning any medical issue with your son please tap into pediatrics.com.

Blessings and Luck,

D. P.

I wouldn't worry to, too much. I know it is hard not to speak for him but that is the best thing for him. Read with him and ask him what the pictures are. Remember boys are always a little behind than girls. I'm sure he's just fine. He's only going to be two, he's a baby. From T. Friedrich/http://aupaircare.com/

I don't think you should worry yet. My son said words here and there and I felt he was behind too. But the week of his 2nd birthday he was just picking up all these words and saying them. Now he's 2.5 and he's putting sentences together and attempting to sing along with songs. They say boys start later but also first borns start later.

J.-- you're right--kids develop at different rates, and sometimes boys develop more gradually than girls. Is he talking at all? Does he point at things? Does he take an interest in other children? Does he play with toys in the usual way? If so, I don't think you need to worry. But if you want, at your two-year-old well visit, you can ask your pediatrician to perform the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), which can help you figure out where he is in his development. I just went through this with my two-year-old son, so if you want more information, feel free to e-mail me at ____@____.com and I'll tell you more. Good luck!

Don't worry, my son took a while longer as well but caught up really fast. Once they start talking, they don't. bring it up to his pediatrician but if there is nothing else wrong then he just needs time. Do you have a second language in that you speak? Maybe he is confused. I think that is what happened with us. Keep talking to him as much as possible with thing you do. He is absorbing everything you say believe it or not. One day he'll just start and never stop. You won't be able to figure out where he's picked up the things he says.

J. I would go with caution and talk to the Ped. it may be nothing it may be significant. my middle daughter didn't talk much a few words here and there. she was constantly rubbing her finger tips across surfaces (stemming) but she would respond to her name and such. the older she got and the more shots she got the worse things became. some of the dr at her ped office ordered test and set up appt. but wouldn't call me with the appt times and i missed them. one day i took her back and blew up on the dr about why i received a letter i missed an appt. i had no clue abou. here is the sticky thing. gainsville won't test them after 2 and a child psychiatrist won't see them until they are 4-5 and she was 3 before everything got straightened out. i refused to leave until i have an appt in hand not a well we'll call u with the date and time. anyway to make a long story short we tracked down a dr who would see young children and had a dx in minutes. one look at her and he started questioning me. when i say look she ignored everyone and wouldn't respond to her name, and was stemming on his desk. to say i walked out of there in shock was an understatement. one thing i learned in my journey with my beautiful angel is u have to make them tell u what they won't. part of it is u know what they want and so respond before he really asks. if he wants juice give him the would and make him attempt to say it. he might only say ju for instance but its the point he tried. i got to hear my daughter say momma for the first time at age 5. since then she is talking up a storm but i first had to change the whole i responded before she made an effort myself. it started with pictures or me taking her and her showing me what she wanted and progressed on. i did alot of reading in my quest to discover more on autism and a really great book was sonshine. the faminy runs the sun shine project in boston their son was autistic in a time where autistic children were put into nursing homes. behavior modification was used to control them and they refused and came up with their own course on reaching him. i couldn't go to the classes but i did implement alot of what i read with her and it worked. today people look at her and ask if she is autistic and yes she has full blown kranners autism. she is smart as anyone u want to meet having made the honor roll 3 out of 4 9 weeks last year. my ped always did the development questionnaire at every well check its how we kept watching her and knew something different was happening. all i can say is make him want to communicate. give him only what he tries to ask for. which means u offer him the word and tell him to say it and he can have some. he will generally try to say the word. children that age love to please and make it fun for him. we bought my kids the v smile magnetic letters and sounds they could spell things like cat then push it and it would say the word. we made a game of it and had her try. another thing u can do is sign language. if he can't "speak" he can still learn to talk. children that age can't onto languages easy and it will be a gift to last a life time as well since he will be able to communicate to other who can't. my daughter never would sign. she understands better in pictures but that was her autistic gift she understands sign tho.ok well i made a book outta this response but all i can say is have him checked. and just start making him try to ask. if say he wants a drink and brings his cup then ask him if he wants a drink and he nods say say drink. you might have to try a couple of time slowly so he feels the word. when he makes the effore reward him with a drink :) it may come out grink, dink and combo of way but he made the effore then be like u want juice. say juice. that will probably come back as ju or mik for milk. my daughter swallowed the ilk part of the word so it sounded more like mulk to this day it still sounds like she swallows a bunch of her words. but it has to be consistent. when they are in daycare they push themselves to be more like the other kids and fit in. so what we have to do is make them want to chatter to us. i never thought i'd hear mom come out of this child and cried the day she came to me and said momma. god bless you

I don't think this is a problem, but if you can take him for at least 4 hours to a day care, this will really help.

If you dont feel comfortable with a full time day care, half time will work for you. Remember that it's good to be with other kids (they imitate) and learn. Watch him after 2, you will be crazy!!!! All the boys around me starts to talk after 2. Many blessing....

i know its kind of fustrating and you get a bit worried BUT i had my daughter at 15 months old talking up a storm then when my now 5 year old was almost 3 he STILL wasnt talking much. he knew what everything was but just wasnt saying it, long story short closer to 3 years old he started and HAS NOT STOPPED :) my youngest who just turned 1 last month says dada, doggie, baby, and a few other things that arent the right words but makes them understood well he STILL WILL NOT say M. so yes its fustrating and i asked the doctor maybe he doesnt know how to make the "M" sound but she said he sure does they are just stubborn and will do and say when "they want to" so i dont think ou should be worried, keep reading and teaching him the words, he is soaking them up!

good luck!

Kudos to you for being able to avoid daycare!

Kids do imitate others, but they can just as easily imitate you as other children! Read to your son, talk to your son, sing with your son. That is how children have learned to talk for hundreds of years! ;)

Best wishes!

J., I have 2 daughters and one son. I do not believe for one minute that gender has anything to do with a child's development or ability to "catch on." Both of my daughters were late talkers and when I say "late," I mean my first daughter did not begin talking until 2 1/2 years of age and my second daughter did not talk until until she was past 3. My son, who is going to be 3 on July 21 is speaking a bunch of words, some choppy sentences, but I would not say he is an active talker. I talked to my pediatrician with each of my daughters and his recommendation first and foremost was to have their hearing checked, which for both of them checked out fine. Some children are "late" talkers and sometimes the lateness comes down to them being lazy. What I mean by lazy is that as parents, we understand our children. We understand their "language" and tend to tend to their needs even when their language isn't quite clear yet for others to understand. I hope that makes sense...like for example, when my son is hungry, he says, "whoa-whoa" I know right away when he says that that he wants to eat something even though I DO tell him that he wants to eat and I try to make him say "eat" but he won't, for whatever reason.

I would talk to your pediatrician and get a referral to have your son's hearing checked. It will give you piece of mind and if there should be any issues with his hearing, at this age, you can address it right away. He is young..give him time and in no time at all, he'll be talking up a storm!

Hi, J.. It's generally true that kids who walk early will talk late. The reverse is also true. No one knows why that is. If he's really enjoying the playground, then chances are he's quite a bit more physical than verbal at this stage of his life. And that is most likely just fine.

When you say he knows the names of things, do you mean that if you say a word, he can point to it? That's good; that means there's probably nothing wrong with his hearing. The most common reason for a kid to have any speech problem is a hearing problem. If he can hear you, that's not the reason why he's not talking to you.

He might just not want to talk. He might not have any NEED to talk. Is he an only child? Then he doesn't need to speak up because he's got all of your attention. You know everything he needs. He knows he can point to something and you understand what he wants.

Try making a game out of stuff. Try having him give you stuff when you name it -- ball, cookie, etc. Then see if you can get him to take turns giving you what you ask for. You might need to model this game with your husband. You and Daddy could tell him that the three of you are going to play a game of say the words or name the name. Maybe you could pretend like you are having a challenge remembering the name of the thing or whatever so that he doesn't feel overwhelmed by two bigger people. If the game doesn't work, maybe you could both model this behavior by asking each other for things out loud at the dinner table. "Honey, pass me the mashed potatoes, please?" "The mashed potatoes, Honey? Sure, here's the mashed potatoes." "Sweetie, pour me the milk, please." "Sure, Sweetie, here's some milk." Then you could ask Colby if he wants something like mashed potatoes or milk, and see if you can get him to say it like Daddy does.

I know this sounds a little stupid, but sometimes a game or even teaching him some songs will open up these behaviors. I don't think you have anything to worry about yet, since he seems to be hearing everything, but doing something will help ease your mind, and stimulating Colby in fun ways will be good for him. Just don't put any pressure on him or make him feel like you're desperate for him to talk. That will make him clam up even more.

I hope he's singing like a bird really soon!

Peace,
Syl

Yes, some boys do start talking around 2 yrs. As long as you are sure he has no hearing impediment--he reacts to sounds and respons when you call him--he'll be allright. You're doing all the right things, reading, playing, etc. Pretty soon you'll ears will fall off. :)