Toddler Starting to Stutter

It's common for kids to start "stammering" at that age which is a little different than stuttering. Does she get stuck on certain sounds or get stuck on words... like is she hanging on the "S" or repeating words or word parts over and over. My son did the same thing around that age and according to his pediatrician, the word thing is stammering and it's just part of them thinking fast than they can articulate.

Ask the pediatrician if you're concerned, but it'll probably pass on it's own.

T.

Hello! I love answering these questions b/c I am a speech-language pathologist- so I just can't help myself. Yep, it IS normal at around this age for some kids to develop dysfluencies. And yep, it is b/c they are probably going through a language development increase, and since receptive language is usually higher than expressive language at this age- when they try to put multi-words together- the mouth just can't keep up with the brain lol. Your best bet is to be as patient as possible, let her work it out- DONT interrupt if possible! Smile, give good eye contact and let her do her best. Then, when she has gotten her message out (the best she can!)- model back to her what she said with slow, smooth speech. You can either say exactly what she said- or paraphrase her message- either way, you are just "agreeing with her" as opposed to "correcting her". (For example, if she tried to tell you I want juice- and when she is done you can either say- "oh, you want juice, ok" or "ah, you said 'I want juice' good asking lets get some")
also- it IS possible that this may be an actual stuttering difficulty- and more than just developmental- usually it depends on the child's age, expressive language skills, and mostly the TYPES of dysfluencies. Obviously I can't tell you that over the internet lol- but if this doesn't seem to decrease, or if it increases to the point where she is getting REALLY frustrated- I would look into your local Early Childhood services (free at any age)- which is usually through an Infant Toddler agency before 3, and through the school district after age 3.
Here are two websites I like if you are interested in looking at more suggestions for getting through this totally normal "phase" (for lack of a better word)- and also to help you determine if you should be concerned. I like how they show the difference between the two. Hope these links work!!! And please feel free to contact me if you want! Also- sorry if my answer is long!

http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/healthaz/Normal-Dysfluency-...

http://generalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/is_stutte...

Just checked- the links work, yay!
Also thought of one more thing: if she is using a pacifier- make sure she is not trying to talk with it in her mouth ;-) and of course at this age trying to decrease pacifier use is great- but hard lol!

My little girl started doing that around the same age and it went away as quick as it started. I was so worried when it started. My little boy was just starting to say things when she was that age and he would say dadada or mamama, and I think she was just picking up on him doing that and repeating him. I hope this helps. I am pretty sure I asked about it here on Mamasource and had a lot of responses saying there children did the same thing around that age.

My son did the same thing at 2 1/2- it went away in a month!

Try having her stop and think about what she wants to say.

My child began stuttering at the age of three, but I believe it was emotional. Her father walked out on us, and I think she could sense my devastation even though I tried not to be upset around her. When he returned to the family several weeks later, the stuttering stopped.
Has there been any kind of emotional upset in your daughter's or your life? That could cause it.

Yes it's normal. My daughter stuttered at about that age. Their brain is processing, developing and pulling in new information. They mouths can't get it out fast enough. It'll go away eventually sometime soon once everything catches up. Mine stuttered for about 4 months.

This is normal.. kids go through a stage of desequilibrium at 1 1/2 , 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 while they grow, and stabilize at 2, 3, 4 etc. My son started tripping all the time, stuttering, became very emotional, etc and the phase lasted only a few months.

Check out the book "Your Two-Year Old" by ~ Louise Bates Ames
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Two-Year-Old-Louise-Bates-Ames...

It's based on years of behavioral research and this doesn't change much from generation to generation..

Our oldest did the same thing around that age. It would get really bad for couple months and then would go away. It came back every 6 months or so till he was 5. We took him to the specialist and were told that in some kids every time they have a speech "spurt" their brains would have hard time catching up. There was nothing really that they told us to do.....it went away on it's own every time.

Yes normal. Its common in Toddlers.
Toddlers... go through a TON of developmental changes. They have things in their head, but can't always actually do it or say it... and they have so much ideas in their head they want to say... so sometimes they stutter as their mind is coordinating with their mouth before the words comes out.
Normal.

It will come and go.
Don't worry.

all the best,
Susan

All kids do this. They are so excited to say something, and their little minds are working faster than their mouths. This is totaly normal.

Hi. My son did the same thing at this age. It lasted for about 6 months and would go through phases where it would get better and then get worse. I wouldn't worry about it. Just be patient. If it lasts for more than a year I would get her evaluated. But again, very common for this age.

my other half is 42 and he stutters when lying. is she lying to you when she is stuttering. btw he doesn't realize he does it but everyone else does. that is also the only time he stutters. I have never had a child who stutters but I thought I would let you know about this.