How much do your two year olds talk?

[Colourmeblue]

My little one is almost two and only has a handful or two of words. She understands everything but just won't speak. Apparently at two, they should be putting two words together to form a sentence. This is not going to happen! I'd be lucky if we got a few extra words. I'm taking her to a speech activity class next week and seeing speach therapist too. How much does your two year olds talk? And are there any other bin talkers?

 

[Colourmeblue]

Non talkers that was meant to read!

 

[H16]

My daughter is almost 18 months and is a total chatterbox, she can ask me for milk etc, tell me she has done a poo and has just started stringing a few words together too. I have been told by many people that she is ridiculously advanced with her talking compared to other kids her age though (but she was behind with her walking etc) and I do know of other 2 year olds that don't say many words yet so I wouldn't worry too much tbh. All kids advance at different rates and there is no right or wrong speed to learn at IMO. It is good that you are being proactive about seeking help though as they will know better than anyone if there are any concerns

 

[5Element]

ME!!!!! Our wee man is happy to babble away and can do quite a few words and lots of noises (animals cars etc) but not much in the way of talking. I am not concerned really as I am happy how much he can understand and loves to waffle away to me �� I think it will come when he is ready.

 

[Goat]

When my daughter was approaching the 2 year mark she could only say a handful of words and as for putting 2 words together I think she could do something like 'baby ball' if she wanted to say the ball belonged to her sister. Lots of toddlers her age seemed so advanced and I was trying not to get too worried. Then when she turned 2 it felt like overnight she just started talking away! Gained a big range of vocab, stringing loads of words together and now at 27 months she's able to sing a few songs, count to 12 and knows her colours. So she's caught up!
Another thing is my daughter has a consultant who checks her every 6 months and at around 18 months asked me what she could say and then asked if she mimicked actions like hoovering/sweeping floors/Washinh up etc as if she did they would be classed as forms of imitation and were the building blocks for speech.
I know it's easier said than done but try not to be too worried about it.xx

 

[littlemonkey]

She is still quite young really. I know it's easy to compare her to other kids, but they really all do so many things at different rates, try not to. My son walked late and I drove myself mad with worry. Low and behold at 18 months he walked and now runs every where!! He's two and two months almost now.

As for talking, I think the main thing at this age is making sure she can understand and hear things properly. If you ask her something, say to pick something up, will she go and get it or if she wants something can she point at it as a way of asking you for it? That kind of thing.

My son is a total chatterbox and I do think for his age he's actually ahead with his talking (see what I said about worrying they don't keep up with things!!!). What I honestly believe has helped him is being with the childminder he's spending a lot of time with older children who obviously talk a lot more than kids his own age. It also helps his mmummy and childminder are also a pair of chatter boxes too! What I'm trying to say is the more talking they hear the more they will talk.

 

[Durhamchance]

I posted this a few months ago myself! My boy just didn't seem to want to talk, but over the last month or so he is coming out with so much more. We actually counted yesterday and he has about 20 words so far, and will occasionally put two together 'momma car' and 'dad dad gone' so the HV isn't at all worried. He makes animal noises and can follow instructions.

I don't think they worry about speech until they are three x

 

[clairem1980]

I discussed this with our HV as they did my DD1 2 year check at 2 years and 4 months. I asked why. She said that when reviewing all children at 2 years exactly then a very high percentage were referred for speech therapy as they weren't putting the two words together. When they delayed the reviews by four months the number of referrals dropped dramatically. The 24-28 month stage is when a lot of little ones really get going with their speech. I wouldn't worry a lot, just keep encouraging as you are and it'll come on soon.

 

[Baby2sky]

My lo is ridiculously advanced for her age and can speak in 5/6 word sentences, knows her colours, shapes, can sing nursery rhymes, knows weird words (treasure being her fav atm ) and can even read her fav story back to me! Everyone thinks im a pushy parent but I haven't done anything specific to encourage this. She actually watches a lot of tv which is where I think she picks up so much.

My nephew was referred to speech therapy at 2 as he didn't say a word, literally nothing. Yet now hes a really bright 5 year old with an amazing vocab. So I really wouldn't worry hun. They all get there in the end xxx

 

[LaceyKeo]

This was me a couple months back.

DS was two in January, and had hardly any words at all (around two they should have 50-75 words. When they say sentences, they mean like "mummy's shoes", or "dog bark").

Over the next couple months I got him to HV, then speech therapy and an audiologist.

Turns out he had/has glue ear in both ears (very common and safe to google if you want more info).

Because he wasn't hearing properly, he couldn't reproduce sounds properly.

Since then (last... Two months-ish), he's gone from about 10 words up to about 35 words, including counting to 14, and saying phrases like "there he is" and "I love you".

He's due back to audiology in the next couple months to see if his ears have naturally cleared, but I'm not so worried about it now. Like everything else, he'll get there when he's ready.

If you're concerned about your LO, you could take her to a HV for a professional opinion, but I wouldn't worry too much at this stage xx

 

[hellywelly]

At 2 my daughter could do a few words together, and her speech was very advanced for her age. BUT she didn't crawl til she was 16 months and didn't walk til she was nearly 19 months, so I figure all babies and toddlers have something that they're good at!! Don't get too worried - I panicked like anything that I was going to end up carrying Evie to primary school she was so immobile for so long, but she got there in the end. Her speech will probably just click for her over the next few months. xx

 

[Colourmeblue]

Thanks for all your replies. I'm not worried in the sense that she understands everything I say to her/ask her to do. It's just her speech that is not quite there yet. Bless her, sometimes I can tell she's trying to tell me something, but all she repeatedly says is "mum, mum, mum" as she doesn't know the rest of her sentence!

 

[Kiagirl]

Oh bless her, Lucie is 22 months now and said odd words but in the last couple of weeks has started to say sentences. Yesterday she said grandad you are funny! Lol I always knew she understood, she just needed time to figure out how to get it out lol x

 

[Holi]

Rosie's 21m and talks quiet a lot. A lot is nonsense, and sometimes is a perfect sentence! The other day she said 'mummy, what's daddy's tractor doing?' (It drove past our window!) - honestly couldn't believe it!

But she still does a lot of baby talk too and still get frustrated when she can't say what she wants!

My nephew is 22m and, bless him, hardly speaks and unfortunately is always compared to Rosie. Having said that in last week he can now say things like thank you, aunty Hollie, Rosie etc he's literally doubled his vocabulary in a week!

Xxxx

 

[Durhamchance]

My boy came out with several new words yesterday and shocked me and my mum! We can now add Apple, Narna (banana), Pear, Pepper and Tram to his list totally amazed

 

[Rooster30]

I'm not the most helpful person for this as speaking us something my son has always been excellent at. Every GP, HV, medical professional, people at his preschool always comment on how well he talks - I forget he's only 2.5 sometimes.

 

[clairebear22]

Just from a different point of view and totally not intended to worry but just to inform .......

My Son is 4 next month and has never ever said a word. He makes lots of noise, most noises beginning with G but no words at all. He has autism and bad/no speech is a common trait. His understanding at 2 was very very poor and a almost 4 is still very very behind. He is like a 9-12mth old in a boy's body.

My youngest Son is 26mths and is yet to say his first word. We are a bit more confident that he's 'ok' because apart from his lack of speech he seems to be where he should be in most areas. His understand etc is really good. We're hoping he is just copying how his Brother communicates (mainly pushing/pulling our hands) which is why he is yet to start speaking but until he says his first word we cannot rule out autism in him too.

Like I say this isn't meant to worry anyone, it's just from a different perspective.

If any of you are worried at all don't hesitate to see your HV or Doctors x

 

[Kay Kay]

My lo is 22 months and his speech has come on so much over the last few months. At times it's been like overnight he's started saying loads new words. They all develop at different rates so you might have a wee chatterbox on your hands in the next few weeks even! Then you'll wish for peace and quiet 😉

 

[Ella1979]

I think the main thing is that she's understanding you. If you can ask things like "go get your teddy and bring him to me" and she does them, then she will talk in her own time. I have a friend whose 3.5 year old didn't speak until very recently. But she's always understood what was being said. Until she was around 2.5, she only said a couple of words, then in the last few weeks she's got loads more and is stringing words together now. She's under a speech and language therapist and also a consultant paediatrician (due to unrelated stuff) and neither of them think there will be any problem in the future with her speech.

My son is much slower getting going with talking than his sister was. He's almost 18 months and I can count on one hand the words he says, whereas we lost count of the number of words his sister knew at the same age.

Oh and my friend didn't speak until she was 3 and she's one of the most intelligent people I know - straight A* student, Cambridge grad... so no need to worry just yet! xx

 

[Colourmeblue]

Thanks for all your replies! We saw a speech and language therapist yesterday, and she's not concerned. Said out little one is communicating very well non verbally and that at the moment she is choosing not to talk! But it will come in time xx