Please tell me that this is not something to be concerned about.

[babeak]

Hi,

I am trying not to get worried, but DD (26mo) just started something new in the past few days. She will say "No, no, no, no, no, no want wash hands". That is fine the sentiment and everything except make that about 25 no's before she actually gets the rest of it out. She had been speaking just fine, but all of a sudden she seems to have a hard time expressing "no" thoughts and like gets hung up like a broken record or one that has a skip in it. It is somewhat annoying, but more importantly is starting to give me concern about what is going on. We are currently traveling and have been away from home for about 1.5 weeks. She seems to be doing fine in all other regards.

Please tell me that this is normal or do I need to be concerned if her speech does not correct itself in 2 , 3, 4, weeks? after we return home? I feel like she is creating a new brain pattern and cannot free herself of that if that makes any sense at all.....like it is becoming habitual.

[sapphire_chan]

It might be normal, but it sounds frustrating for her. Maybe see if you can help her disengage by suggesting taking a breath or picking her up for a hug or something? And then encourage her to say what's on her mind.

Does she do it for all "no" things or only for stuff she knows has got to happen? Any chance she'd respond well to you just doing the stuff that bothers her but has to happen (e.g. hand washing) instead of telling her it's about to happen? Cut out the anticipation part? (Don't do it, obviously, if it'd make her more upset.)

[swd12422]

It sounds like a speech pattern (don't know what it's called) that lots of people use to buy their brains time to catch up with their mouths. (Ever speak to someone who uhhhhh, say ummmmm a lot, uhhhhh while they're trying to formulate a complete thought?)

You said, "after we return home..." Are you away for an extended period? Maybe the new surroundings are a little overwhelming to her.

Or she could just be anxious b/c she REALLY doesn't want to do whatever it is. Either way, it's probably nerves and I agree with sapphire chan that maybe she needs a little help calming down and taking a breath so she can say what she needs to say. I wouldn't worry about it yet.

[babeak]

It also happens with other things too. Right now she just stumbled on her name and I am noticing that it is just about everything that she is struggling to say. However, the "no" just is the most noticeable because that is what a lot of 2 yro sentences.

Yes we are going to be gone for an extended time from our home.

Thanks I am going to try not to worry too much and maybe try the hugging.

We had been concerned about her speech this summer and had her tested and shortly thereafter she began talking just fine....just delayed but clear and no frustrated stumbling...it is almost like a stutter.

[Peony]

From about 2 to almost 3, DD2 stuttered a lot. It wasn't a quick stutter but it kept going and going. It is often developmental at this age, their brain is going so quick that their mouth just can't catch up fast enough. She is 3 now and no stuttering in months!

[Llyra]

I would also say that at 2 years old, it's nothing to worry about. Between 2 and 4, DD1 often hesitated and stuttered like that. It took her mouth awhile to catch up with her thoughts, as she still had to fish around for the words she was wanting to use, and remember how to say them, while her thoughts were moving so much faster. She's 5 now, and mostly grown out of it-- it only crops up when she's REALLY excited about something and all keyed up about it. For us, the best strategy was just to put a hand on her shoulder and look at her and wait patiently for her to get out what she wanted to say.

[babeak]

I have actually now done some more quick research on stuttering and DH says that she does not have a stutter. Well....what can I say....he is in denial just as he said that my water did not break....

Nonetheless, it is comforting to hear that others have experienced this and it should be alright.

Thanks everyone.

[APToddlerMama]

My son is in speech therapy and waaaaaaaay behind your daughter verbally, but I remember reading something about this (although I want to say it was related to Apraxia), and it said that sometimes kids can repeat a word while they are searching for the "right" words and that this is not considered stuttering. I cannot recall exactly but I do believe it was related to apraxia. It may just be normal 2 year old behavior or stress from being away from home too though. good luck

[borobaby]

Only speaking from my personal experience with DS (30mo) and nephew at this age. My sis is a speech pathalogist. Ds is doing this similar repetition of a word, almost like he is planning the rest of his sentence in his head. I think, and my sis would agree, it is developmental and totally fine.

[A&A]

Ds needed speech therapy to get over his dis-fluency (stuttering), which started when he was 2.5 yo.

[Kim919]

Probably nothing, but speech therapy is fun for kids (just games, you get to stay) & highly effective. I don't see how there could be any harm in making an appointment.