UPDATE- Should I be worried about Julia's speech?

[mamahill]

Oh nooooo! First of all, I've learned that what I understand coming from Ainsleigh is vastly different from what others hear coming from her. What sounds like a string of jabber to others, means, "We had a fun day." (it comes out "weeha finday." It's about 2 words smashed into 2 :). Also, I've had friends who tell me what their kid says and I think, "Man, Ainsleigh doesn't talk that much," and then we get together for playgroup and I think, "Well Ainsleigh talks like that!" What doesn't come across in typing or conversation are often the speech impediments and pausing/panting which often accompanies what these kids say.

But again, Ainsleigh's speech in the last month has totally taken off. I often have to stop and kind of analyze what it is she has just said before responding. And after working through it we'll figure out what she's saying. Other times it totally takes me by surprise that I understand 4 words she has strung together.

Anyway, I feel bad that my post made you feel bad, especially since I've been in your shoes many times and I *HATE* feeling like my kid isn't measuring up. But seriously, just wait. Some days now I say, "How about we be quiet for a little bit?" and then she whispers. Continually. Oh well.

There's something magical about turning 2, I think. But then, I said that about turning 1, too. Maybe it's all magical :).

[lukkykatt]

She sounds more than ok - she is doing great if she has 30 - 40 words! Don't worry about it any more.

My older son had about 3 or 4 words when he turned 2. We even had taken him to get his hearing checked at 18 months, just to be safe (DH's grandmother had a congenital hearing problem). Shortly after he turned 2, his speech just took off and it seems like he has never stopped talking since :)

My younger son will be two in a few weeks, and probably has the same number of words as Julia. He just recently started putting two words together. I have never spent one minute worrying about his speech, because he is talking SO much more than my older son was at the same age. You'll see, once they get on a roll, they will just add more and more words every day.

Julia is really really doing great! Keep us posted on her progress!

[cdlamis]

Sarah-
Please don't feel bad! I just thought it was great that you replied about Ainsleigh's progress since I was technically "comparing" my Julia to her.
This thread made me realize how VERY different kids can be at the same age!
BTW- That made me laugh when you said that she whispers when you ask her to be quiet! She is too cute!

Daniella
Mom to Julia 6-13-02
And baby #2 EDD 12-30-04!!

[jojo2324]

Andrea, do your think your DS #2 is talking more, and sooner, because he was exposed to it more through your interaction with DS #1? I just wonder about DD...You know Gannon has language delay...I wonder if one day she might speak more than he does, given his rate thus far.

[mom2kandj]

Our grunting boy rarely uses two word sentences unless they use the word momma or mommy. Example - momma go, momma juice, momma out. Not too exciting. There was one day last week when he said, "Ma - ma - kay - tee - ky - ing". I almost cried! :) This came from a boy with less words than Julia(25+). At his 18 month check, he had the bare minimum 10 words, but our ped wasn't worried. Like previous posters have mentioned the magical 2 year mark does come and all of the sudden they start making huge strides in their speech. I was very concerned about his development, but have since stopped stressing as his pretend play and babbling has picked up. Keep in mind that all kids are different and that comparing will drive you nuts! FWIW, his older sister had a vocabulary of 50+
words and spoke in 3-4 word sentences when her dear brother was born. Yes, she was 16 and a half months old! Now, she talks a lot for him and we have to stop her to let Jack answer a question or two on his own. HTH just a little!

Rose
mom 2 Katie 12/02/00
& Jack 04/16/02

[lukkykatt]

Honestly, I think that they are just 2 different kids. My older son is alot more cautious and was a late walker (16 months) and a late talker (2+ before things really got rolling).

I spent ALOT more one on one time with my older son than I was/am able to spend with DS#2 (for obvious reasons!). So you could say that although he did not get the same quality or quantity of one on one time, he did get the exposure to family interaction - I don't know if one is more important than the other...

But my gut reaction is that it is just a difference in their personalities.

[Karenn]

Daniella,
That's so great! Thanks for the update! I'd been thinking of posting something similar- Colin's language has taken off in the last couple of weeks too! There really must be some two year old brain switch!

(And, Colin's been going through the whole "mommy do it" syndrome too. I hope that ends for both of us before the new babies come!)

[August Mom]

Thanks for the update. This is an area I'm a little concerned about too. I just got my BabyCenter e-mail that said my almost 2 year old is probably speaking in 3-word sentences. Well, my DS is barely saying single words, let alone combining them. Hopefully it will happen for him overnight too.

[mamahill]

Yay! That's fabulous news. Now good luck in decifering some of their sentence construction. For some reason, Ainsleigh has now resorted to Yoda-esque speaking:

"Go in car with Mommy want."

"have lunch and ice cream want."

"take shower want."

Like she decided to just throw the want in there because she forgot it at first? I don't get it. But it's funny, so I laugh!