Its that word again "hey"?

Question

It seems like when i got pergant so did my friends,so my 2 year old daughter has a lil group of children her age to play with. But a few days before her birthday we went to a friends to have a play date.And i was talking to a friend about the silly things our kids do when it hit me while watching them play. my daughter dosnt' talk. she says "mom" "dad" and her favorite word "hey" yet my friends son can say almost everything. I felt a lil bad, because she tolled me she didnt really teach him he just started talking and has stopped and that im lucky. I sat down with her and went over the abc's and 123's and all she said was "hey" and "hey mom". she's the same age as my friends son, so maybe i don't set aside enough time for talking lessons? or is "hey" much easier to say and then everything else well follow later. I don't mind her not talking but im a lil worried.

Answer 1

Every child develops differently. My friends daughter is a couple months older then my son and she is really advanced (it made me feel like I wasnt doing enough), but when he got into preschool and I talked to the teacher I asked and she said he was fine and that my friends daughter is in fact advanced-more then most of the kids. It made me feel much better, some kids are just more advanced then others. My other son is 2 1/2 and he just started talking 3 months ago, he could barely say anything then one day he opened his mouth and started speaking complete setences. Try not to worry too much and if you are worried consult your childs doctor, they may have some ideas for you. Good luck!

Answer 2

All children develop at their own rate. But you're right, only saying 3 words at 2 is a LITTLE worrisome. Talk to your doctor at the next check up and make sure she can hear you properly. If everything is in order, wait until she's a bit older (3.5-4yrs) and take her to the nearest school's Speech person. They'll test her and see whether she's not learning properly, or just doesn't WANT to speak.

And remember, Einstein didn't say a WORD until he was around 4-5, when he made a full-sentence statement that his food was not cooked properly, that in fact, it was too hot. His astonished parents asked him why he'd never spoken before and he stated that his world was in order up to that point and he'd had nothing to complain about.

Another (off the wall) idea for her not talking is that she might not NEED to - maybe she can get her concepts across psychically (if you believe in that sort of thing) or through actions that other children around her understand (like a sign-language thing).

One last thing: my older younger brother (I have 2 bros, both younger than me) didn't talk much until he was around 3, because my younger sister spoke for him, and because he was a bit "Dutchy-sounding". He needed some speech classes, but he's going to graduate college this year with a high GPA and membership in a Fraternity. He was popular in (grade and high) school and involved in many social groups, extra-curricular activities, and the National Honor Society. So his earlier problems didn't hinder him at all.

Answer 3

Has she ever said anything else? If she is choosing not to speak then leave it be, she will. But if she hasnt ever said anything else, you should take her to her doctor and talk with him. He will check her hearing to make sure she can hear words well and then evaluate why she isn't speaking. Try not to compare children, both of my sons are very intelligent but my 20month old doesn't like to talk. He can, he has said some 250+ words once or twice but only likes to say about 15 on a regular basis. Our older son (4) started talking and really has never shut up. He asks questions constantly and even talks in his sleep. Both boys score way too high in intelligence tests they are just different. Your daughter may not be terrible intrested in talking but may like to express herself some other way. Respect that but encourage her to speak. React (overreact) when she does say something so that she is rewarded for doing so but continue to meet her needs and respond to any kind of communication. You can also take her to the school district and they will help you too.

Answer 4

Well my son is 5 months and he doesnt say "Hey" but he memics your tone so I do think its a easier word to say. My friend also got pregnant at the same time as me and it was great to have someone to go though the pregnacy with and eventually have playdate with (they are still a little to young for that) but a negative of it is it makes it easier to compare your child to theres. My friends daughter is only two weeks younger then my son and my son already sits up on his own (and is starting to stand up) and her daughter cant but her daught also is doing much better with other things. So I have to remind myself that all children grow at different rates and learn at differnt rates too. So as long as she is developing her mind in other ways I think she is fine. Just sit back and enjoy her when she is ready she will talk more and more and like your friend say one day she wont stop

Answer 5

I guess I would be worried too. That is a little unusual but every kid does things at their own pace.

Try spending more quality time with her and giving her lessons on reading like you have recently done.

Talk to her more, have full length conversations and give her chances to put her two cents in.
Ask her," do you like the red one or the green one?" and see if she responds. If she doesn't respond to your efforts after a month or so I would recommend talking to your pediatrician and asking to refer you to a specialist of some sort. It never hurts to research it now and see if it trully is a problem or not before you let it go on for too long.

I do wish my son would shut up once in while though!

Answer 6

i have a degree in child development and have worked with children ages birth to 5 for 15 years and she is doing fine and to help her along you can do several things first children who are talked to are talkers so talk to her a lot and about many things like "today we got to go to the bank and then we are going to the store and don't let me forget to get apple juice OK and then after when we get home i am going to wash the dishes and on and on" the more children hear speech the more they will use it even if its stuff they may not under stand when i was in college i used to read my papers and books to my kids and did they understand it no but then i had a two year old who when you asked her if she wanted milk would say no i would actually prefer apple juice please and my youngest was the same way so just keep talking the other thing is not responding right away to pointing and grunting or to hey when she is asking for things so if she wants her cup from the counter and says hey mom and is pointing then walk over and say " do you want you cup? please say cup and what ever word she says then you say here you go here is your cup i like it when you use your words" sometimes and we are all guilty when we know what they want we just get it and give it so then why ask for it so if she starts seeing that you will be asking her more to try to say if she wants something then she will start trying to say it to get what she wants its also good to say what should be said when getting or asking for things like when you giver her dinner you would say " thank you for dinner mommy" and you say your welcome @@@@ this way she also starts seeing how conversation goes when she brings you her shoes you say " please put my shoes on mommy i want to go out side" and again what your response is it lets her hear speech and knows what she needs to say! good luck and don't worry!

Answer 7

If there is a problem, your dr probably would have voiced some concern. If you're up on your Well Baby checks, the dr should be asking you how many words she is saying, etc. If you're really concerned, contact your peditrician.

Like your friend said, once they start talking, they don't stop. She'll talk when she's ready. Good luck to the both of you.

Answer 8

Kids develop at different stages and you shouldn't compare them to other kids. If she says at least a few words then she is probably fine. Give a little time and if she doesn't start saying more talk to her doc. I think in no time she'll be talking all the time and you'll feel like telling her to be quiet. lol.

Answer 9

I wouldn't worry too much. Chances are she has teh vocabulary and is just too busy listening and learning what's going on around her. My daughter didn;t talk much until she was abotu 3 but understood SO much more than other children around her. By 9 months she was undoing child safety locks form teh bottom cabinet! Children just develop in different areas at different paces.

Answer 10

Don't be worried, all kids develop at their own rate, try feeding her more fish though it allows more brain development, also try reading more books with her, not t.v. unless its an educational video. Don't talk baby talk to her or allow anyone else to do so, it screws with their development, also try putting her in pre-school or head-start programs. She'll catch up eventually!