4 year old boy talking like a baby

[PinkSpottyCow]

Hi everyone. My son is going to be 4 in June. He has been attending a nursery for 2 days a week since he was 1 and I returned to work and the other 3 days with my dad. He is currently in nursery for 5 days tho as I'm off work suffering a severe MS relapse.
Anyway, he has always been a pleasant chatty little boy but lately he has been talking like a baby again or just sort of grunting and pointing at something in response to questions or in conversation. He has become very naughty too, pushing the boundaries with me and my husband (his dad) and not doing as he is asked.
There is absolutely no thought in my mind that this is due to abuse of any sort but I just wonder if anyone else has experienced this? And if so, how did you cope / resolve it? Or did it just go as quickly as it arrived?
Really appreciate your help. Thank you xx

[gualsa]

It's quite normal for children to go through stages like you mention. Ask your nursery if they have any concerns. You will probably find that he is an angel with them and this is all for your benefit. It's manipulation. My boys have been through stages like it.

It's really important that you don't reward this behaviour so if he refuses to talk properly you refuse to or ignore any requests from him. As with pushing the boundaries even if you feel crap because of your MS you must try to stand your ground with him. He will be a much happier child once he realises where his boundaries are.

My youngest was going through the baby talk phase again a few months again and he is 9!

I really feel for you because you are also unwell. Its hard enough being firm with kids without also being ill. All the best ;-)

[SilverSixpence]

Yes my ds did that too at the same age, it's just a phase and best not to make a big deal of it

[Guardianto2]

Pretty sure this is normal, my daughter went through patches of baby talk, they are just pushing things and seeing what they can get away with / not putting effort into tlaking.

I would not let him have things until he uses Proper words again. Pretend you can’t understand what he means unless he talks, and remind him about all the things babies can’t do or play with.

If you pretend you can't understand his baby communication he will have no choice but to use words, good luck with it it will become a battel of wills for a while.

[PinkSpottyCow]

Thank you everyone. It's reassuring to hear that it can be just a phase xxxx

[Newyearchanger]

Is he reacting to your illness

[RedandChecker]

Hi Pink

My Ds is 4 and a half and does this from time to time for phases of about a week. Pointing, moaning, even babbling. He definitely does it for a reaction. And it is most often when things have been a bit busy. So I always remind him he has to use his words otherwise I can't help him and I sit down and play a game with him to get him talking properly again before it becomes regular habit. I think it's quite normal.

[MoreBeta]

DS2 used to do it. He was also at nursery 5 days a week.

It may be that your DD has noticed the babies at nursery get more attention so she has figured being a baby is the way to go.

Our DS2 used to rule the roost at nursery because he used to 'decide' who was his carer regardless of which room he was allocated to. His personal favourite carer used to look after younger children and so guess what? He decided being a younger child was what he wanted to be.

[blueberryupsidedown]

It could be due to glue ear, or liquid behind the ear drum which happens during or after a cold. A GP should be able to check, or give you a referal to audiologist.