2 year old doesn’t talk

[fjhgk]

My DS is 2 years and 3 months. He can only say mama, dada, hi and ta. For ‘please’ he sounds out the p. He doesn’t try to say other words. He babbles to himself, baba etc but if we’re playing and I say a word e.g. brick, he doesn’t try to repeat it.

I have taken DS to a speech and language drop in session at our children’s centre. They have put him on the waiting list for a group speech class but I have no idea how long we’ll wait for a space. I’m worried that he isn’t talking yet and if we have to wait a long time for the class he’ll get even further behind and it’ll impact him when he starts school in the future.

Does anyone have any advice on ways to help him talk? The HV suggested we give him options, milk or juice etc, but he won’t try and say one. They also said to have 5 mins one on one play with him a day and repeat one word to him to copy. I find this difficult because I also have a 7 month old DD who’s very demanding! She doesn’t like being put down etc and trying to get her to nap in her cot so DS and I can play uninterrupted is proving difficult. Only when my husband is around at the weekend can we have the one on one time. But even then DS isn’t interested in repeating words, he just wants to play.

Last summer when DS was 16/17/18 months I was pregnant in that crazy hot summer we had and I really struggled and I fear I didn’t spend the time playing and taking one on one then with DS to encourage his speech. I’m so worried now with DD that I’ll do something that delays her speech in the future.

Any advice appreciated!

[Mummy0ftwo12]

the teachmetotalk.com website is really useful, if he doesn't point (to what he wants and also to show you things of interest) and doesn't seem to understand you then a hearing test and a paed referral would be a good idea. My DD was totally normal with speech but DS had a severe speech and language delay with no words until he was almost 3, so just because your ds is delayed doesn't mean that your dd will be.

[AladdinMum]

Is he able to effectively communicate with you (to meets his needs and share enjoyment with you) despite his speech delays? speech delays at this age are very common but it should not stop his ability to communicate.

[April45]

I wouldn't worry about doing it one on one, include DD. The main principles are DS needs to hear words and single words to name things to start with. Do it everywhere not just in 5 mins of play. E.g. when in the car.. tractor, sheep when at home out of window.. bird, tree, when playing.. car, train. It sounds a bit odd but it really helps to simplify language for them. Do you go to toddler groups?