Feel like my 2 year old is miles behind where she ought to be

[Gardencentregroupie]

Everyone else's 2 year olds seem so far ahead. DD is 2.4 and:

• can barely speak (she has picked up quite a few words in the last month but they're very hard to understand, and no 2 word combinations. We're starting play speech therapy this week) whereas all the children her age I know talk in full articulate sentences
  

• has no interest in jigsaws (she did some 2 and 3 piece ones a little while ago but now just chucks the pieces around), my friend's son 8 weeks older was sitting nicely doing a 24 piece floor puzzle!
  

• is a mega mega fussy eater - she was weaned with every type of fruit and veg, now she eats sod all veg, and the only fruit she'll eat is melon, apple, banana or strawberry. No meat at all except a tiny nibble of chicken in a nugget or curry. Has even stopped eating bolognese. It means her diet is mainly bland carbs and I also think she's probably a bit overweight for her age too, which I am completely ashamed of :(
  

• doesn't want to draw or colour, just chucks the crayons around.
  

• won't sit at the table really, she used to sit ok in her highchair but it's impossible to get her in it now.
  

I love her to bits but I think I'm failing her.

[Gardencentregroupie]

She normally gets masses of fresh air and exercise btw, but we've been stuck indoors for a few days due to her being ill which has just emphasised all of the above.

[Heirhelp]

It does not sound like you are failing her. Being a parent is a relationship which involves two people. Your lo abilities and preferences are not something you can change. Obviously you can encourage development and provide opportunities but your daughter is who she is.

Ask the speech therapist and health visitor what you can do at home to help your daughter but remember all you can do is help her develop.

[Heirhelp]

Don't forget that we all develop at different rates and lo focus on developing the areas that intest them.

[fakenamefornow]

A bit of reassurance. My daughter was exactly like that, I was on the verge of seeking help when her speech picked up. She is now 11 and top of the class in every subject, and is in the school swimming and running team. Her little brother in contrast, was miles ahead of his peers at your daughter's age, we thought we had a genius on our hands. He is now very middle of the road at school and not in any school sports teams, so turned out we were wrong about both of them.

You are doing the right thing seeking help for your daughter, that in itself shows that you are not letting her down. Best wishes with this.