Nephew not talking

[KMD88]

My daughter is 21 months and is very advanced with her speech.

My nephew is 2 next month and he isn't saying any words he makes sounds and babbling noises mainly 'eek''ah' etc but that is all.

My sister doesn't seem concerned that he isn't saying a single word and thinks it's cute....should I say something to her? She can be very difficult so I'm wary about upsetting her. But I’d have thought she would realise?

I know all children are different but I'm worried for him. He goes to nursery too and I'd have thought they would have mentioned something but they haven't!

Firstly, they look at it holistically, so if he's where he needs to be elsewhere they may not necessarily have any immediate concerns over speech... Keep your smugness to yourself, if he's attending nursery then they will be making sure he meets all his milstones, just keep your concerns on your own 'advanced' child!

Nothing to do with you

My son didn't speak until he was gone three. He went to nursery hardly saying a word but learned to talk quite quickly because he had to, to communicate at nursery with the other kids. I was never worried, nor was the HV who told me I could self refer to a speech therapist if I wanted but agreed with me that he would learn when he's ready.

Remember that girls and boys develop differently so I wouldn't keep comparing your daughter to your nephew.

She will most likely be aware, especially if your children spend time together.

My DD is 2 soon and speaks a lot less than her peers/a lot less clearly. However she developed physically very early. Swings and roundabouts at this age unless there's an actual developmental concern/physical concern

Neither of mine could talk at two but both understood well and had the odd word. One had glue ear and did need some speech therapy, but this was for clarity of speech, not language, and the other spoke at an age appropriate level by she she was 3. If he doesn't understand anything I'd be more concerned.

I remember a peer of my eldest chatting away in full sentences when he was just 2, there's a big range in normal!

The whole "Einstein didn't talk till five" thing is a myth. I was so fed up with hearing this that I actually looked up the relevant section in a biography of Einstein - he was talking in sentences by 3 (though he did have some social communication abnormalities - repeating himself a lot).

My son had very few words until he was nearly 2. My daughter was talking in sentences at 18 months. So fucking what.
They are both adult and in well paid jobs now HUH!!!!!!!!!

Funny the only relative concerned about my dc’s delays to the point she always asked was the one with the really advanced dc. Funny that.

New research suggests that way the gut microbiome works means that babies who are born vaginally and are breastfed who are female are often more likely to speak earlier than males.

After a child has had a bout of illness often parents will say how the child not only got better but has now achieved another milestone (rolling over etc) which links in with the possibility that good gut health from good bacteria, helps children develop.

It's also suggested that we don't actually teach children to speak anymore than you can teach a child to walk. Instead caregivers simply hold space for them until babies are emotionally developed to meet this milestone.

So your daughter is more likely to speak before her son.

Make babies balance and need to explore/climb is often very different to female babies. You may find that your daughter need for balance/climbing/lifting isn't quite at the same level as your nephew.

Trauma can also cause stunted growth. If a child wasn't emotionally ready to be separated from their parents, this can result in delayed development because the stress of separation floods the front part of the brain with stress hormones which is why settling in sessions are so important with nurseries etc.

As a two year old, this child would have seen masked adults for more than 50% of their life. This will certainly harm their speech as most of the way we communicate is through expression.

There's no rush, there's no need for competition. The children in your family are growing perfectly but in different ways.

She can be very difficult so I'm wary about upsetting her.

Urgh. Are you sure you're not the difficult one? I can't stand people who make comparisons like this. Do NOT say anything!

I had a dd who talked early, chatting away at 8 months. And a ds who was saying tac tac for tractor at 2. Guess which one's autistic?
They're both really good at secondary age. Both have big vocabularies.

You say nothing and keep your nose and notsostealth brag to yourself.

should I say something to her?

No.

My daughter said her first word at 10 months and at 12 months simple sentences. She also liked to eat the dogs biscuits and her career goal is to be a mime. So I wouldn't get too caught up in how advanced your daughter is. 😂

My dds both had very good speech at 2 and my ds didn't speak until about 2.5. Certainly makes up for it now. It's very common with boys. Definitely don't say anything, he's at nursery so already socialising and will pick it up eventually. If there is a problem it's definitely not for you to say.

I think op mentioned her daughter only as reference as to why she's worried about her nephew.

I was raised bilingually and my mum said that all my friends talked a lot earlier than me but when I talked, it was 2 languages and now speak 7 languages.

(6 languages, sorry)

Don't say a thing. They're young kids and their isn't a problem. But you must realise how you would come across, bragging about your child and then saying you think there's a problem with another child. Come on! You are being an absolute dickhead and the mum will never forgive you for that. Her kids not even 2 he is learning language but shouldn't be chatting away yet. Be a decent family member!

My two were polar opposite’s.

Child 1 only had a handful of words at 2 and we were very concerned. We checked his hearing first. He had a number of sessions with a speechie and by 3.5 he had caught up to his peers. He then needed more therapy at 5 because of mixing up sounds which could have impacted his reading and spelling if not corrected.

Child 2 could put three words together by 18 months “my turn now” etc. and full sentences by 2.

They both talk from the moment they wake up until when they go to sleep. I dream of peace and quiet!!

If someone approached me about their concerns in relation to their own child I’d advise 1) hearing check, 2) speak to their child in very simple language (we were advised this by the speechie and it really made a difference but you have to be conscious of it - we were overwhelming our first child by talking to them in full sentences) and 3) get on the wait list for speech therapy. I would not tell them about Einstein or be dismissive of their concerns as it’s incredibly unhelpful.

I dont think you are the right person to have that conversation though OP given you couldn’t help yourself in telling us your daughter is advanced!

Since your daughter is so advanced why not get her to tell your sister.

😴

🤣

You literally just started your post by boasting about how advanced your daughter is, even though it is totally irrelevant to the “point” of your post. Perhaps you are boasting and being smug in real life without even realising it.

Very early days. My DD didn't say anything but noises till over two...she six now and vvvvvvv chatty and chat to anyone.. questions all the time.. She an early walker though so think did that rather than learnt to talk . Children learn at different rates. You saying your DD doing talking early. .she will do something else vvvv late. Honestly no rush. If the nursery concerned they say something.

Yes I'd be careful about that OP

This is why I hated baby groups. Competitive mothering masquerading as concern. One of my two has additional needs, and as such had speech delay. Someone, somewhere never missed a chance to rub my nose in it.