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Original poster

Am I going mad??

27 replies

Tryingmum456 · 18/03/2025 22:32

So, my son is 2 years old. He doesn’t speak at all and we currently have a referral for speech therapy. He doesn’t even say mama, dada, no words at all.

Before bed tonight I was playing with him, I took his bottle and pretended to drink it as he wouldn’t go to sleep, clear as day he said “give it back” , I kept on playing with him and he didn’t say anything else. Am I hearing things or did he really speak 😳

OP posts:
Saphire123 · 18/03/2025 22:46

Wow, that's brilliant. Take his bottle again tomorrow, see what happens.

mustytrusty · 18/03/2025 22:48

I think it's not unlikely that he said 'give it back'. Maybe a person who only feels the need to speak when it matters. I'm sure this is a phenomenon. I'm going to look it up...

DoAWheelie · 18/03/2025 22:49

It's not uncommon for some kids to not speak at all and then start in full sentences. My late OH's little brother didn't say a word until he was 5 years old then came out with a full sentence. His family asked why he didn't speak before and he replied "I never had anything to say before".

ChewbaccasMrs · 18/03/2025 22:53

That is amazing OP.

Like a PP said some children don't speak unless they feel the need to.
I didn't really speak till I was 3 and then I came out with whole sentences and full conversations my Dad was the same but he was 5.

We're both NT but from a very young age we were both very much thinkers rather than talkers and your little one could be the same.

Original poster
Tryingmum456 · 18/03/2025 22:53

Thanks for all replies. I was seriously doubting myself. Tbh, he is the type of child that is very independent and doesn’t bother with me unless he wants something. So it could track. He can definitely understand so we have been waiting for the speech to come.

l’ll be honest it did scare me 😂 as I’m not use to him talking at all, let alone a sentence. I really wasn’t expecting it.

OP posts:
ItsMutinyontheBunty · 18/03/2025 22:54

My friend’s DS didn’t say anything til he was about 4 and then came out with a full sentence out of nowhere! Some DC just do. I doubt you imagined, sounds like you weren’t expecting him to talk! I’d just keep chatting with him but also give him space to answer.

Original poster
Tryingmum456 · 18/03/2025 22:54

DoAWheelie · 18/03/2025 22:49

It's not uncommon for some kids to not speak at all and then start in full sentences. My late OH's little brother didn't say a word until he was 5 years old then came out with a full sentence. His family asked why he didn't speak before and he replied "I never had anything to say before".

I love this!

OP posts:
VintageFollie · 18/03/2025 23:05

Well there is there is the old joke about baby Hans, who didn't speak. His parents were so worried that they took him to see the doctor, but the doctor could find nothing wrong. On his 4th birthday the parents made a beautiful chocolate birthday cake with orange icing. Hans took a bite of the cake and said in a clear voice "Mother, father, I do not care for the orange icing on the chocolate cake". His parents were astounded and stared at him in disbelief. "Baby Hans, you can talk!" they exclaimed. "Yes of course I can talk" he replied. "But why have you stayed silent all this time if you can speak?" They asked.
"Well up until now, everything has been satisfactory."

You did take his drink away, so perhaps up until that everything had been satisfactory?

Thelnebriati · 18/03/2025 23:13

Do you have a phone app or some other way to make recordings?

niadainud · 18/03/2025 23:19

DoAWheelie · 18/03/2025 22:49

It's not uncommon for some kids to not speak at all and then start in full sentences. My late OH's little brother didn't say a word until he was 5 years old then came out with a full sentence. His family asked why he didn't speak before and he replied "I never had anything to say before".

That one's been doing the rounds for years, if not decades.

oldernotwiserffs · 18/03/2025 23:29

It is possible! My little brother didn’t speak til he was 3 and my parents were very worried, they went to the first session of speech therapy and said something really random to my dad like ‘daddy have you got ham in your sandwiches?’ And my parents made a swift exit!

Azandme · 18/03/2025 23:30

My cousin didn't speak until he was three, then one day randomly asked for a drink - in a full sentence. My auntie was gobsmacked.

ammamug · 18/03/2025 23:34

My son didn’t speak until he was 4 . He went to Lancaster University and has an amazing job as an ecologist.
He had a big sister who spoke for him !!

SpringIsNearlySpringing · 18/03/2025 23:35

Yeah I’ve heard about boys doing this before. Funny creatures 😆

I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it OP, you don’t want him feeling like he has to ‘perform’, just carry on chatting to him. I’m really pleased for you though.

TeenLifeMum · 18/03/2025 23:39

I took dtds to see the hv at 26 months because dtd2 wasn’t speaking (she did walk first) dtd1 chatted lots. We walked in and dtd1 went shy and refused to say a word, dtd2 however started speaking in full sentences to the hv. I swear the hv thought is got the pair (identical twins) muddled but I really hadn’t. Ironically, they’re 13 now and dtd2 hates silences and never shuts up! Hope all okay op but try not to worry too much. They do love to throw in a few curve balls.

Original poster
Tryingmum456 · 19/03/2025 00:00

I’m loving all your stories. I didn’t make a big deal out of it, I was just so shocked! He’s been around my auntie a lot, who swears like a sailor so just hoping he doesn’t pick up that😄

OP posts:
Original poster
Tryingmum456 · 19/03/2025 00:02

Thelnebriati · 18/03/2025 23:13

Do you have a phone app or some other way to make recordings?

Yes I do

OP posts:
ReadingSoManyThreads · 19/03/2025 00:11

My eldest didn't talk until after she turned 3yrs old. She hasn't shut up since.

She never crawled and only started to walk at 19mths old, but as soon as she walked, she walked over half a mile in one go that first week.

May I kindly suggest you stop giving him a bottle. Bottles should be phased out from 6 months old. He is old enough to drink from a cup, or even a sippy cup if you don't want to use an open cup.

poetryandwine · 19/03/2025 00:18

My much younger DB barely spoke until he was nearly 3. He grew up to get an Ivy League PhD and great jobs involving a fair amount of public speaking.

BubbaHorovitz · 19/03/2025 00:42

Oh that's brilliant. He's a listener. My DD was a listener too. The first thing I heard her say was "I am feeling a bit grumpy today, actually"

I nearly fell over!

LoserWinner · 19/03/2025 01:08

At nearly 2 my second child remained mute apart from grunts and pointing, probably because three year old sibling talked for him. We were waiting for a speech therapy appointment. One morning, sibling was in nursery and child was in the high chair. I turned away to put dishes in the sink, and a voice behind me said clearly ‘Please, Mummy, can I have some more toast?’ Turns out the little so and so had been talking to sibling for ages when they were alone together!

poetryandwine · 19/03/2025 09:58

So many great stories here!

MarjorieDanvers · 19/03/2025 10:07

I remember saying to DS2 on his second birthday ‘are you ever going to talk to me?’. He looked up and said ‘no!’. He didn’t say anything other than ‘no’ until he started talking in sentences a year or so later!

MissAmbrosia · 19/03/2025 10:20

My youngest cousin didn't speak til he was about 4. His mum started teaching him Makaton sign language and then it was like his voice switched on one day.

RB68 · 19/03/2025 10:36

you need to give him opportunities to speak, so if he wants a drink he must say drink, if he wants a toy he must say toy, teddy, car etc. You must stop preempting his requirements and if necessary give him the instruction to copy - ask him overtly to "use his words". Mine was about two we had maybe half a doz words and I was really worried but I was really intense in terms of reading body language, having a routing of drinks/food certain times etc, so was taking away the need for her to speak. we went to a speech therapist and they confirmed she understood everything including instructions of 3 or 4 parts. After about another 3 months we were getting full on sentences no issues. Always worth a check up then change your own behaviours etc