DS 2.5 stammering and repeating words - a phase or cause for concern?

[AveryJessup]

My DS is normally very chatty and constantly babbling but recently he has started stammering more and more and stumbling over his words e.g. I will say 'can you tell Daddy what you did at the park today?' and he will say 'I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-....I-I-I...wen' on carousel!' or if he's looking for something he will say 'wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-etc... wh-where my truck go?'

Is this developmentally normal, just a phase they go through as their sentences get more complex or is it worth talking to his doctor about (we're in the US so all via pediatrician, no HVs or GPs)?

I don't want to make a fuss and make him self-conscious about it but it is paining me to listen to him when I know he can speak fluently when he wants to and has a wide vocabulary. It is frustrating me listening to him get frustrated! If it is cause for concern I would like to nip it in the bud and get him help too.

Anyone else with a normally fluent-speaking DS suddenly stammering and repeating himself? Did it resolve itself or was it the start of a problem?

It's very normal and usually fades out. Something about brain going faster than the mouth and words can manage.

Best to try to ignore and let him finish in his own time, at this age nothing to worry about.

Thanks foolonthehill. My instinct is to think it's a phase linked up with his speech / brain development, as you say, but don't want to miss anything either if it's a problem!

Bumping out if interest. My 3 year old is the same.

Both mine did/do this. Totally normal Toddler Stammer. They grow out of it. Just wait patiently!

Sorry, was rushing before....

Difficulties with speaking fluently between 2 - 4 years affect about one child in 20 but this is probably under reported as most grow out of it and parents don't seek professional help. Evidence shows that most children outgrow this phase over a few weeks or months, although at the time this can be hard to believe.

Often children have been confident and quick speakers previously and it happens "out of the blue" The non-fluency may also come and go.

About 1/4 children may continue to stammer or stutter for a more prolonged period and it is probably worth referring to a speech and language therapist if your child reaches the year before school admission with continued problems or if your child becomes very self conscious about the way they speak or the stutter persists for more than a few months.

It helps if you consider how you speak with your child...try to use relaxed, calm demeanour and short sentences and pause briefly between sentences.

Thanks for your responses and the more detailed info from you too, foolonthehill.

I have noticed that when he's playing and talking away to himself (as they do!) he is much more fluent. The stammering tends to happen when he has a strong emotion about something e.g. can't find a favourite toy or when he's asked a question.

DH and I both talk really quickly and are non-stop blatherers so that probably isn't easy for him either! We do pause and make an effort to include him, use short sentences etc but worth reminding ourselves of that.