2.2 mth, words coming but is pronunciation an issue?

[lucamom]

My son was 2 in Feb, and although I've been concerned about his lack of talking compared to peers, it has sort of exploded in recent weeks to include loads of new words daily.

So now I no longer have that to worry about, I obviously need to panic about something else! I'm hoping either for reassurance or advice about the pronunciation of his words. He says some things clearly (Mommy, Daddy, Nanny etc), but a lot of the things he says have to be interpreted and only those close to him know what he means a lot of the time (train/plane is 'main', milk is 'mak', Grandma is 'man-ma', chair is 'dair', table is 'tay-del', noise is 'noy', puzzle is 'pubble', brown is 'mow', pink is 'mim'!).

As an example, he's just said 'Thomas stuck', which actually sounds more like 'Mommy's truck' to the untrained ear ('Mamass-duck' is what he actually says!)

How do your toddlers of the same age sound - is this just immature language or does it sound like something else could be causing it (hearing/eyesight)?

At his 2 year check I asked for a referral, so the HV is coming out to see us in a month or 2 first as he's still classed as young apparently. At the check they didn't talk to him or check his speech themselves so as yet I've had no reassurance or advice from the professionals as to what's normal at this age (all I have to compare to are friends' kids speaking in perfectly clear, lengthy sentences!!).

Having said that, things are drastically improved of late as many people promised after turning 2, so maybe I'm just being paranoid?

Normal. He's learning a new skill, he's never going to get it spot on straight away! Give him a chance and stop worrying about it

mine same age (early march birthday) and just the same as yours. He also sounds like he has a lisp but I'm going to ignore that for a while and see if it improves.
Theres a lot of stuff he says that other people couldnt understand, but I know what he means - eg. mouk means milk. He has started speaking in full sentences though and stringing words together with 'and' and 'is' etc, so whilst its hard to understand what he's saying, I know that he's improving.
Whilst he's not as clear as a couple of kids his age, he's also a lot better than a couple of others, so I'm not worried

It sounds normal to me - I have a similar DS aged 2.2 and his nursery (he attends part-time) don't seem to understand half of what he says. In fact, he sounds worse than your ds as:
'Postman Pat' = 'Lillypat'.
'Macca Pacca' was 'Baggart' for so long and after much cajoling is now "Maggot Maggot".

You get the jist I am sure!

He is very bright in other ways - recognises all his shapes, colours, numbers to 20+, points out letters on shop signs etc. It's just a shame that to the untrained ear he's talking gobbledeygook!

Thanks for the replies - hopefully I am worrying unnecessarily. If you'd asked me a few weeks ago I'd have been happy with this level of speech, compared to where he was, so I should focus on that, rather than what isn't happening!

he does sound perfectly normal to me, but I do seem to have the skill of understanding toddler-speak, comes from spending most of the past 20 years with them!
When DD was this age she used to say 'elefeninant' for elephant.

Guess why my nick is pranma!

grandma?

My dd was still calling Shrek 'Treck' until at 3. Hospital was hopspital.

I worked as a dental nurse and after fitting dentures patients would complain that they talked differently. The dentist would explain that the brain needs to hear certain words said incorrectly many many times in order to correct the pronunciation.

It is the same with new words & children. Also some words are difficult because the tongue/lips etc need to move in different ways, and in opposite directions...if that makes sense!

Try saying something he says...for example 'Chair' say it slowly and now say what he says 'dair'. Can you see how different the lip/mouth/tounge movement is? To me, dair is easier to say.

With practice, it will improve.

Perfectly normal.

It's like learning to play the piano, you will make plenty of mistakes before you can play perfectly.

Slt's would be more concerned about the amount of words he is using and putting together and would not worry about how words are pronounced for a couple of years yet.

All the examples you give show normal immaturities that would be expected at his stage and age.

Just enjoy all the attempts he makes and keep a note of any of the more hilarious words as you will forget them!