Worried about DS (2.2) speech

[Alwaystirednowandalways]

He has excellent understanding but while he has a lot of words he isn’t using sentences yet beyond bye bye mummy Hiya cat. He says all gone and mummy here. Just that most of his friends seem to be saying things that are a bit more complex. I’m probably worrying about nothing but just want to check?

Sounds totally normal to me. 2.2 is still young, and as long as his understanding is good which it is, I wouldn’t worry at all.

2 Years 2 months? That's normal for age. Neither of mine were speaking at all

I don’t have kids yet but I worked in a nursery for some years, and trained in child development.

This sounds quite normal to me. You’ll probably be surprised now in a few months just how much his speech his come on, and wonder why you were so worried in the first place! Typically kids go from 0-60 as quick as you can blink 😂

Does he spend much time with other children? Specifically children older than him? Oftentimes a child’s best teacher is one of their peers, or an older sibling/cousin.

I’d say wait to worry until he’s been in nursery/school for a few months. Typically if he hasn’t come on a bit by then, the teachers will have noticed and will be able to advise you as well - but 9/10, there’s nothing to worry about

My advice would be to just spend as much time talking to him as you can, describe what you're doing, describe what he's doing, play games with him and describe what you're both doing, narrate everything. Read books to him and talk about the pictures, just talk, talk, talk until you get sick of the sound of your own voice!

He’s done three days a week in nursery since he was ten months. No concerns raised but they have given developing his language as a ‘target.’

Mines exactly the same age and I have the same issue. I've spoken to the HV who said it'll probably happen overnight but was very reassuring about the processes in place to help if it doesn't.

My son can mimic most of the letters of the alphabet, do animal sounds and the odd word like hiya, bubble, bauble (a Christmas takeaway!) and is attempting stinky and kicking K. His understanding is amazing though and he's v responsive so I'm trying not to worry too much - trying being the operative word!

DD1, also 26 months, is the same. Doesn't do more than 2 words together: "more (ba)nana" being a favourite, but understanding is amazing. Delayed speech and language is a big thing in my family. It sounds to me like your child is behind with this, but if his understanding is fine it'll probably sort itself out.

Mine is 22 months and sounds very similar. Bye bye, mama, all gone, ball, moon are his words. His understanding is great.

It's very hard to not compare language with other children but I know deep down that nothing is wrong and he develops just like other children, his language is just on the later spectrum.

Our now three and a half year old was exactly the same. Said about 3 words at 2.. we were a bit surprised as we are both teachers and read to her a lot (especially during lockdown). She went to speech and Lang at 2 and was assessed... understanding was what they were interested in and she started speaking really well a few months later..she now reads at a year one level and her speech is very advanced. It still surprises us and her nursery have commented on it.
Read a lot and talk a lot, it's all we did.

Would also say that when she was saying only dad, dog and mum we had wankerss from our NCT group whose kids were speaking in sentences and made us feel really worried

My first dc didn’t say much until she’s was about 2 1/2. It was a weird overnight thing. My mum came back from a few days holiday and came back to her chatting away. I don’t think she’s stopped for breath since and she’s 9 now

When my DS was 2 he could say "car", "van (ban)" and "bus (buh)" that's all (found a video when he was 2 and 3 months saying these words only). Not even mama or dada. I remember panicking all the time about his speech and nursey started using flash cards to teach him.

Fast forward since he started school he really took off. Top of the class all the time, reading several years ahead his peers. Now he won't shut up 🤦🏻‍♀️

My friend's son, on the other hand, could recite " the Gruffalo " fluently at the age of 2. Just shows even boys can be so different.

I really won't worry too much.

Trust me. My son didn't talk much at all and said very minimum, he turned 3 in Jan... randomly came out with the full pronunciation for TREX and now doesn't shut up Hahaa he has the best sentences and knowledge he's such a brain box ! So don't worry. Itll come and Youl never get a silent moment !! Xx

Thanks. I’m hoping the sentences will start soon - heard a two and a half year old chatting away yesterday and was thinking was it possible for there to be such a dramatic difference in just four months!