Am I doing it all wrong

[midnight90]

When do toddlers start to say mama or mummy. She says dada and grandad and a lot of other words that you can understand but not pronounced correctly, she's nearly two years old. You can hear her singing but the words are just babbles. She understands stuff like where are her shoes, she will go and get her shoes.

I've spoken to the HV and they were as much use as a chocolate tea pot the woman on the phone was very rude and couldn't be bothered to speak to me.

I feel like I've failed my little girl and I'm doing it all wrong. She was 4 weeks early and Im probably putting a lot on her. I just feel so low at the moment. I know I shouldn't compare but my friends toddlers are all speaking and singing words that you know what they are saying.

Sorry rant over

My son said "Dada" to address everyone until he was nearly two. Then one day he just started saying mama (which very quickly progressed into Mummy). He also had loads of made up words - baba was breakfast, uma was car (vroom), that sort of thing.

He didn't really start speaking until after his second birthday. He's now over 2.5 and he talks VERY well.

Understanding is more important than words, and it's very common for toddlers not to speak until they're two or even a little older.

She is speaking, you might not understand her clearly but she knows what she is saying. Anything you can understand repeat it clearly and she'll improve. I'm on number 3, my 1st wasn't an early speaker but started speaking in full sentences straight away, my second would only speak to me or his brother, not even my husband but is fine now and my third started speaking early but then now at almost three is only just starting on the sentences. They are all different and in she'll get there.

Don't put so much pressure on yourself! Lots of kids have barely any words at 2. You will most likely find your DC has a rapid increase in vocabulary over the next 6 months - I wouldn't worry until then. Kids vary so much at this age, and you mustn't blame yourself for it. I can't emphasise enough that it is not the quality of the parenting or the child's intellect. My brother and sister in law have two DCs - one started speaking early, one (nearly 2.5) still has a limited vocabulary and is still quite hard to understand (note, same parents). A family friend's child barely spoke until he was 3 and is now literally a brain surgeon. Stop beating yourself up immediately 😁.

Thank you everyone for your kind words and advice. Sometimes I just feel lost as what to do and I look at her and think we'll she understands what I'm saying ect somi shouldn't be to hard on her or myself.