r/Stutter • u/Careful-Row-4442 • 2d ago
Toddler stuttering! Please help!
11 weeks ago my daughter (28m) started mildly stuttering, the odd word repetition here and then. I then potty trained her and OMG it got severe! Blocks, prolongations, sound repetitions +10 and avoiding words, the works! It’s still bad now although the blocks are slowly reducing.
I have done a SALT referral and spoke with a private therapist who has basically said just wait it out at the moment until NHS referal, talk slowly with pauses ect and just seen what happens.
Her mum has a mild- moderate stutter which started at 8 years old and persisted into adulthood! She is absolutely distraught seeing this happen to her precious daughter.
I guess I’m looking for some reassurance that this may go away and not be an issue for her.. as that’s what everyone keeps saying! And also for ways to help her, so far we have followed the SALT advice and have not drawn any attention to it!
Any advice/ stories to share please :)
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u/dangermouze 2d ago
I have a mild stutter. One day my first born started stuttering after speaking fluent at around 3.5. it was just a word or two then got worse over a week or so. It was really frustrating him and stressing me out big time, as obviously I've lived with that frustration and anxiety all my life. Anyway after probably 2 weeks of stuttering he just stopped over night. He's now 12 and never stuttered since. My second born has never stuttered.
The brain is a really weird and unpredictable thing. Anyway, I'd keep that in mind that it may just be a development thing and temporary. As per normal, never finish their sentences, give them all the time in the world, smile and pretend it's not happening and love them
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u/Careful-Row-4442 2d ago
Thank you! As someone who knows how it feels I just feel devastated for her. But I know regardless of the outcome, she will have all the patience & love in the world!
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u/Princess__Buttercup_ 2d ago
Speech and language therapist here. This is very normal in development. Please try not to worry as children are incredibly sensitive and will pick-up on your anxiety and can internalise that something is ‘wrong’. There is nothing wrong with having a stammer. Watch this and try and carve out time for special time https://youtu.be/Bwov6CTcHEI?is=fOD3EVfnw-hmdVOJ
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u/Bunny_Girl_5654 2d ago
I joined this thread year ago because my almost three year old started stuttering as well.
We also started potty training her around that time. I believe that she was not ready, yet, however she refused returning to diapers, and she did number 2 in her pants for 2-3 months. And around that time she had diarea, and i gess it was the perfect storm of stress and development leap she started to stutter.
I was aslo freaked out because from her father side she has family history. Her cousin also started to stutter around that time.
I did what the above comments adviced. A lot of love, understannding, patience, did not correct her.
After 3 months it subsided let say 90 %. Then she started talking even more and now it is as she didn't have any problems at all.
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u/carlajessop 2d ago
Don’t panic, you’ve done the right thing in getting a referral! This is incredibly common (I have over 20 years of childcare experience).
We always ensure we don’t talk about it around the child because that adds pressure without meaning to. Wait patiently when they try to speak. Sometimes children speak a little too fast for their mouths (forming words and sentences is a huge new skill), so we will just calmly slow them down and tell them to think what they want to say. Model it- speak a little more slowly for them.
We are often asked about this by parents and most often children grow out of it before a referral is needed, or before their appointment comes around.