October Q+A

I love to put together some of the most common questions from Instagram and answer them here on the blog! So this month I picked 7 popular questions to answer for you. I’ve included links to additional resources in case you’re curious to learn more!

I hope you find it helpful!

Common parent questions answered!

• 1. My 14 month old can say 3 or 4 words, but they don’t pronounce those words clearly. Is that normal?

  Absolutely! It's completely normal for a 14-month-old not to pronounce words as accurately as adults do.

  At this age, toddlers are in the early stages of both language development (building their vocabulary) and speech development (working on pronunciation). Their ability to form complex sounds is limited, which may result in less precise pronunciation.

  What matters most is consistency. If your child consistently pronounces a word the same way every time, you can count it as a word (even if their pronunciation isn’t the same as yours). When they pronounce words the same way each time, it indicates that they understand the word's meaning and are trying to express themselves. With practice, their pronunciation will naturally improve over time.

  Lear More: What counts as a word?

• 2. My 15 month old likes to babble “Dadadada” but also he also uses “Dada” in context to talk about his dad. Can I count "Dada" as a word?

  Babbling itself doesn't count as words. However, when your child starts using a sound like "Dada" with clear intention and context, it absolutely counts as a word.

  Many of a child's first words may sound like babbling because they are using the sounds and combinations they've practiced and can produce. When you observe your child saying "Dada" to get their dad's attention or refer to him, it signifies a meaningful word in their early language development.

• 3. Do “reaction” sounds like “Yay!” and “Uh-oh!” count as words if used in the correct context?

  You bet! When your child uses reaction sounds like "Yay!" "Whee!" "Oops!" and "Oh-no!" in appropriate situations, you can consider them as words.

  For additional examples of sounds that babies and toddlers may produce and which ones can be classified as words, take a look at this informative blog post!

• 4. My 20 month old points at objects when I ask him to show me something and understands far more than he’s trying to speak. Is that normal?

  It's completely normal for your 20-month-old to understand more than they can express verbally. This is because receptive language skills, the ability to comprehend spoken language, tend to develop faster than expressive language skills in toddlers. While they may not be saying many words yet, they are absorbing and comprehending a significant amount of what is spoken to them.

  At this stage, toddlers often rely on both words and non-verbal communication like pointing and gestures to express themselves. As they get more practice talking, they will begin using less gestures and saying more of the words they already understand.

• 5. My 25 month old isn’t using any sentences or saying words together, but he says new words all the time. Should I be worried?

  It's perfectly normal for a 25-month-old not to be using full sentences yet. However, by this age, it's expected that toddlers can put together two-word combinations. You’ve probably heard or read about one of the most common toddler speech and language milestones - 2 word combinations by 24 months. And while milestones aren’t diagnostic, they can be helpful in knowing what to practice at home and when to ask for help.

  If your child isn't combining words on their own, you can try practicing with these helpful tips at home.

  When it comes to seeking help or support, you have a couple of options:

  First, you might think about scheduling a speech and language evaluation. This can provide you with a better understanding of your child's overall communication development and help identify specific areas where you can offer support. If you can secure an appointment quickly, you can get answers sooner. And if you’re on a waitlist and your little one begins to pick up new skills in the meantime, you can always cancel the appointment.

  Second, you can continue to support your child at home and take a "wait and see" approach. Ultimately, you know what works best for your family, and there's no one-size-fits-all answer.

• 6. Do you have any tips for teaching “me” versus “you” to a 2 year old? I’m having a hard time because it changes based on perspective!

  Teaching pronouns like "me" and "you" to a 2-year-old can indeed be a bit challenging, as it involves grasping the concept of perspective.

  Here’s my number one tip for getting started on pronouns. And you can read a full list of tips for teaching pronouns here.

  • Focus on Understanding First: Before expecting your child to use pronouns correctly, ensure they understand the meanings of "me" and "you." You can do this through interactive activities. For example, during playtime, you can say, "Give the ball to me" while gesturing towards yourself (“me”). Or your might have your child help set up for a pretend picnic and ask them to do things like, “Get a bowl for you.” and then “Now get a bowl for me.” This hands-on approach helps you see which pronouns your child is understanding; and creates opportunities for you to teach them if they don’t.

• 7. Does a pacifier cause speech delay?

  The use of pacifiers can hinder a child's speech development.

  First, having a pacifier in their mouth makes it physically harder for them to talk, leading to fewer attempts at speech and potentially limiting word combinations. This is similar to how it's challenging to engage in a conversation when a dentist is working in your mouth.

  Furthermore, pacifiers can affect the development of specific speech sounds, particularly those that involve the front of the tongue touching the roof of the mouth (such as "t," "d," "s," "z," and "n"). The presence of a pacifier may cause these sounds to be mispronounced or substituted with sounds made by the back of the tongue. Additionally, sounds that require lip involvement (like "p," "b," and "m") may be weak or altered because the pacifier encourages the child to keep their teeth close together.

  I definitely understand that taking away the pacifier may be a battle you’re not sure you’re ready for. There are some really helpful tips and more information about pacifiers and speech Here!

Written By: Stephanie Hatleli, MS CCC-SLP

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