https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:17:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2531290 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 16:16:54 +0000 erinpye 2531290@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm pretty sure 3 year olds should be past the "only the parents understand" phase and be understood by strangers, I could be wrong. Sounds a bit delayed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2531159 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:55:55 +0000 arosebyany 2531159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks to everyone who's commented, I do think he is delayed and I know my sil will probably ignore it until perhaps a teacher or someone similar says something. I do plan to stay out of it I was curious as to how far behind he could potentially be. I really have no experience with toddlers or preschoolers. My 4 month old is all I got. I think it's just going to be a wait it out and see what happens. ☹️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2531152 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:51:37 +0000 arosebyany 2531152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I'm not familiar with a 3 year old other than him lol that's why I was asking he bees for opinion. When I say gibberish I mean like a language of his own, more or less just sounds, not words. But the tone he uses sounds like he's asking a question if that makes sense? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2531090 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:18:38 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2531090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jackiedavis87: as a parent and preschool teacher, that sounds like a delay to me, potentially a significant one. Sometimes kids do "grow out of it" without any intervention, but I feel like that's more the exception. You're right to worry about him not getting any help until he goes to school. Speech is such a huge deal and the foundation for literacy development, so getting services earlier is always better. </p> <p>However, if she doesn't visit the pediatrician even for well-visit check-ups, and she argues with her husband about his concerns, there's likely not much you can do to get her to have him evaluated. I think the best you can do is try to understand him the best you can and listen closely to him to see if you can pick up his speech patterns (like saying the "b" sound for the "f" sound, etc). Also, if he seems frustrated when trying to speak to you, you can gently acknowledge that "I'm so sorry I don't know what you're telling me. It's very hard to not be understood. Can you show me/point to it/tell me again?" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530938 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 12:57:50 +0000 Adira 2530938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm curious what you mean by "He speaks gibberish 95% of the time." Are you familiar with what's normal for a 3 year old? I ask because this sounds like something my brother might say about my kid, who is actually pretty advanced for his language skills, but he doesn't enunciate well, so if you're not used to listening to him talk, he's probably hard to understand! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530928 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 12:50:00 +0000 looch 2530928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I look at it this way, if his mom is going to do anything about it, she is already doing it and doesn't need anyone else telling her. If she's not going to do anything about it, chances are she will only view this kind of interjection as a negative knock.</p> <p>I get it, you want to help, but I'd stay out of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530925 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 12:44:43 +0000 Raindrop 2530925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is a case by case bases.</p> <p>I will tell you my story. I took my LO to all his normal appointments. I think at 2 I was worried he was delayed. He had barely any words but our pediatrician said he was fine. At his 3 year old appointment I thought for sure I would be sent to speech evaluation. Again barely any words… mostly 1 word sentences, a couple of 2 word sentances with a few 3 word sentences. I was really worried!! AGAIN my pediatrician was like I think he’s fine. He did say my son was just on the low end of what is normal and he thinks that’s perfectly fine because kids developed differently. He said also what my son was saying might sound like gibberish to other people, if I as a parent could understand about 50-75% of what he says than that’s still good. Since I would know what he’s talking about. I actually understand 95% of what he said but my friends thinks he’s talking in gibberish.</p> <p>I didn’t know what I was doing wrong, we read to him every day. We talk to him a lot.</p> <p>Then at like 3 and a few months… his language exploded! Like close to full sentences overnight. Friends we see only quarterly (every few months) were surprised how much he talked, we kind of forgot he wasn’t talking almost at all just a few months before.</p> <p>It sounds like in your situation you are worried that your SIL is being too lacks about him not talking, which might be a concerned on itself. I’m not sure if I would say your nephew is for sure delayed, he might just be on the low end of normal like mine was. It wouldn't hurt to at least get him checked out... maybe BIL could take him? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530904 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 12:32:47 +0000 tlynne 2530904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, he is delayed. And sometimes kids "grow out of delays", but it depends on the reason for the delay. It would be a fantastic idea to at least get his hearing checked. I once had a foster child whose mom rarely took him to the doctor...his eardrums had ruptured so many times from undiagnosed/untreated ear infections that he had almost completely lost his hearing, and it caused a speech delay and articulation issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530890 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 12:27:02 +0000 lamariniere 2530890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend of mine has a son who has a major speech delay (at 3-3.5 I couldn't understand him at all). Turns out he has severe hearing loss in one of his ears. There are a few other things going on too, but he has gotten much better since being diagnosed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530726 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:45:54 +0000 arosebyany 2530726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: oh no I'm not even going to bring it up to her, I know she would flip out on me. My other SIL (who I'm close to, and has 3 kids)and her are real close. I'm going to bring it up to her, she may even have tried talking to her about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530724 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:43:54 +0000 yoursilverlining 2530724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Agree 100%.</p> <p>It sounds like yes, he is likely delayed. But I think you should be very, very careful about inserting yourself into this situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530716 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:40:44 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2530716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While it does sound like something I would worry about, I'd be extremely careful with how you approach her about it. No one wants to hear that their child is lacking or delayed in any way, and though you think you're helping, you may get an unexpected reaction from her. </p> <p>I have a friend who has a child who was delayed, and is borderline autistic. She got him evaluated and has speech, occupational, and physical therapy for him, but she's extremely sensitive to others "letting her know" that he's delayed. It doesn't sound as if your SIL is getting your nephew services today, but just be sensitive to how you're "letting her know" you're concerned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530714 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:40:26 +0000 hellobeeboston 2530714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was the same as @mrsjyw: </p> <p>I had him evaluated at 2.5 or so and they said he was on track so we just kept working with him... By 3 he was able to communicate really well, and now at 3.5 he's fully caught up to other kids. Would she be willing to get an eval? it's usually free and some speech therapy sooner rather than later will definitely help!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530697 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:31:29 +0000 arosebyany 2530697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@psw27: I know! What I mostly worry about is him getting to school age and being extremely behind the other kids, I know how tough that can be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530689 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:28:31 +0000 Rescuemom10 2530689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like he is delayed. My DD is 3 and she is non stop talking full sentences.<br /> Although of course every child is different. I think its safe to say a 3 year old who is mostly jibberish yet is delayed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530674 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:22:52 +0000 psw27 2530674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Seems delayed to me. My LO is only 20 months but is starting to put together simple "sentences" like "daddy airplane work" or "mommy here shoes" </p> <p>I feel bad for him. He needs to be advocated for so he gets the services that can help him. He must be awfully frustrated if he can't communicate his needs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530651 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:12:42 +0000 mrsjyw 2530651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes he sounds like he is delayed. Our lo was a late talker but by 3 we were having full conversations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530641 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:06:18 +0000 arosebyany 2530641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: @ShootingStar: @stargal: thanks ladies! It sounds like my thoughts are right. I really started to worry about it when a friend of ours 15 mo seemed to speak more clearly. I'm going to talk to my other SIL she's close to her sister and me, so I know she'll know how to talk to her about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530629 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:00:41 +0000 Truth Bombs 2530629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, he is very delayed. At that point my LO could basically communicate whatever she needed/wanted verbally and be fully understood by strangers </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530625 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 09:57:07 +0000 ShootingStar 2530625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in no way an expert on child speech development, I pretty much can only share where my own child is. DS is 2.5 next month and we've been evaluating his speech at home as part of a questionnaire for daycare. He mostly speaks in 4 words sentences, but we did hear a 5 word one and a 7 word one this morning. </p> <p>A portion of his speech is unintelligible to others. Maybe 10-25%? He has certain mispronunciations, like the "ch" sound. So school comes out like "gool" and started saying chocolate, which sounds more like "cockit". </p> <p>He doesn't speak in gibberish ever, except for one word that he thinks sounds funny. It sounds kind of like dadadoodoo and he laughs afterwards, so I think it's his version of a joke. </p> <p>I know some kids are faster or slower than others, so I hope he catches up :(. Or maybe your SIL can be convinced to get some extra help for him, but if she's super opposed she might not be very motivated to keep up with appointments and such. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530622 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 09:54:24 +0000 stargal 2530622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like he is delayed. My son is in speech therapy at 3 and he was speaking in four word sentences. Now at 3.5 he speaks elaborate sentences but is stull in speech therapy for articulation but i think will be testing out this summer bc pf progress. I will say though my son hit his stride at 3. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-yo-speech#post-2530611 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 09:43:08 +0000 arosebyany 2530611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok so my nephew will be 3 in June, and I'm pretty sure he is speech delayed, but I'm wondering how much? He speaks gibberish 95% of the time. I've never heard him speak in a sentence ever, sometimes he'll say a few words here and there, but you really have to pay attention to understand what he's trying to say. And I know I'm not missing anything because I see him daily. My SIL is not concerned at all?! He doesn't get vaccines, she doesn't take him to the ped unless he's super sick, so it's been at least a year since he's seen a ped. I've tried talking to my MIL about it, but she just shrugs it off with a " some kids are delayed, he'll grow out of it attitude" wtf! I think he's super delayed, but maybe I'm overreacting? Let me know ladies</p> <p>Oh also my BIL thinks he's super delayed also, according to MIL it's something the argue about often. </p>