Over the last month I've noticed my little one, Alivia, stuttering quite a bit. At first I didn't think anything of it, but as it started to worsen and become more frequent I grew concerned. In order to establish whether she had control over it, I would remind her to take her time and think about what she wanted to say before she said it. This seemed to help. When I reminded her, she would pause for a good 5 - 10 seconds and then out her statement would come stutter free! This eased my mind a bit. Of course, being a first time parent, over protective, and a worry wart of sorts, I put a call into her Pediatrician anyway.
DO YOU HAVE A CHILD THAT STUTTERS?
Apparently, stuttering is pretty common in the toddler years. It can last anywhere from weeks, months, even years. If stuttering persists after the age of 5, professional intervention may need to be provided. My main concern was what can I be doing at home to help my child's stuttering? My doctor mentioned a few things over the phone which I thought were very helpful including:
- try to engage your child in fun, relaxed, and interesting conversation
- don't insist on correcting his/her words
- try not to make them repeat themselves (and don’t let them know when you can’t understand what they are saying)
- don't make him/her repeat themselves
After doing some research online, I found WebMD post very similar tips. This made me feel better. There is something about consistency I find comfort in!
In short, it looks as though I should just wait it out. Of course, I'll be keeping a close eye on her!
When Alivia was born I remember thinking how innocent and helpless she was. It was amazing that she had to depend entirely on someone else (me) to take care of her. It was a rather frightening moment. It was also then I made a promise to her and myself that I would always do whatever necessary to keep her safe, healthy, out of harm’s way, cared for, and, most importantly, happy!
Today, when I think I'm being overprotective, overly cautious, even outright ridiculously over the top with concerns and worries, I take a step back and remember I'm really none of those things. I'm just keeping a promise.
If you missed my previous post Toddler Clothing: Recommendations from an Experienced Shop-a-holic, I hope you'll check it out!
Also, if you haven't seen my poll (at the top of my page in my sidebar to the right), feel free to check that out as well! I'd really appreciate your vote!