Please help! I'm a hormonal mom of a 6 week old preemie and suddenly my 2.5 year old toddler started stuttering. He seems fine and everyone else doesn't seem concerned but I don't know if it's the hormones or what, but it's literally breaking my heart! I'm soooooo anxious about it. Every time he talks and gets stuck on a word, or struggles to speak, it kills me. I find that I don't even want to talk with him or play with him. I know I'm sleep deprived and not at my best right now and I know I'm overreacting. Please tell me I just need to calm down and that this will pass. I konw I need to put this into perspective and relax, I'm just having a really hard time with this. I'm not proud of how I feel about this. I'm ashamed and beating myself up. I just felt like I needed some kind words of encouragement from other moms or moms who have been there. THanks.
Re: toddler suddenly stuttering!
First off don't beat yourself up. Remember that you are anxious about this because you have a new baby and that's is REALLY overwhelming.
I don't have experience with this but I'm sure there's a reason for this new behavior. Could be the new baby at home. Call the Pedi and ask his/her opinion. Maybe the Pedi will have a logical explanation.
Try to relax, even though you are worried. Hang in there.
Because you just had a baby and EVERYTHING is difficult! And you are a mom that worries about her kid. Seems normal to me. I had insane anxiety after having my second baby (she's 6 months old now) so I get it.
Don't tell him to slow down and don't avoid talking to him. If you slow down your speech, just below your comfortable rate (but not unnatural sounding) he'll slow down. Try to focus on what he's saying instead of how it's coming out. If you're tense, it won't make things easier for him. There are some super simple guidelines and info that I have seen help a lot of families at stutteringhelp.org
He he started kindergarten this year and we noticed it getting worse at the beginning of the year. He would get stuck and have to force words out. We spoke to the school and they did an evaluation and he started speech therapy. It's helped SO much. He still stutters a bit, but not near as bad as he was. We've been told to speak slowly and clearly and do not interrupt when he's trying to say something. I know it's second nature to try and finish a sentence for them, but we have to just let him get it out.
Basically I just wanted to say it's probably just a phase, but even if it's not, it'll be okay. There are plenty of resources out there to help if the stutter sticks. Try not to worry too much!