Hello!

My son is two and a half and has shown absolutely no interest in beginning toilet training.

He also refuses to talk which is making it mighty difficult to understand what he wants.

We read to him every night and morning and all times in-between. We define words and make him copy sounds but when it comes to putting sounds to words, he shuts down and refuses to continue being very insistent with the shaking of his head, sometimes even throwing a tantrum.

It’s extremely difficult with a six month old as well. He refuses to talk and refuses any attempts at potty training. Please Help.

answers_win love always everywhere


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  • First of all I wouldn’t push to hard.
    Second I would start some simple sign language
    Third I would speak with the health nurse and see if referral to speech therapy is needed


  • I think you should definetly speak to peditrician and speech pathologist. Sometimes there is an underlying issue. Good luck.


  • He is only 6 months and reading is a good start at any age. I wouldn’t push as it might do the reverse and make him talk less. I used to go by the blue clinic book and raise concerns when the milestones hit. I would have been lost without my blue book for my first child and my second seemed a cinch ( except the labour ). Anyway , go easy and soon he may surprise you .


  • That must be very frustrating. There are some great ideas here. I wish you all the best.


  • Slowly slowly here, push too hard and he’ll withdraw even more. If he wants something, I would try and get him to say what before you give it to him. Should be easy if he really wants something, like a toy or a lolly


  • has he ever spoken? can he hear you when you speak? a friend of mines son never spoke but after having him checked by her gp, paediatrician and ENT specialist, he was actually having difficulties in hearing and didn’t quite understand how to speak.


  • has he ever spoken or is this a new thing? If it is a new thing it could be his way of seeking attention.


  • I’d get the speech thing checked out by a dr. Potty training can wait though. I think that will come when he is ready.


  • We found our little man wanted to talk baby talk (yet we only ever spoke normally to him) when he refused we just refused to give it to him till he said the word (no pointing, grunting etc) it took patience but worked for our boy. Sometimes I really beloved it\’s when they are ready, as some things where a challenge


  • Talk to him, encourage conversation, read to him and no TV!!


  • Narrate everything you do…and sing! !


  • Try pausing before doing or giving him things he likes, for example, when he is on the swing, hold the swing up in the air and say \”ready, steady …….GO!\” and then let go. Each time you do it pause for a longer period before you say go, hopefully this will encourage him to say \”go\” first because he will want you to let go of the swing. This worked really well for us.


  • Could it also be to do with the baby? Sometimes when they see a babies needs getting met without speaking they can revert themselves. It sounds like you are doing everything right with the reading and talking to him but if you have concerns, get him checked sooner rather than later. I would hold off on the toilet training for now. My first son was 3+ before he was ready and I know MANY boys the same.


  • Talk to him, read to him and even sing to him. Some children just don’t talk until they are ready. But if you are truly concerned appel to your gp about hearing and speech therapy. Best of luck (and remember once he starts talking it won’t be long unit you hear ‘I love you mum’)


  • I have heard in some cases hearing is acttually the problem, if they cannot hear well it can delay speech and development. My advice would see a hearing specialist as well as a GP to check for any other underlying problems. Hope that helps :)


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