toddler learning to speak in a dual accent household

Our son is 16 months old, and he recently had a well-baby visit here in the States. He says a few words, but not loads. We aren't worried about his speech development - but did wonder why at SIXTEEN MONTHS he has yet to say mommy. (Ask me if I'm cheesed off about it!) - The pediatrician offered an interesting opinion: that it might have something to do with the accents. Philip hears my American accent all during the day - and the other people that he sees most are all English. My husband, our two clsoest friends here (who moved to the US at the same time as us, the men work together), and their 3 year old son. Loads of English accents. He has interaction with other Americans, but the most frequent, quality, real conversation time is in a mixed accent environment. He thinks Philip is just waiting to figure out whether or not he wants to say Mom or Mummy!

And I wonder.... is his little brain trying to decide which accent side to bat for? Hmmm.... I suppose as an adult he'll be able to speak with both. Wonder what he'll be like in a few months.

Another thing to consider is whether he spends a large amount of time with those considerably oleer than himself. My youngest brother (the baby of seven children) didn't speak until he was almost three. Numerous tests and lots of anxious times for all thinking he had something wrong with him. One day he just started speaking...in complete sentences. Pediatrician figured that with so many older ones always talking, he didn't have any reason to speak or chose not to until he could communicate at a more adult level. Never did figure out why but once he started speaking....we couldn't shut him up!

another thing that could be a factor is "dad"

baby knows that dad gets mum's attention and he doesn't call you "mummy" ...I remember babysitting a little boy that was 18months and he didn't call her mum nor mummy at all ...he called her by her first name ...he was mimicking his dad.

I've read this in one of the paediatrics books and I'm gonna have to find it again to make sure but it stated that infants first words would most of the time be "DA" or "d" sound because of the structure of the larynx in the beginning..their vocal chord , voice box isn't in it's proper position yet so as it descends to it's more adult position is when they can make different vowel sound...(I think I remembered that correctly  )


Another theory is who does he spend the most time with?? Mum so why learn your name you are always accessible...


That's the first time I've heard About the accents thing ...I've heard about the languages..unless your accents are quite heavy and distinct...

My daughter didn't say 'mummy' till she was about 22 months old.  But she said 'daddy' months earlier. 

I also said 'Papa' long before I said 'Mama'.  So did my sister. 

I think it's just a kid thing. 

Niall is two and a half, and rarely says mum.  He says dad all the time, he even says Joshua.  But rarely, very rarely does he ever say mum.

It is a lot easier to form the ''d'' sound when babbling ''d-d-d-d-d'' and then a parent gets a HUGE grin on his/her face and hugs the child and says something like ''yes baby, dada...look you can say dada...honey s/he can say dada'' and gets lots of positive feedback and comes to associate ''dada'' as the label for the object pointed out. (well, simplified version from one of my child development courses took waaaay back when!) Just takes longer to learn how to to form the more complex MMMM sound.

I had the same worry, but was told by 2 speech therapists that it has nothing to do with the accents, as the child doesn't know a difference. Just as I no longer hear my DH British accent the child was brought up with both so knows no difference. My daughter had a lot of trouble with many letters and sounds, so I took her for a 1st opinion and a 2nd opinion. The second had no idea I had been somewhere else and they came to the conclusion that she was fine at 2 but should be rechecked when she enters school. She did one year and was fine after that. Now she is 9 and won't shut up!

My son has stopped talking at 14 months, he was saying ma ma and da da, instead he is running, playing football and doing  anything else that can keep him active. All kids learn at different rates and in my opinion it is nothing to worry about.

Speaking of the first name thing.... it does sometimes sound like he's saying "Sara" instead of mummy! Hmmmmmm....

I do actually have very little worry about his speech, it is just interesting to see how it is developing, and how differently all little kids seem to develop... sometimes it is as if I can SEE his brain working.

checked at uni ..yep it's to do with the positioning of the larynx  ...it descends to it's proper position as the child goes from infant to child stage..hence why it's a bit tougher for them to do certain vowel sounds.  So he/she might be wanting to say "mmm" but physiologically it's not easy....or at least this was confirmed in class.

Another thing to consider is whether he spends a large amount of time with those considerably oleer than himself. My youngest brother (the baby of seven children) didn't speak until he was almost three. Numerous tests and lots of anxious times for all thinking he had something wrong with him. One day he just started speaking...in complete sentences. Pediatrician figured that with so many older ones always talking, he didn't have any reason to speak or chose not to until he could communicate at a more adult level. Never did figure out why but once he started speaking....we couldn't shut him up!

This is exactly how I was, my older brother was a real chatterbox.

And Dagmar sometimes calls me "Stace" because that's what hubby calls me. 

I think they all say "Daddy" first.  As long as he has a few words, I wouldn't worry too much about his speech, but I'm very interested in the dual accent thing because Morgan should be learning to talk right after we move.

Einstein didn't begin to speak till past age 4....he didn't do too bad for himself there



....well aside from going out with his cousin 

My HV wants to send Niall to a speech therapist.    She says he doesn't understand him. That's because he's not interested in talking to her.  Whenever he visits the clinic, he's interested in the toys and exploring. I'm not concerned. He's picking up three to four new words per week and can say some difficult words like Joshua (crystal clear).

"Are you not worried about his speech?"

"No, he may not say everything clearly, but I feel he's making good progress."

"Would you not like to see a speech therapist?"

"No, he's doing fine."

"Are you sure you'd not like to see one?  Just in case you're worried, mind?"

"No."

I thought about asking her if she needed a comprehension therapist! 

It never hurts to go to a speech therapist because they can give you additional info on helping him along developmental stages...even if they don't see anything wrong it's always good to get new pointers...really sometimes we get into a routine and it takes someone looking from the outside in to give us a good bit of info...not saying that there is a problem ...just saying if they are offering and it's at no extra cost or inconvenience to you ..why not.

Because I don't believe he needs one.  If I were in the least way concerned, I'd be the first one to ask -- trust me on that one.

Oh I'm not saying your child needs one...I'm just saying sometimes they offer for the following reasons, least with the area I worked in: ...they don't just suggest because they feel there is a deficit they also suggest for someone to go in order to maintain progress or for additional info/advice...some places just offer it in order to cover their butts ..so if it comes back to them for some reason ...they can have on their records "it was offered parent declined"  ...but again it all the depends on the area.... did I word that correctly

Believe me they wouldn't be asking you if you "would like" one if they felt anything on the contrary...it was slightly scary when a child became a "green file" ....