Speech & Language · 3 min read
My Child Has Started Stammering: Should I Be Worried?
Many young children go through a phase of stammering. A therapist explains what's typical, what's not, and how support helps.
Hearing your child get stuck on words can be worrying, especially if it seems to happen suddenly.
The reassuring news is that many children go through a period of stammering (sometimes called stuttering) as their communication skills develop. For some children it passes on its own, while for others, early support can make a real difference.
What Does Stammering Look Like?
Stammering can include:
- Repeating sounds, syllables or words (“c-c-can I”, “want-want-want”)
- Stretching sounds (“ssssssun”)
- Getting stuck on a word so that no sound comes out
- Showing tension, effort or frustration when talking
- Avoiding certain words or situations
Stammering can vary from day to day. Stammering often changes over time. Some days your child may stammer more, while on other days they may stammer less.
Is Stammering Normal?
Many children experience some stammering between the ages of 2 and 5 years.
During this stage, children are learning new words, longer sentences and more complex ways of communicating. Stammering may come and go, and this is often a normal part of development.
This is common and is not caused by anything a parent has done.
When Should I Seek Advice?
It may be worth speaking to a Speech and Language Therapist if:
- The stammering has lasted longer than 6 months
- It started after around 3½ years of age
- It is becoming more frequent or severe
- Your child seems frustrated, anxious or upset about talking
- There is a family history of stammering
- You’re worried about it
Trust your instincts. You know your child best.
Contrary to some older advice, “wait and see” is not always the best approach. Early support can be very effective, and seeking advice early does not make things worse.
How Can I Help My Child at Home?
Simple changes can make a big difference:
- Slow your own pace of talking slightly
- Give your child plenty of time to finish what they want to say
- Pause before responding instead of rushing the conversation
- Avoid telling them to “slow down” or “take a breath”
- Focus on what they’re saying rather than how they’re saying it
The goal is to reduce pressure, not to fix the stammer.
The Good News
Many children who stammer grow into confident communicators.
The most important thing is that your child feels listened to, valued and supported, whether they are stammering a lot, a little, or not at all on any given day.
At Speech Stuff, Rebecca Dennis is our Stammering Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. Rebecca works closely with children, parents and the wider family to reduce communication pressure, build confidence, and support children to become confident communicators.
We understand how worrying it can be when a child starts to stammer, and we’re here to help you understand what you’re seeing and what support, if any, may be helpful.
Worried About Your Child’s Stammer?
You don’t need to wait until things get worse before asking questions.
Book a free 20-minute call and we’ll talk through your concerns, answer your questions, and help you decide whether further support may be helpful.
Related: Speech and Language Milestones · Helping a Late Talker at Home · Terms explained