Yes, too much milk, especially from a bottle prolonged past infancy, can contribute to speech delays by affecting oral muscle development, palate formation, and potentially displacing solid foods needed for oral motor skills, while some theories link dairy proteins to neurodevelopmental issues in sensitive children, though direct causation for general speech delay is complex.
Too-high levels of the compounds in dairy and gluten can cause: Problems with speech and hearing. Spaciness and “brain fog”
While common causes of the condition include oral-motor problems (difficulty controlling speech muscles), significant ear wax buildup, chronic ear infections, or fluid behind the ear drums, signs of speech delay are varied.
The earlier you try to wean the bottle away, the easier it will be for you to do so. Using the bottle for longer than needed can have an effect on your child's teeth, and can also cause problems with their speech development and eating too.
If your child consistently struggles to understand what you're saying, it might be a red flag. Speech Difficulties: If your child's speech is unclear or difficult to understand by age 3, it could be a sign of a speech delay.
According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), late talkers are toddlers (18 to 30 months old) who have a limited vocabulary for their age, but do not have any other developmental delays. Some late talkers may talk by three to five years of age. These toddlers are called late bloomers.
While speech delay can be a characteristic associated with autism spectrum disorder, it does not necessarily indicate autism on its own. There are various reasons for speech delays, which can be caused by factors such as hearing impairments, developmental issues, or environmental factors.
How Can Parents Help?
Weaning from the bottle entirely is recommended when your toddler is between 1 and 2 years old. By 2 years old, experts also suggest giving up the sippy for an open-mouth cup. Knowing the bottle is available might make it harder for your child to wean at night and could prevent them from eating enough at mealtimes.
Vitamin B12 deficiency was more frequent in children with speech delay than in the control group. Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause speech delay or speech disorders.
A speech delay is the phenomenon of not being able to communicate using spoken language at the expected developmental age. Typically, babies begin speaking single words between 13 and 18 months. A two-and-a-half year-old child should be able to speak 50 words, though pronunciation will likely often be unclear.
A child who understands everything but doesn't talk is showing a clear expressive language delay, not something to “wait and see.” Early intervention gives your child the best chance to develop strong communication skills.
Dysarthria is usually caused by damage to the brain or conditions that affect the nervous system. It can happen at any age. Common causes include: stroke, severe head injury and brain tumours.
Dairy is highly inflammatory and it can cause acid reflux and excessive mucus in the throat, which can irritate the vocal cords. If you're craving similar flavours, we recommend Oat Milk (Oatly Barista is a must for us), Coconut Yoghurt and, as for cheese, Daiya is an amazing dairy free cheese brand we love.
Too much cow's milk
Toddlers who drink lots of cow's milk (more than 500ml in 24 hours) can become low in iron and fibre, often because they don't eat as much food as they should because they are full on milk. This means they miss out on key vitamins and minerals found in healthy foods.
A diet for a speech delay would include omega-3s, proteins, iron, zinc, and B vitamins, which are found in foods like ragi, moong dal, spinach, beetroot, walnuts, eggs, fish, and chicken. These foods help to develop brain connections, growth of nerves, and speech muscles.
Milk and other dairy products are the top source of saturated fat in the American diet, contributing to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Studies have also linked dairy to an increased risk of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers.
Most experts agree that breastfeeding should continue for as long as it suits mother and baby. Many women choose to wean after their baby's first birthday. At this age, babies are starting to walk, talk, and eat more solid foods.
The 5-3-3 night feeding rule is a sleep training method for babies, especially those 4-6 months+, aiming to consolidate night sleep by feeding after a 5-hour stretch, then every 3 hours, and then another 3 hours, using sleep training for other wakes. It's a guideline: feed if they wake after 5 hours, then wait 3 hours for the next feed, and another 3 for the third; any earlier wakes are soothed using sleep training, not feeding, to encourage longer sleep stretches.
Vitamin B12 and speech delay
B12 vitamin deficiency may be linked to speech delays. Based on this research from 2024, B12 deficiency may also be linked to motor and cognitive delays, as well as speech delays.
Signs of a speech or language delay may include: No babbling by 9 months. No first words by 15 months. No consistent words by 18 months.
The three main symptom areas for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are persistent difficulties with social communication and interaction, restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, and often, different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention, all of which impact daily functioning. These core characteristics vary greatly but center on social connection challenges, rigid routines or repetitive actions, and sensory sensitivities.
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Speech delays often occur when there's a problem in the areas of the brain that control the muscles responsible for speech. As a result, children may struggle to produce sounds because they can't coordinate their lip, tongue, and jaw movement.