Dani Barretto On Daughter Millie's Speech Delay: 'It's Hard When I See My Kid Cry, Nahihirapan'

Like any parent, Dani Barretto enjoys witnessing the growth and development of her two-year-old daughter Millie.

"Every day, there’s something new about her," the 29-year-old celebrity mom told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an exclusive interview during the Watsons Switch and Save Shopping Party last Monday, June 20, 2022, at SM Megamall.

She continued, "Like she learns a different kind of skill every day." Millie is growing up to be friendly and active.

Dani said of her daughter, "Nowadays, mahilig siyang lumabas, mahilig siyang mag-swimming. Dami na niyang friends sa village namin.

"She’s more friendly now. Kasi when she was young, she wasn’t as friendly. Kasi nga pandemic, hindi siya nakakalabas.

"But now, she can play with more kids now. Madami na siyang friends sa village." At present, Dani has been focusing on Millie's speech delay.

Though this may be temporary for toddlers and may resolve on its own, the celebrity mom decided to have Millie undergo speech therapy, which can help improve her language and communication skills.

RELATED: Speech Pathologist: Avoid Saying 'Don't Worry' If Parents Suspect Developmental Delay

The eldest daughter of Marjorie Barretto revealed, "Millie now is currently in therapy. She does speech and occupational therapy.

"Yun yung in-advise sa amin ng developmental pediatrician niya kasi delayed siya sa speech, e.

"So nung dinala namin siya sa developmental pediatrician niya, ang in-advise sa kanya, mag-speech therapy lang kasi she’s only delayed in speech.

"So yun lang yung ginagawa niya ngayon. Yun ang biggest challenge sa kanya ngayon."

RELATED: Mayroon Bang Developmental Language Delay Ang Anak Mo?

But Dani notes that Millie is able to express herself in other ways, and is growing up to be quite independent.

She continued, "Other than that, yung motor skills niya, sobrang intact.

"Kaya sabi ko, sobrang struggle din siya for us as parents, kasi kahit kaya niya i-express yung sarili niya in physical ways, in many ways, or turo, or like, she’s very independent.

"Normally, hindi na niya hinihingi sa amin, ginagawa niya na lang. But siyempre, it would be nice if she could fully express herself."

Disciplining Millie

Millie is at the age where she begins throwing temper tantrums. How does Dani discipline Millie?

The celebrity mom said, "I think that’s just how it is sa aming dalawa ni Millie. I’m just very lucky na nakikinig yung anak ko talaga. She’s very attentive."

Dani cited an example, "Normally, yung anak ko, ‘Makuha ka sa tingin’ ngayon, e. Tignan mo lang yun, gets niya na, ‘Oh my god, mali yung ginagawa ko.’"

Saying "no" is also one of Dani's ways to discipline her daughter.

"‘Di ba they always say na kapag sa bata, don’t say 'no' often. Kasi ako, I believe na you have to let them know as early as now kung ano yung tama at mali.

"Even if it means na masaktan sila at times, kasi di ba mapapagalitan mo talaga, e. But that’s how she learns.

RELATED: Discipline Misbehaving Toddlers Without the Punishment: 5 Ways to Do It

"Now, si Millie, kapag sinabi mong ‘no,’ hindi na niya uulitin ulit. ‘Di ba?" Dani said she and her husband Xavi Panlilio don't resort to spanking as a form of discipline.

"Si Millie, wala namang ganun. But she has this thing na she can’t express her words, sumisigaw siya.

"I don’t know if that’s how she gets attention, but yung sakit-sakit [or spanking], wala naman siyang ganun.

"Pero she just screams a lot, when she like want something and hindi niya masabi, parang out of frustration."

Dani thinks speech delay may be one reason Millie struggles expressing herself, so she helps the little girl get her message across.

She said, "Parang it’s hard when I see my kid cry, nahihirapan.

"I’m always just there to guide her kung ano yung hindi niya masabi, hindi niya magawa." Dani advised fellow parents to extend their patience when it comes to disciplining their kids.

"Kailangan talaga patient ka kapag babies, di ba? Kasi dun nga nate-test yung pagiging magulang mo, e.

"Sa mga times na hindi nila masabi yung gusto nilang sabihin sa iyo, you have to be there to try to understand."

This story originally appeared on Pep.ph.

*Minor edits have been made by the SmartParenting.com.ph editors.