aquinas, FWIW, 18 months-3 was really bad for us for that stuff, especially with DD, who was an major talker very early. It gets better after 3 when most kids are talking. But at that age, if your child is blathering on and on in paragraphs, people freak. Now we are just getting past "Is he READING that book?" with DS5, but that isn't as constant, YK?

I developed some generic replies when they were toddlers. "She's definitely a chatterbox!" "He keeps us busy!" I don't think my children noticed. But I am shy with strangers and would sometimes feel uncomfortable. NOt the end of the world, of course.

Everything is less noticable in middle childhood.