NOT BABBLING!!!

Sarah - posted on 11/03/2010

Ben doesn't talk at all yet. He'll say "mama" and "dada" but I don't feel that he's associating those words with us yet. He makes sounds, for sure, but so far I haven't been able to figure out that he's using those sounds to mean anything in particular.

From what I've read online and in parenting books, there's only cause for concern if your child hasn't spoken their first word by the time they're 2. Of course, I'm not a doctor... :-)

Michelle - posted on 11/03/2010

That's absolutely normal...I got the following from the babycenter website :

7 to 12 months

When he babbles and vocalizes now, your baby will sound as if he's making sense. That's because he's trying out tones and patterns similar to the ones you use. Foster his babbling by talking to him and reading to him.



13 to 18 months

Now your child is using one or more words, and he knows what they mean. He'll even practice inflection, raising his tone when asking a question, saying "Up-py?" when he wants to be carried, for example. He's realizing the importance of language as he taps into the power of communicating his needs.



My hubby and I were worried too but my son was crawling and pulling himself up early. They say if they are busy doing those things, they often don't speak until later. So far he says mama but I doubt he associates it to me yet as he says it all the time and even when he is with my hubby. He babbles lots besides that but nothing that sounds like a word. He was born Dec. 21, 09.

Jessica - posted on 11/01/2010

My son was born 12-16-10. He is my first so I am always learning. He says dada, baba and just started saying mama but doesn't associated them with what he is saying. He just randomly says it. My daycare provider said to say dada (easiest to say than mama) slowly and annunciate. Also talk to them in the store or when your cooking.

Francesca - posted on 10/12/2010

Using words to refer to objects would be pretty advanced at this point. Babbling means just repeating a sound, like "da-da-da-da" or "ma-ma-ma-ma" but there is some variation in when that starts.

I talk to my baby a lot, and so does her sister. She might be starting to associate "maa-maa" with me now, but I can't be sure. She's starting to copy sounds more, though. (I say "Da" and she says "Da". I make a "K-k-k" laughing sound and she repeats it.)

Angela - posted on 09/28/2010

Hi Tia :)

I'm sure everything is fine, some children are naturally quiet observers.

Again as with all the milestones the range is quite broad.

If you are worried tho here are some questions that we ask as indicators for hearing development (which is linked to speech development).

Some key questions we are asked by the 8-10 month check-up are...

Do they -
Turn towards sounds or someone speaking?
Respond to their own name? ie look at you or turn their head.
Like copying sounds?
Cry or startle with sudden loud noises?
Smile when you talk to them?

If hearing is fine then try some of these activities ...

You may do these things already ... :)

... Think about your interactions during the day. Spend some time talking to your child without other background sound around (ie TV, radio switched off) so she can focus on just the sounds of speech rather than trying to decipher speech from other noise.

Slowing your own speech and speaking clearly can be helpful as babies mimic what they hear.

I chat away (about folding the washing, or cooking etc) to my little man (9 months) and he chats back in his own little way - usually yelling and this very cute gaspy laugh he has.... ha ha ha

Good eye contact is helpful when speaking to baby also as they begin to copy the way your mouth moves and then add sounds that come out.

Also provide sounds that baby can reproduce such as lip smacking, blowing raspberries or tongue clicking as this encourages copying of patterns and turn taking.

Singing, nursery rhymes with actions and reading to your baby are also great things to encourage speech because they are fun and baby wants to join in.

My son said Mum mum at 6 months which was just adorable - now its mum! mum! (yelling) when he wants something ha ha ha
... sometimes ... I just can't wait till he's shouting for his dad instead.

All the best :)

Jamie - posted on 09/28/2010

I wouldn't worry too much about it. My 9 month old babbles and has clung on the "dadada" and motorboat sound for two months now. She still doesn't "identify" things either. I read somewhere that Einstein never even said his first word until he was 2.

Darlene - posted on 09/27/2010

What type of sounds does she make? My son babbles, but hasn't really started using sounds in context. Mama, doesn't really mean mommy yet. It sounds like she's really good in the motor department, maybe she's going to perfect those areas before starting to 'talk'.