Why won't 16m DS say "mummy"?????

[u32ng]

He can say loads of clear words like: daddy, teddy, baby etc and also loads of almost-words. His word for milk is "ma-ma" so it's not like he can't form the mmm sound to say mummy - he just doesn't say it! Even the nursery commented on it today, joking that they thought he was doing it to wind me up as he can say so many other things. Is that even possible at such a young age to deliberately not say a word??

If me & DH say "say " he'll make an attempt to copy the word but whenever we say "say mummy" he just doesn't.

What is this all about??

[SaltySeaBird]

This was the same as my DD. She could say a lot of words and was even starting to join words together before she said Mummy.

We'd play a game and say "who is it and point at a person or thing" she could say daddy, granny, bear, micky, auntie ... But when you point at me she would laugh hysterically and say no.

Finally at 21 months Mummy is her favourite word. My personal favourite is "love Mummy"

[TickleMePurple]

She's not doing it to wind you up. Maybe she doesn't need to say it - are you with her the most (more than DP)? Alternative - does she struggle saying similar sounds eg "yummy", "tummy"?

[TickleMePurple]

Oh sorry just reread she's only 16mo. She might not be saying yummy yet! Most kids say daddy before mummy as it's easier to say.

[Jaffakake]

My theory always was they don't need to say it cos you're always there!

[Florin]

My son has just turned 2 and still doesn't say Mummy! I am with him all the time though. He says Daddy very clearly and quite a few other close family members. I just accept it will happen at some point!

[CinnabarRed]

Someone told me (so it must be right) that at 16m infants don't truly understand the distinction between themselves and others. If you're with her all the time, she may genuinely not appreciate that you are something other than an extension of herself. From her perspective pointing at you might be little different from pointing at her foot (say) and asking who that is - a nonsense question that gets laughter in reply.

[Andcake]

21 month old ds doesn't say mummy - very annoying as like yours he can say loads of other words. we haven't got the excuse that he is with me all the time as we share childcare throughout the week so he has days alone with daddy
He even has a word for grandpa now as well as daddy!!!!
Sometimes when we ask him who mummy is he points to himself
DP finds it hilarious especially when ds says new complex words but can't say mummy. Think laughing DP going 'oh look he can say 'salmon risotto' (not real) but not mummy!

[Minkypinky]

My 19 month old is the same. When i ask him to say mummy he just points at me. He can say lots of words but no mummy. He can even say nana and his childminders name ( and the cm's dog!)

[springbabydays]

Same here. We tell ds to say mummy he ALWAYS responds with dada! Of course it's a joke now and he gets laughs so does it even more! Cheeky little monkey.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

DD has an innate preference for "mumma", even at 4yo. Have never worked out why

[u32ng]

Andcake Such a similar situation as you! DS can say words like strawberry ("bohbrey"), car key ("kaa keh"), buddah(!) ("booda"), taa-daa, doo-da (our word for the baby monitor) & see ya ("ee-yah"), fgs!

He spends more time with DH so not because I'm always there. He even knows the baby signing for mummy! Though rarely uses it.

Children are funny little things aren't they? Interesting concept about the not seeing me as a separate person to him though. I know he will ^eventually^ say it but got to the point where I was starting to think it was a bit weird!

[Lovelydiscusfish]

Mine was same. Don't know when she finally said it, but she said LOADS of other words first. It was upsetting at the time, but it passes - at 2.2 now she says it loads. I've read that it takes them longest to realise you are a separate entity to themselves?

[Delphiniumsblue]

It is a word they don't need if they are with you.
They also get contrary if you keep asking.

[ExcuseTypos]

We have an 17 month old living next door- she first say mummy either, but days lots of other words. I also remember mine didn't say it very early on.

Have you got any books with a "mummy" in them? Mine would point at me if i read/said "mummy", they knew who mummy was, but didn't say it iykwim.

[AmyInWonderland]

mine is the same, happy to say daddy or teddy or baby but if I ask her to say mummy she says BA! ....or daddy (15 months)

[rachyconks]

DD (19mo) was the same up until a couple of months ago. Now it's "mammy, mammy, mammy" from the minute she wakes until bedtime. Cute, but VERY repetitive...

[u32ng]

Thanks! Will just wait it out.

And then record the exact date he says it with great fanfare!

[dashoflime]

mines nearly 2 and only just started saying "Mum"
Before that he called me "Dadun" same as DH!

[beccajoh]

We had a lot of mam and mama at that age. Occasionally mum. Mummy was only used from about 20 months onwards really and now at 23m she doesn't stop, although mostly reverts back to mum.

[curiousuze]

My 18 month old till recently didn't say mummy (just this weird 'aye-meeee' which meant me). But we started reading that book 'a little bit lost' which has the word mummy on almost every page and DS began saying it. He reads the book to me now; according to him the story goes "uh-oh, bumpbumpbump, mummy, mummy, mummy, mummy, mummy, all done."

[noblegiraffe]

DC1 called me Daddy. For months.

It was a bit embarrassing in public.

[LottieJenkins]

Ds2 is profoundly deaf and couldnt say "Mother."
When he was eight and at a school for deaf they tried really hard to help him.
He would say Mel and Mcds. When it came to saying Mother it came out as ................"BUGGER" !! He used to charge round the supermarket looking for me shouting it at the top of his voice!!!

[u32ng]

LottieJenkins haha I almost just guffawed out loud on public transport!

[LottieJenkins]

I can now. At the time it was a bit difficult. He did it once in a very quiet library full of pensioners who were peering at us over their glasses!!

[u32ng]

Update!!

Last Sunday I woke up and DH came into the bedroom with DS. DH said "what have you got to say for mummy?"

DS said "ma-mee"

I almost cried!