Is baby delayed with speech/babbling

[Countryside14]

Hi,

My DD is almost 9 months old. So far she's sitting up unaided, commando crawling, getting up on all fours and rocking and climbing over everything in front her.

I still spoon feed her bit she can feed herself with finger foods and knows how to use a beaker (she's bf)

My concern is she hasn't started to say any words or saying anything that sounds like a word (that I can make out) She shouts and squeals but that's about it for now. Should I be concerned? I keep reading should should be at least trying to talk but now.

[MsBug]

Mine didn't babble much at all, she wasn't babbling at eight or nine months and I mentioned it to the health visitor who said to come back if she wasn't babbling at 1. She never really did babble much but by one had said an actual word so I didn't go back! Now she is two and is very chatty and talking in sentences.

[Leviticus]

Er... 9 month olds don't talk. Stop worrying.

[Leviticus]

I meant that kindly - just realised it doesn't read that way, sorry.

[AnnieEdison]

My DS didn't babble - I hadn't spotted it (a bit embarrassing) but a HV pointed it out at his 10 month check. In our case this was the beginnings of speech delay.

I think you are right to keep an eye on it as early intervention is the key with speech difficulties. Having said that, my limited experience of babies has already shown me that they are so varied. A lot of parents were concerned about their DC and speech delay at the same time as me when our DC were younger and my DS is the only one that needed therapy.

[Countryside14]

I just wonder if she's so interested in getting mobile (she never sits still, always on the move) that she's not thinking about learning to talk. I know it sounds silly as she only young but I'd like t pick up on something if there was to be a problem.

[AnnieEdison]

That is definitely a possibility - I am sure that babies concentrate on one main thing at a time. It is hard to babble if you're a mover!

[Countryside14]

That reassures me. I feel like since birth she's wanted to move about and now she can its all she does. She does make lots of noise but it doesn't sound like a typical babel to me. I know she's still young but by 9 months they should be doing that, or so I've read.

[ch1134]

Does she respond? That's the first part of communication. My ds recently had a 12 month check and I was told he had 'very advanced communication' although he only has 2 words (hiya and hello). I asked what the HV meant and she said that he looks to me and responds with face/ body gesture the whole time, and makes noises in response to my conversation, but also noises of pleasure/ frustration etc.

[Ferguson]

Yes, as 'ch1134' says, encourage any kind of responses, and react enthusiastically to them. If you have a 'baby signing' group near you, that encourages communication. 'Signing' requires less skill that vocal sounds apparently.

I once worked with a Yr1 Down's boy who had no speech, but was learning sign language with his TA.

[elQuintoConyo]

Christ, DS didn't babble until 1, didn't say a word that sounded like a proper word until about 15 months, but was walking at 9 months (proper run-across-a-room stuff). Babies are all different.

I honestly wouldn't worry

[GreatSoprendo]

My DS didn't say anything resembling a word or any kind of babble at all at 9 months. He's now 21 months and I often yearn for some peace from the constant chatter! I agree they focus on one big thing at a time - one day the chatter will suddenly start, and then you will find it just never stops

[LLJ4]

Bloody hell.

My 14mo is around that stage. I am not remotely worried. His two older brothers were just the same until 16m+ and now never bloody shut up.

Honestly, you're a long way off worrying yet. If she can definitely hear you, and seems to understand some things you say (eg if you say "milk" she paws at your top or looks at the kitchen) then she's fine.

[ChristmasHiccups]

My dd2 didn't really babble until 11 months when she started saying words and babbling in the same week! She's now 14 months and has hundreds of words and will put 2 together. She was cruising at 8 months and walking by 10 though so I thought she was just focussing on that.

So, may be something, but also might not be.

[Countryside14]

Thank you everyone.

She can defo hear me and she understands some things that I say.

She's very busy mastering being mobile at the mon she's all over the place. I'm such a worrier!