Son age 9 still doing a baby voice

[WillowSummerSloth]

Hi, anyone got any tips for how to stop him doing this? It's been going on years now. He's fine at school and when I hear him chatting to friends but at home, it's constant. He blurs the sounds of his words so it's really unclear and everything sounds like a toddler speaking. We ignored it at 1st,assuming it was a phase but it's still going on years later. He is happy, confident and well adjusted. We're a happy family and he's not acting like a baby, just speaking like one. Any ideas? Is this normal?

Say you can't understand what he's saying every time he uses the baby voice and get him to repeat it in his normal voice, he'll get sick of it soon enough.

Ask him why he's speaking like a baby? Then tell him you're not listening until he talks properly, he can speak properly to everyone else, so at 9 I think it's time to pull him up on it.

We pull him up on it every time. It's so annoying now. He then repeats it in a normal voice but immediately goes back to the baby voice next time. I've even said ill put him to bed at 6.30pm like when he was a toddler but he can't seem to stop himself.

Call him out on it every time. He might get annoyed but it’s the only way. My sister did similar at nine and she still thanks my parents on the odd occasion for coming down hard on it when she’s had a day dealing with someone who does it as an adult!

"I don't understand. Talk normally" Every. Singe. Time.

If pulling him up on it every single time isn't working, ignore what he's saying. He'll probably correct himself and hopefully eventually cut out the baby voice bit.

I would just not respond to it at all (tell him first). To keep pulling him up on it is negative reinforcement.

Channel Willy Wonka talking to Mike Teavee?
My 7 year old used to do it a bit, I'd say ask properly and he would. He still does it occasionally to his big sister as she is the last one who indulges it. I'm stubbornly consistent though.

Will try that. Thanks.

Just ignore him and pretend(to yourself) that he hasn't spoken. Only respond when he speaks normally.

And when he wants a new toy say he can't have it as he's acting like a baby at the moment. Harsh but you've tried already.

He is trying to communicate something to you. I was wondering if you had asked him what he was wanting you to know by this baby voice?

I wondered that bumpsadaisie A while back, I even tried almost babying him with more cuddles and helping him more to see if it was an unmet need but it didn't help unfortunately! He's a middle child and I do wonder if it's a hard position and he's trying to get his needs met. I'll keep pondering this one.

I would ignore it. My ds has done the same, and I know if he's using his "baby voice" then he's feeling insecure for some reason.
I asked him once if he talked like that in front of friends, and he looked shocked and said "of course not".
I found ignoring it was the best way to deal with it and I can't remember the last time he used it. If you make something of it, then you're giving attention for it.

I think it's a learnt thing isn't it? Many people I've realised have behaviours that they often don't realise they have, often from positive reinforcement when young. It's all subconscious.

He may not realise he's doing it. When you say a baby voice do you mean the pitch type thing or that he is using a restricted vocabulary?

My 13 year old does a “little creature” baby voice quite often. It’s like the only way he can show extended affection to me or his brother, by pretending to be someone else. I don’t mind that in fact I find it quite cute.. But I can see how it would be annoying all the time.

Mine do this sometimes too. It’s when they’re feeling unsure or insecure (which of course has happened a lot recently). I just sternly say “voice” l don’t think they’re conscious they’re doing it

'nicegerbil' It's a mixture of very simple sentence 'what dat?' and toddler pronunciation so letters aren't spoken clearly. I hope it's not an insecurity. Just had a chat with DH and we're going to say in a neutral voice 'talk properly please' everytime we hear him doing it. And also carve out more one on one time in case it is about him getting attention.

Do bear in mind that he may not be aware he's doing it.

For another perspective my younger DD does this at home. And we all use some language that comes from when they were young. It's an affectionate thing for us.

For me personally if they use normal speech outside the home or when people come visiting etc then it really wouldn't bother me.

Horses for courses though!

My similar age DS does this (also a middle child as it happens!)

I let it go most of the time because I feel in the case of ‘pick your battles’ it’s not where I really want to fight.

But when it annoys me I say something like “DS that’s really getting on my nerves and I’m probably going to get really tetchy with you if you keep it up, can you just talk normally please”. Or if I actually can’t understand him I would say that. But if I can understand him I wouldn’t pretend I can’t.

Treat him like a baby when he does it.

If he only does it at home, leave ur he needs it and will stop when he’s ready

My youngest does this.
He's 8. We ask him to stop & he switches. I think it's just a habit to be honest. Like when older kids do that upward inflection at the end of their sentences? So they sound like questions?
Sometimes I also think it's when he feels self conscious. Don't worry. He won't do it forever. 🤞🤞🤞

Didn't the upwards thing start with neighbours?

I remember a lot of hand wringing in the press at the time!

Out of interest- why is the babyish talk thing disliked? I don't mind so I'm interested to know why others do. Is it just annoying?