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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How do I encourage my 9 month baby from babble to 'words'?

31 replies

thekitchenrose · 29/08/2011 20:18

My 9 month old DS is very babble-chatty. How do I encourage him to go to the next level? I talk to him a lot and read etc, but no idea if that's right or enough?

Also - he babbles loads but hasn't said mamama (annoyingly). Can do nananana daddada etc. Is this because it's harder for him to say?

OP posts:

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discrete · 29/08/2011 20:19

He's 9 mo! Leave him be, he will get there in his own time.

bigbadtiger · 29/08/2011 20:20

What you are doing is enough. Words will come.

winnybella · 29/08/2011 20:20

They tend to say 'dada' first- I think it might be easier for them.

You don't need to encourage your baby to speak-he will when he's ready. Normal everyday interaction is enough.

bigbadtiger · 29/08/2011 20:22

Remember, the babbling doesnt mean anything. I think that probably the reason we call them dads is because thats what babies babble rather than them babbling it because we call fathers dads, IYSWIM.

NormaStanleyFletcher · 29/08/2011 20:23

Let him come into in it how own time :)

Moulesfrites · 29/08/2011 20:30

dadadada is just an example of a reduplicated monosyllable which is characteristic of all babbling - it is not a word and it is not them referring to their dad! Maybe if your ds said "dada" and pointed when your dh walked into the room you could call it a word, but at the minute it's just sounds.

Talking and reading are really all you can do.

Maybe try baby signing if you want to get them to communicate in a more formalised way??

Original poster

thekitchenrose · 29/08/2011 20:35

Hi all

Thanks - sorry, I wasn't clear. I realise that he's doing great, and I'm not looking to be pushy. Just interested if I should be doing anything else

And yes, I did realise it was just babble and not 'daddy' but again, was curious if m was a more difficult sign

OP posts:

FrameyMcFrame · 29/08/2011 20:38

Errrr... It's not a race! He will do it all at some point

Hassled · 29/08/2011 20:41

M is a more difficult noise to make than D, so my DS3's speech therapist told me once (his name starts with an M).

But yes, at 9 months there's nothing you can possibly do that is better than talking to him. Relax and enjoy him.

Moulesfrites · 29/08/2011 20:41

yeah, I think that plosive sounds like d, b and g are among the first to be produced. M is a nasal and usually later as I understand it.

Tyr · 29/08/2011 20:42

You don't do anything- it just happens.

Original poster

thekitchenrose · 29/08/2011 20:48

I find the tone of some of the responses quite odd - as if I've posted a very anxious question and like I'm being told to 'chill out.'

I realise 'it's not a race.' I just was curious. He's my first.

OP posts:

kellestar · 29/08/2011 20:53

rose you echoed my thoughts 8 month DD also my first, we read and chat alot. Can say dada baba and mmmm but no mama as yet :) was also interested in ways to help form new words.

I know they'll get to it when they do, it's just reassuring to ask if there is anything more you can do.

She makes a noise that sounds like 'oh dear' always with a sigh. Makes me smile everytime.

ticklebumpkin · 29/08/2011 20:55

at some of these responses.

Hi thekitchenrose - yes, the 'm' sound is harder for them to make. DD1 and DD2 both said a lot of dadadadada first of all.

In terms of encouraging them to talk - I think encouraging non verbal communication is as important at this stage as encouraging words. Does he point? (don't worry if he doesn't yet, DD1 was a very early pointer, DD2 much later but they have both been early/good talkers). If he does point you could do things like get picture books and ask him to point to the dog, the duck etc. Or just point to those things yourself and tell him the words.

Other things like putting a couple of things in front of him when it's food time. So maybe instead of just opening a yogurt put a yougurt in front of him just out of his reach and also some fruit and see if he can communicate which one he wants will help.

FWIW my DD2 is 14mo today and now has about twenty words or so but pretty much only had Dada at 9mo.

Haberdashery · 29/08/2011 20:58

I think you sounded a bit like you were impatient for him to speak in your first post, and people are just pointing out that if you talk to him, listen to him and generally just interact you can't really speed the process up. I do realise it's kind of frustrating. I remember when my DD was about ten months and clearly understood tons of what I said to her and I just wanted to know what she thought too!

Just narrate everything you do, model conversation and let him respond (with his babble) when you ask him if he wants his lunch or whatever, point everything out and name it, read books to him, make animal noises, encourage him to respond to anything you say. It sounds like you are doing this already but it's unusual for children to speak in recognisable words much before a year so don't expect anything intelligible just now!

MmeLindor. · 29/08/2011 20:59

I think the responses you are getting are because you are asking how to encourage your DS to do something that he will learn anyway. It is like asking for advice on getting him to pee.

Keep chatting and singing with him. You don't need to do any more than that.

And yes, d is easier for DC to pronounce. As is p. My DC both said Papa before they said Mama.

Have fun with him; it is such a cute age when they babble all the time.

(mine are 7yo and 9yo and I sometimes wish they would shut up for a moment)

hazeyjane · 29/08/2011 21:09

I don't know why there is a to some of the ,'just relax', responses?

Ds is developmentally delayed, he is 14 months old and has only just started babbling with vowel sounds (ie 'aaaaiiieeeeooowwww' noises) and the occasional raspberry! He has never made a consonant sound, like dadada, bababa etc. He sees a speech and language therapist, who said that at his level of verbal communication, we need to repeat all the sounds he makes back to him, leaving gaps as if for conversation.

However, dd1 and 2, have no developmental delays, their language developed in a pretty average way, and dd2 had a good vocab and spoke in sentences quite early. As far as I remember all we did was read stories, chat, and get on with day to day life. I think what most of these responses are saying is, that unless there is a problem (as there is with ds), then they will get there in their own time and you don't really have to 'do'anything particularly special in order for their verbal communication to develop.

hazeyjane · 29/08/2011 21:10

Crossposted with last two!

ticklebumpkin · 29/08/2011 21:19

"Errrr... It's not a race!"

Is in my book. Or should I say, rude

Daisy1986 · 29/08/2011 21:26

Baby signing worked amazingly for us. i started class when she was 2 weeks (more for social side) babies start signing once they have control of their hands and can clap for my DD that was 9 months. Within a week of clapping she had 3 signs down and didnt stop by 15months was using verbal and signs to communicate 3 word sentences. Now at 23 months can tell you a story and speaks in full sentences. If theres no classes near you you can buy a signing DVD I did Tiny Talk classes but found Sing and Sign DVDS more entertaining both use BSL. Something Special on Cbeebies is a good option although that is Makaton signing for SN children. However I think aslong as you, LO and family know what they mean it doesnt matter.

Again as you know reading, talking and singing are essential. Make sure baby can see your mouth when you talk use lots of eye contact and you could try putting their hand to your mouth so they can feel how you make the words.

sheepgomeep · 29/08/2011 21:27

my dd3 must be abnormal cos she babbles all the time and only says uh oh, mum, yayy. oh and a sound that sounds like tanks when she is given something! But her sister was a late talker. dd3 is nearly 17 months.

They will talk when they are ready..

hazeyjane · 29/08/2011 21:27

Sorry, I didn't really read that as rude. I suppose it is just that 9 months seems a bit early to be trying to 'encourage him to go to the next level'!

Daisy1986 · 29/08/2011 21:28

Also babbling is LO practising noises so you could try a copy game. LO makes a noise you copy and vice versa.

Tyr · 29/08/2011 21:29

My neice started to walk really early (just over 8 months) so I was wondering why my daughter didn't. She was just under a year when she started. She was a champion raspberry blower before she started speaking.
It will happen and I wouldn't let anxiety spoil your enjoyment of the stage they are at now- it's all magical.
Mind you, mine said "dada" first and I'm not sure it's because it's easier than "mama"
(runs for cover....)

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 29/08/2011 21:35

Eeep. I'm worried now... My DD is 16 months and just babbles in sentences - no recognizable words :-(

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