8 month old DS not babbling or mimicking

[Lulabelle2212]

Hi all,

Apologies in advance for the length of this post and the fact that it will quite likely be a little all over the place. I really hope someone out there can offer me some desperately needed advice and / or reassurance regarding my 8 month old DS.

He is such a happy, content little chap - constantly smiling, laughing, making heaps of eye contact and engaged with what is going on around him. However, I am concerned that he is not yet babbling. I know that all babies develop at different rates and at their own pace, etc. but I just can't stop worrying about it. He does coo , say 'ahhh' and 'oooh' occasionally but no 'dadada' or 'mamama', 'ka' or 'ga', even though I regularly say it to him. Which brings me on to my second point - he has never really mimicked me. From birth I have stuck my tongue out at him but he never responds - he just looks either amused or bemused for a moment and then loses interest.

A couple of months ago he started sucking his thumb (I never gave him a dummy) so I don't know whether this is impeding his speech development at all?

He is good at cause and effect (knows how to operate toys, presses buttons, uses rattles, etc.), and physically he is doing ok - he can sit independentally, has started launching himself forward if he's on my lap to reach and pick up toys, he can roll, loves to stand and climb on me although he's not yet pulling himself up on furniture or crawling.

So, do I have any reason to be concerned? Has anyone had a similar experience? Any recommendations? I really would be so grateful. I feel incredibly alone with this. My DH thinks there is nothing wrong with DS at all, but then he isn't with him day in day out, doesn't see other babies a similar age at NCT meet ups or at baby groups, and never reads up on child development or follow the milestones.

So sorry again for the long and rambling post!

Many thanks.

I think you are over thinking this he's only 8 months! My DS was always very physical and did not talk before he turned 2 and now won't shut up lol. He also did not stick out is tongue and did not babble till he was 1. They can't master everything all at once.

My DC started saying dada in May when she was 8 months old, then nothing til last week (10mths) when we got daddy, mama/mumma bye bye, and hi.

Also what sounded like murder when paddying having her nappy changed, and bad daddy when he was wiping her face.

My nephew was doing all this months before my DC did. They do it when they're ready.

Fwiw my first spoke earlier than a lot of her peers but wasn't babbling at 8 months either. Remember development isn't always gradual: He might suddenly start one day.

Thank you all for your responses. I know I need to chill out about this and he'll do it all when he's ready. It's the pressure of seeing other babies fly ahead developmentally that really gets me down and makes me want to hide away but I can't do this as I want him to observe and learn from his peers as well as socialise. Plus it gets us out of the house!

My DD has just started properly babbling at 10months, like your LO she was mostly cooing st 8months but now makes mama/dada noises, I wouldn't worry if I were you.

Thank you Cobs! Hearing other people's experiences is very comforting when you're an anxious first time mum!

Ain't that the truth! Thank god for Internet forums, dunno how I'd have coped having a baby in the last century!

I had one DD who was so verbal that when I had DD2 I thought she was behind because she wasn't speaking in full, clear sentences at 18 months!

Like your DS, my DD2 was pretty happy and silent! she did the noises you describe. She spoke at about 14 months...nice clear word...more came.

Dd1 never babbled. She was a later talker with very few words at two. She's 4.6 now and never shuts up. They all develop at their own pace, try and relax!