When did your baby say first proper word?

[Nc1468]

My son just turned one a couple of weeks ago and apparently should say his first word 'any day now'

I honestly can't see that happening, he hasn't even been babbling properly for that long!

Wondered when your babies said their first proper word? Should I be worried?

One niece said Duck when pointing at a duck in the park about 14 months old. They both started with mamama and dadada before saying any proper word. I wouldn't expect anything until they've been doing that for a while

Mine barely babbled but said ohoh in context at 11.5 MO and could say a couple more words and answer yes/no shortly after that. Tbh she only really got the idea of babbling I'd say a few weeks later. They don't follow a rule book. I'd get his hearing checked if still no babbling but otherwise I think everything needs to be taken into context. Does he do anything else to communicate/socialise (pointing/clapping/waving/eye contact and direct interaction/bringing toys to you etc) and does he seem to understand things? I think one of the reasons I was never hugely concerned about mine was because she could follow a couple of simple instructions etc at 9/10MO and learned all the other typical social stuff at a similar age. I'd just keep interacting with him and talking to him as much as possible (like literally never shut up lol. Read to him lots and ake a running commentry about what you're doing and things) and give him chance to have a conversation with you like ask him questions etc and give him chance to talk back and play lots of back and forth and mimicking games with him. He will enjoy flashcards etc just fine or word and picture books probably but avoid the temptation to keep repeating words and asking him to say them as it'll just put him under pressure and he won't see the point unless he understands the point of a conversation first if that makes sense. Www.teachmetotalk.com is a good poscast site by a speech therapist that explains speech acquisition well and what you can do to help. As I said take everything into context and monitor him but chances are he is fine. 2 is a much better age to really assess if things are on track and even then i know plenty of people who's kids said nothing by then but caught up eventually. By 18MO you can do the MCHAT screening which will give a quick indication of the likelihood of ASD being an issue but I really don't think you can label him with any such issues at such a young age. Just keep an eye on him but remember to enjoy him. He will probably be talking your ear off before you know it xx

Thanks both!

He does babble and chats away to himself in his own little way but I don't know that anything he says means anything if that makes sense?

He waves and does make eye contact which is good but doesn't point or clap, but bangs toys together which HV was happy with as a substitute. Brings us toys on his own terms and will give them to us but doesn't really follow any instructions, will sometimes come to me if I ask but it's very hit and miss.

No concerns about his hearing I know he can hear fine.

He just seems to want to do his own thing all the time and it's so hard to get him to stop for long enough to read to him etc so I'm hoping it'll come with time!