Should I shut up?

[ImpatientGriselda]

My lovely 1 year old DD first said a fairly clear "Mummy" and "Daddy" quite frequently about 3 months ago, but I have been worrying that far from being the first of many words, she now doesn't seem to say them anymore.

I witter on endlessly, both talking properly and repeating the sounds she makes, commenting on her play and keeping up a flow of commentary as we wheel along in the buggy. I also sing to her, try to make encouraging sounds when she babbles and points, and try to encourage a "conversation" between us.

I wonder if there is anything I should be doing differently, or whether learning to say words and then losing them again is just part of normal development?
Maybe I'm talking too much and perhaps it would encourage her if I shut up a bit more?

Any suggestions or similar experiences would be welcome! Thanks

I seem to remember that dd frequently astonished us with words that were then never heard again. This went on until she was over 2.

This is totally normal, so don't worry. You are doing exactly the right thing in encouraging her confidence by chatting away and singing.

When you talk to her give her time to respond and even if she babbles some nonsense praise her efforts.

My younger ds said his brother name when he was 10 months old ... kept saying it for about 4 months and then never said it again until he was 2.6 - make of that what you will ?!

My DD started with a few words and then didn't speak for 6 months and then came out in sentences!

Thanks folks; usually I work on the basis that anything she does is probably normal, but good to have it confirmed ; I will keep on with the wittering (with added hand gestures, since I read on bbc website today that this apparently helps children to speak)

I can remember my dds doing this too, both with learning signs and speech, they'd say/sign something then we'd have a huge gap and then it would re-appear and fall into everyday use.

So I would say it's normal (or at least I hope it is)