Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

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

Flip

Original poster

Can my 10-month-old talk?

13 replies

Lawks · 26/02/2009 04:25

We do a lot of "Ahm nyam nyam nyam!!" noises when giving ds something to eat. It's a sort of family joke. It really amuses his big sister who does it for him too.

Recently I've noticed when ds sees something he wants to eat he huffs and grins and flaps like they do, but he also makes "nyam nyam nyam" noises.

I got some blueberries out of the fridge this morning and he was transfixed, furiously "nyam nyam nyam"ing and bobbing about until I gave him a handful.

Pure coincidence? Or is he 'talking'?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

RoseOfTheOrient · 26/02/2009 04:32

He's babbling but starting to realise he can communicate something (i.e. his desire for blueberries)
so in a way, yes, he is "talking" in that his vocalisations mean something.

RoseOfTheOrient · 26/02/2009 04:34

From that Wiki article, According to Menn and Stoel Gammon in The Development of Language, ?This early period of prelinguistic vocalization can be divided into five stages,? the first of which begins at about age six months. Stage one is crying, stage two is cooing, stage three is vocal play, and stage four is canonical babbling. The fifth and final stage is conversational babbling, also known as the "jargon stage (usually occurring by about ten months of age). This jargon stage is defined as: ?Pre-linguistic vocalizations in which infants use adult like stress and intonation.?

seeker · 26/02/2009 05:40

They communicate from day 1 - try putting your tongue out at a new-born and see what happens. And the special "milk now!" cry.

But do listen for proper words as well - my dd started to use proper words at about 10 months, and was saying several clearly enough for people outside the family to understand by the time she was 1. It was huge fun, particularly as she was very plump and bald and very "baby" looking - the double takes from passers by were very entertaining!

Just remember that it's just a party trick though - my dd wasn't particularly advanced in any other area, and is now a clever but in no way exceptional 13 year old. No indication of future genius!

Original poster

Lawks · 26/02/2009 06:23

Seeker are you implying that my child isn't a genius? The cheek!

I understand about communication. What I'm interested in is how likely it is that he is deliberately making the nyam nyam sound because he knows it means food and eating.

Rose's link suggests not, but seeker thinks it's possible.

OP posts:

fizzpops · 26/02/2009 07:40

I've been thinking the same thing! We get the 'nyam, nyam, nyam' too. And yesterday watching Teletubbies had a 'baba' (twice) after I said 'Can you see the baby'. We get a lot of 'yeahs' and 'nos'. As well as an 'Uh!' which means look at me/pay me attention. A lot of not 'proper' words but I know what they mean and we have recently had a 'herro (helllo)' accompanied by waving. Even if it is a coincidence it is very sweet and just increases the interaction and fun we have. Trying to get a specific word out of her is another matter though, she just does it when she feels like it.

Nabster · 26/02/2009 07:58

He is definitely communicating. He made a sound, got a response and has learnt to do it when he wants something.

I child I nannied for said his first clear word at 10 months.

Original poster

Lawks · 26/02/2009 09:33

OMG - I am a neglectful and inattentive mother. It's only now I tune in to the concept of him using deliberate sounds to communicate that I realise he makes cute little kissing noises when he sees me too.

OP posts:

seeker · 26/02/2009 09:35

Lawks - it's absolutely possible. My dd said "lights' quite clearly when she saw her first Christmas tree at 11 months. Keep listening and talking. Oh, and make a note of words and dates - I do wish I had done this!

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 26/02/2009 09:36

I'm sure he is communicating and that nyam nyam means "food" in his world! Our DS uses "nana" to mean bananas but also pudding or anything sweet, he will do the same thing and shout "nana nana" when he is hungry.

screamingabdab · 26/02/2009 13:15

Yes, absolutely. First of all he learned to copy you, then he learned that these noises are associated with eating.

This is the way they learn to speak.

It's such an exciting time . I loved it when my DSs started speaking x

Original poster

Lawks · 26/02/2009 15:35

Am having second-born guilt now. I'm sure I didn't fail to notice pfb's first attempts at talking .

OP posts:

Sheeta · 27/02/2009 10:23

DS did this at about 10 months, but in our case the word was 'nom'

ahh.. little babbling boy shouting nom nom nom through every mouthful :-D

RaspberryBlower · 27/02/2009 10:47

My 9.5 mo says 'cat'. I'm absolutely not deluded, although she is my pfb, but she has said it in front of other people as well. It's a pretty clear 'cat' when the cat comes in the room, and if I say 'it's the cat', she'll reapeat it. She also does kissing noises, mainly in the direction of the cat, in fact! So yes, I think your ds is starting to 'talk'.

Flip