7.5 mo not babbling

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I'm beginning to get a little worried that my DD isn't babbling or showing some other signs of social communication that I believe might be expected by this age (or sooner) and was hoping to get some perspective from others.

She's very happy and content and engages well with me and others through eye contact, smiles and laughs. However, she doesn't really 'talk' to us. She makes vowel sounds (no mamama / dadada etc) but usually just to herself or at a toy. I am constantly talking and singing to her, and copy the sounds she makes, but she never responds to any of this. She doesn't copy anything I do, including gestures, facial expressions or sounds (though she does often respond by laughing). I try having nonsense conversations with her by asking questions and leaving gaps for her to respond in some way, but she never does. I'm sure her hearing is ok because she often reacts to loud noises and responds to her name (sometimes).

Physical skills are all fine and she's eating really well.

I don't really know what more I could do to encourage her, so I guess it's a matter of waiting to see if she does it in her own time or if there's something else going on. Was anyone else's 7-8mo like this? What happened?

My DS never really babbled at that age he was speech delayed was 2yo when he started talking but now a 3yo who constantly talks

He also was a very quite baby just sat and observed everything.

My DD wasn't babbling at the same age, but at 9 months starting saying mamma and dadda. She's 20 months now and she says a lot more words although I think she may be slower to talk than my other DD. Try not to worry at this point, there's still lots of time (easier said than done I know!)

Perfectly normal!

My DD never babbled, and it turned out she was profoundly deaf! Even though she had passed the newborn screen. That’s a very rare occurrence, but it may be worth getting your little one’s hearing checked.

Thanks all. I guess it's the lack of copying / verbally responding that worries me as much as the lack of consonants. You can't force it though I guess. What will be will be!

Hi OP, I have a family member who is a speech therapist. I was worried about the copying too as my dd never really did it, she said to me, remember your child is not a robot! She might just be choosing not to copy you, maybe because it doesn’t feel like a game or fun, if she is choosing to engage with you in other ways that is great though and also valid. My dc was also slightly late to babble, but at around 8 months finally did it. My dd is 2 now and appears to be completely fine, her speech is great and she doesn’t appear to have any delays. I have no worries about autism etc.

The speech therapist also said it is better that you copy the child to try and engage them. So if they bang on the table you copy that and turn it into a game. My daughter loved that.

Sounds ok to me OP. I was worried about DS' speech for ages, he just took a while to get going. They really do develop at their own pace.

My eldest didn't babble, I was worried at the time but she started saying proper words at one year old and is now a talkative 8 year old.

@dudoubleddoubleda that's really helpful, thanks. I try to copy her sounds as much as possible with no response, but will try copying some other actions too.

I'm the opposite!
My LO babbled all the time and now at two we have a speech delay.
They all go at their own pace

Is she sitting unaided?? She might have other things on the agenda. Sitting with her so she can see you talking like when she's eating is good. Or in-front of the mirror. I think 7.5 is very young for words, my DD said Mumma around one and then a few more random words that weren't correct, but they were her sounds for things. She loved games like boo and that was a sound/ action she picked up with a mesh see through coloured scarf.

I remember DS could say up and Mum about 10 months, but then didn't progress and was speech delayed for a few years, due to glue ear affecting his hearing and one operation later he's caught up very well now he's at school.

@smileandsmilesomemorey yes she's sitting unaided and trying really hard to crawl - she can drag herself forwards a couple of inches, I don't think it will be long until she's on the move. She's also pretty good with fine motor skills - she feeds herself finger foods really well and can help turn pages, lift flaps etc. So yes maybe she's just concentrating on other things.

Hiya, how is your little one getting on now? In a similar position as you were! Thanks

She's three now and her speech is amazing! She didn't start taking until about 17 months (not even mama, dada etc) but had amazing comprehension from really early on. Then when she did start talking she just went from 0-100 in a really short period of time. I think she's just the kind of person that likes to watch and do things in her own time, and doesn't like to try things until she's confident she can do them!

Thank you for replying! Aw that's so nice to hear. She sounds so similar as my girl loves observing what's going on around her. And she's very good with fine motor!