No babbling at 9.5 months?

[deliwoman1]

Hi everyone, my DD is 9.5 months and she's not babbling. No repeated consonant sounds at all. 🤔We've got a hearing test scheduled next week, but given she responds to her name and noises, and was fine at birth, I don't think it's that.

She communicates otherwise through squawking, squealing, and she also coos, but I'm a bit concerned about the complete lack of babbling. Her gross motor skills are great - she's pretty dextrous - so we're hoping she's just been putting her energy into picking up those skills? Who knows.

We talk to her a lot, sing and read with her every day, and her dummy use is limited to sleep times only (apart from one day a week when I suspect the childminder shoves it in nonstop). Screen time is also very limited (lazy TV on in the background very occasionally but we do listen to music a lot when at home.

Not sure what else to do really, except wait?

When did your DC begin to babble, and when to you think is the time to get concerned (and pushy with HV etc., if necessary)?

Not yet

I wouldn't be too concerned, tbh. My kids are older - do they still do the 8 month check?

@ReadersD1gest yep, we had a HV check last month and she referred for the hearing check. I guess it's just a wait and see.

Ah, right. Don't worry too much until then

I wouldn't get 'pushy' with the health visitor just yet

My little one was the same. Ahead in motor skills and was sitting, crawling, pulling to stand early but was late making any noise according to all the guidelines I saw. She wasn't quite as late as yours but once she said something, she wouldn't shut up.
I wouldn't worry too much yet, just carry on talking and reading.

@PlantsAndSpaniels Thanks for that. Hoping for an avalanche before she turns one!

My DS is similar. Almost no consonants until 9 months, then from one day to the next it was like flipping a switch - bababa, dadada, loads of babbling all day long.

I think my DD didn't really start babbling until she was well over 1yr and was pretty silent until 14months. She clearly could hear and understand so everyone told us not to worry. Then in the space of 6 weeks she started using about 10-15words and signs consistently with two word phrases following at about 20months. So it all came all at once quite quickly.

My DD didn’t babble until 6 days after her first birthday. Was late to start talking too but doesn’t shut up now (almost 3 yo) 😬

I wouldn’t worry yet.

Don't worry about it.

My DS didn’t babble at all until 11 months. Cooed and aaah’ed etc but no consonants and I was starting to get really worried. Pushing him around the supermarket one day and he all of a sudden went GAGAGA MAMAMA DADADA and he hasn’t shut up since. True story. Give her a little while, but keep an eye on it xx

I rennet being worried about this and then
one morning out of nowhere DS woke up babbling in his cot - babababababa mamamama etc having just cooed and cried right up to the night before.

*remember

Have u asked the childminder?
It sounds very unlikely that they would shove a dummy in especially with all the training they get about the damage it does to mouth development and speech.
Glad u have sorted out a hearing test, there r plenty that pass one at birth but fail ones later on. Keep talking to her and allow her time to answer.

@Skybluepinky yes. I have. They use it to soothe her.

Thanks all! That’s made me feel a lot better.

@deliwoman1 hi OP, I’m interested to hear how your little one got on later! My DD is 7.5 months and not really babbling so I’m curious :)

Speak to your health visitor

Hi, how’s your little one getting on?

@scotscorner hi how’s your little one come on?