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Parenting

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Original poster

9 month old not babbling or imitating

15 replies

Sonorus · 12/05/2023 20:03

Hello,

I am a FTM and i have a couple of concerns. My baby boy is 9 months old and he isn't babbling much or imitating.

He said 'bababa' exactly at 7 months and then ocassionally here and there. He then also said 'mamama' at 8.5 months but now he's back to loud shrieks, aaaah, eeehhh.

He also never imitates sounds or gestures. Does high-five though.

On the positive side, he has very good eye contact, knows his name very well, is super attached to me (mom). He's happy with others but he always reaches out towards me to come back to me.

Anyone else had a baby babbling this late and imitating as well?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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ICMB · 12/05/2023 20:10

My boy today is 9 months and 1 day. He does not copy movement (never has) or wave. He does clap and babble though. Same with the eye contact and name. He screams a lot so they sound similar. I never thought to get him to hi five but I know he wouldn’t be able to 😂

Iguessyourestuckwithme · 12/05/2023 20:19

How is his hearing?

Not babbling at this stage can be indicative of a possible hearing impediment.

Original poster

Sonorus · 12/05/2023 20:22

I don't think hearing is a problem, he comes to seek me if I call him by his name from another room, he also understands 'no' to some extent, stops doing what he is doing. Also turns at the sound of keys outside of the door when his dad comes home

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6-9 months old 9-12 months old Babies & sleep Behaviour & development

DragonbornMum · 12/05/2023 21:20

My son was pretty late to babble, and never had any interest in imitating. He is now 21 mo and only has a handful of words - much less than others his age - but his understanding is excellent. "bring Mummy the orange cup" "pick up your fork" "sit down on the potty" etc, he understands everything, so there's no concern at all. I actually looked up the 2 year ASQ and he has the developmental level of a 2 year old despite being a few months off it (he doesn't do everything listed, but enough things that his scores are either white or amber).

Please don't worry just yet. He's still little and has plenty of learning to do. Have you got a 1 year review coming up? That would be a good time to voice any concerns and get support in those areas.

Cara333 · 09/10/2023 03:20

Hi just wondering how your son is now? @Sonorus

Mumof3bb1 · 02/07/2024 11:24

Hi, how are your little ones getting on now?

Strictlymad · 02/07/2024 11:27

At 9 months I certainly wouldn’t worry, baby with have a check with hv at about 12 months so you could mention it then of you are still concerned in 3 months. My 21 month old is barely babbling and speech and language aren’t worried- I know that doesn’t stop you worrying as a parent though!

Strictlymad · 02/07/2024 11:27

Doh I just saw the date on the op!

Mumof3bb1 · 28/08/2024 21:26

@DragonbornMum hows your little one coming on?

DragonbornMum · 28/08/2024 21:49

@Mumof3bb1 He started talking properly shortly after his 2nd birthday and quickly progressed to sentences. He's now 3 and exactly where he should be! So pleased to report that he is no longer behind; he just didn't see the point of talking early because he could get everything he wanted by demanding "up" 😅 Thankfully he now tells me what he actually wants, instead of leaving me to guess.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 28/08/2024 21:51

I think you need to wait and see. It doesn't sound unusual to me though,

Mumof3bb1 · 28/08/2024 22:04

@DragonbornMum aww that’s amazing he’s come on so well, do you roughly remember what he was like at 11 months??

DragonbornMum · 28/08/2024 22:15

@Mumof3bb1 I remember he could say the word "up" at 11 months (in fact I have a video of it), clear as day. Even my mum said she'd never heard a baby say anything so clearly!

We had a couple of other words - "ba" for ball, "umma" for car/vroom (took me a long time to figure out that one). He pretty much stayed at that level for months: as I said, he used "up" when he wanted a hug, a meal, a drink etc because he needed to go up for everything haha.

He babbled "dada" at around 11-12 months meaninglessly: it took a while before it meant Daddy. And then it ALSO meant Mummy, and Grandma, and Grandpa, and Grandad, and Nanny... I didn't get called Mama until he was around 20 months. It lasted a few weeks and before being upgraded to Mummy.

Honestly something happens to kids at around age 2 that they just start doing things they've never done before!

Mumof3bb1 · 29/08/2024 12:20

@DragonbornMum so he had a good few words then, do you remember what his understanding was like at that age too, also when clapped/waved or pointed?? Sorry for the million questions!

DragonbornMum · 29/08/2024 13:39

@Mumof3bb1 no worries, ask away! At his year check he was very average, but honestly he just stayed at that level of speech for a full year. He had less than 30 words (more like 20, at a push) by his second birthday, which is FAR less than average. But he understood everything you said to him.

Don't really remember his understanding at 11-12 months, but at 17 months he was following instructions and pointing to body parts when you named them. He clapped at about 8 months I think? Later than lots of babies, but nothing outrageous. I do remember he would clap on command at age 1. Pointing and waving were both well after his first birthday.

The range of "normal" for babies is so wide there's just no one size fits all. The VAST majority of them do get there in the end

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