The first word a baby says is a memorable milestone for parents. For many families, “mama” is one of baby’s first words. The age at which babies begin talking can vary quite a bit from child to child. However, there are typical age ranges when babies start saying their first words. Knowing when to expect this developmental milestone can help parents be prepared to celebrate this exciting achievement.
When do babies start talking?
Most babies begin talking around their first birthday. However, there is a wide range of normal when it comes to a baby saying their first word. Some babies may start talking as early as 6 months, while others don’t speak until 18 months or older.
On average, most babies will say their first word between 10-15 months of age. During these months, babies begin stringing sounds together and imitating words they hear frequently. “Mama” and “dada” are often a baby’s first words because they associate these words with their parents.
Why do babies say “mama” first?
There are a few reasons why “mama” is frequently a baby boy’s first word:
– The “m” sound is one of the easiest sounds for babies to make. Babbling sounds like “mamamama” allow babies to form syllables and practice using their voice.
– Babies recognize their mother’s voice from hearing it frequently in the womb and after birth. The sound of “mama” is comforting and familiar.
– Mothers tend to spend more time interacting with babies from birth onward. Babies associate their mother’s face and voice with caregiving and bonding.
– Multiple studies show that “mama” is one of the most common first words globally. The ubiquity of “mama” across cultures suggests an innate preference for this word.
While these reasons make “mama” a top choice for many babies, it’s not a given. Some babies may say “dada” first, especially if their father is the primary caregiver. The first spoken word can also be something completely different depending on the child’s environment and language exposure.
Signs your baby may say “mama” soon
There are some signs parents can look for to know if their baby boy is getting ready to say his first word:
– Making cooing sounds and babbling strings of sounds like “mamamamama”
– Trying to imitate sounds they hear
– Looking intently at your face and mouth when you speak
– Pointing or gesturing when communicating
– Increased back-and-forth vocalizations with parents
– Recognizing names of familiar objects and people
– Following simple one-step directions (“Come here” or “Give it to mama”)
These behaviors show that your baby is building up to forming real words. Your baby boy may be about to surprise you with a “mama” any day now if he is exhibiting many of these early language skills.
How parents can encourage a baby’s first word
While babies will begin talking at their own pace, there are some things parents can do to create an environment where language will thrive:
– Speak frequently to your baby using simple words and gestures
– Use exaggerated facial expressions, smiles, and a friendly tone when communicating
– Read books aloud and point out pictures of familiar things named
– Sing songs and rhymes, emphasizing rhyming words
– Play games like peek-a-boo that involve back-and-forth interaction
– Name objects you use and encourage baby to imitate those words
– Repeat your baby’s coos and babbles back to them
– Be patient and responsive when your baby tries to interact with sounds
The more chances your baby has to engage with language, the sooner they will begin mimicking sounds and forming words. While it’s impossible to make a baby talk before they are developmentally ready, a rich language environment facilitates growth.
What if my baby isn’t saying “mama” yet?
It’s common for parents to worry if their baby hasn’t said their first word by 12 months. However, there is a wide range of normal when it comes to speech milestones. Here are a few things to keep in mind if your baby isn’t saying “mama” yet:
– First words emerge between 10-18 months for most babies
– Preemies or babies with medical issues may reach speech milestones later
– Boys tend to start talking slightly later than girls, on average
– Every baby develops at their own pace
– Check for signs your baby understands language, like following directions
– Consult your pediatrician if you have concerns about language delay
– Continue providing language stimulation through books, songs, and conversation
– Expressive language lags behind comprehension – your baby may understand more than they can say
While waiting for that first word can be anxiously anticipated, try not to stress. Focus on building your baby’s language environment, and don’t hesitate to ask your pediatrician for help if you are worried.
How to encourage baby’s language development after first words emerge
Hearing your baby say “mama” for the first time is an exciting milestone. But it’s just the beginning of your child’s language journey. Here are some tips to keep fostering your baby’s communication skills after first words appear:
– Expand on your baby’s words – if he says “dog”, say “Yes, that’s a big, brown dog!”
– Narrate your actions and what you see throughout the day
– Ask simple questions and allow time for your baby to respond
– Add gestures like pointing, waving, nodding/shaking head
– Read interactive books with tactile elements or lift-the-flap pages
– Sing songs with gestures like “Wheels on the Bus” and “Itsy Bitsy Spider”
– Expose baby to new experiences and name objects encountered
– Model back-and-forth conversation, not just one-sided talk
– Introduce new vocabulary by naming colors, shapes, animals, foods
– Provide toys and objects that appeal to all senses – encourage exploration
The more enriched the language environment, the more opportunities a baby has to develop speech. Keep conversing with your baby, naming new things, asking questions, and adding to the words he uses. This stimulating interaction will support growing language skills.
When do babies start saying short sentences?
After first words like “mama” emerge around 12 months, babies begin putting two words together around 18-24 months. They proceed from two-word phrases like “doggy gone” to three-four word sentences like “mama get my milk”.
Here is a general timeline for when babies start using short sentences:
– 12-18 months: First words and word-like sounds (“baba”, “go”, “up”)
– 18-24 months: Two word phrases begin emerging (“my book”, “more juice”)
– 24-30 months: Sentences with three or more words develop (“I want cookie”, “get my toy”)
– 30-36 months: Expressive language improves with four and five word sentences
During the toddler years, language blossoms rapidly as little ones realize they can use words to express themselves. Vocabulary expands quickly, and grammar becomes more complex. Conversations with a toddler can be surprisingly intricate by ages 2-3!
However, every child masters language skills at a different pace. Premature babies or those with medical conditions may reach milestones later. But with nurturing interaction and exposure to language, most babies follow this basic trajectory from first words to sentences within the first few years of life.
Reasons to contact a speech therapist
While language emerges slowly, consult a pediatrician or speech-language pathologist if your baby:
– Isn’t using gestures like waving, pointing, or shaking head by 12 months
– Isn’t understanding simple instructions by 12 months
– Isn’t saying any words by 18 months
– Isn’t combining two words by 24 months
– Struggles to be understood when speaking
– Seems to have difficulty hearing
– Has differences in producing certain sounds compared to peers
– Has loss of previously used language skills at any age
Early intervention is key if a speech delay exists. A speech therapist can work with you and your child to identify areas of difficulty and provide needed support. With help, many children overcome language disorders to communicate effectively.
How to know if your baby’s speech is developing typically
Monitoring your baby’s early language milestones is important to ensure proper development. Use this checklist to determine if your child is achieving speech milestones on schedule:
6-12 months:
– Coos, babbles, and laughs
– Responds to sounds with eye movement, smiles, or noises
– Shows interest when you speak
– Makes gurgling sounds when left alone
– Understands “no-no” or other reprimands
12-18 months:
– Points to familiar objects when named
– Follows simple one-step directions
– Uses gesture like waving, shaking head
– Babbles with mix of consonant and vowel sounds
– Says first words around 12 months
– Repeats sounds and actions to get attention
– Names a few familiar objects
18-24 months:
– Language explodes between 18-24 months
– Uses two-word phrases like “more milk”
– Asks questions using rising inflection
– Puts two nouns together in short sentences
– Uses pronouns correctly (I/you)
– Follows two-step directions
– Points to pictures in books when named
– Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, body parts
If your baby is hitting these speech milestones for their age range, it’s a good sign language skills are developing on track. However, every baby progresses at their own pace. Discuss concerns with your pediatrician, who can provide guidance on if intervention is advised. With language-rich interaction, most babies will gain communication abilities right on schedule.
Activities to improve speech development
You can engage in many fun activities with your baby to promote growing language skills during the first few years:
Reading: Books expose children to new words, ideas, and language patterns. Simple board books are ideal for babies, while picture books with rhymes, animal sounds, or songs are great for toddlers.
Sing songs: Making music and singing nursery rhymes gets babies used to vocalizing. Toddlers will start to sing along, developing listening and expressive language.
Name body parts: Point out and identify head, nose, ears, toes, eyes and other body parts to increase vocabulary.
Use puppets: Puppets appeal to babies’ senses and allow you to model conversational skills through the puppet.
Describe actions: As you cook, clean, or go through your day, narrate your activities to expose your baby to new words.
Play games: Back-and-forth games like peek-a-boo or passing a ball help toddlers learn turn taking in conversation.
Point out new objects: On a walk or at the store, name things you see like birds, signs, food, and other objects to add to their word bank.
Chat together: Having real conversations with your little one, even if they don’t speak much yet, helps build language muscles.
The key is engaging your child and creating an environment rich with language they can absorb. With time and interaction, your baby’s speech abilities will grow by leaps and bounds!
Ways dads help babies learn to talk
All parents play a crucial role in helping their baby learn to communicate. But research shows that fathers have a special impact in promoting language skills. Here are some of the key ways dads help babies develop speech:
– Use a high, animated speaking voice, which appeals to babies’ preference for singing tones
– Are more likely to play physical, stimulating games with babies that elicit vocalizations
– Read books in more dynamic, performative styles that engage child interest
– Tend to repeat words more often than moms, reinforcing the word-object connection
– Allow more pause time after asking questions for babies to respond
– Are more likely to use directing speech that calls on child to respond (“Say ball!”)
– Introduce new words and more advanced concepts by talking about less familiar topics
– Are more verbally challenging – they ask more questions and use complex language
– Respond positively to babbles, working with child in conversational turn-taking
The differences in dad’s communication patterns provide diversity that enriches a baby’s language environment. Children whose fathers frequently engage with them in conversing, reading, play, and care from infancy tend to pick up language skills more quickly. Dads play an integral role in helping both girls and boys develop speech!
How moms help babies learn talk
Mothers also play an indispensable part in nurturing their baby’s emerging language abilities. Here are some of the main ways moms help babies learn to talk:
– Use an emotive, high-pitched tone that appeals to babies
– Are more likely to narrate activities, exposing baby to a rich sound environment
– Repeat words frequently in meaningful contexts, promoting word retention
– Read books interactively, asking questions and expanding on ideas from stories
– Sing songs and play rhythmic games that increase sound and syllable awareness
– Are more likely to use “parentese” speech, with simple words and exaggerated sounds
– Ask questions that promote joint attention, guiding baby to focus on objects
– Talk more often to babies and are responded to more by infants
– Use gestures along with words to reinforce the meaning being conveyed
– Tend to give babies adequate pauses to respond after asking questions
– Provide Labels for objects, actions, desires, emotions, expanding vocabulary
Both moms and dads make unique contributions to language development starting from birth. Babies reap the benefits when both parents actively engage through talking, playing, reading, and caregiving.
How staying home vs daycare impacts speech development
Parents today often face the question of whether to keep their baby at home or enroll them in daycare. When it comes to learning language, research on the impacts of daycare versus staying home is mixed. Here is an overview of what studies have found:
Impacts of staying home:
– More 1:1 interaction with caregiver provides language modeling
– Caregiver tailors speech directly to child’s level
– More opportunity for baby-led play based on child’s interest/mood
– Less exposure to illnesses that could lead to ear infections
– Lower levels of cortisol, reduced stress
– Nurturing attention from trusted, familiar caregiver
Impacts of daycare:
– Exposure to diverse vocabulary from multiple caregivers
– Chance to observe peer language models
– Rich language environment with group reading/singing
– Opportunity to practice communicating needs with different adults
– Develops social skills and cooperative play
– Stimulating variety of activities, games, toys
– Structured curriculum and activities target language goals
Research concludes that, while both settings have pros and cons, high quality interaction is the biggest predictor of language growth – not location. Babies can thrive speech-wise in either environment with nurturing caregivers who talk, play, sing, and read with them daily.
Creating language-rich environments at home
Whether your baby stays home or attends daycare, there are ways to ensure your home provides optimal language development:
– Talk frequently to your baby – name objects, describe your actions, respond to vocalizations
– Provide toys and objects with different sounds, colors, shapes and textures
– Play music or sing songs together, which develops listening skills
– Limit screen time and background TV so your baby can focus on real interaction
– Include your baby in household activities like cooking/chores and narrate what you do
– Read books together daily, pointing out and naming pictures
– Engage in serve-and-return exchanges – respond promptly when baby babbles
– Be animated and expressive when you speak and show joy at their vocalizations
– Offer toys and games that allow creativity, problem-solving and imagination
– Go outside and point out objects in nature, adding new words to baby’s vocabulary
Providing a rich home language environment gives your baby a solid foundation for speech and language growth. Keep conversing, playing, singing, reading together every day. Before you know it, those coos will turn into first words like “mama”!
Conclusion
Hearing your baby say “mama” for the first time is a milestone to celebrate for parents. While the age range varies, most babies begin talking around 12 months and saying those precious first words soon after. Creating a nurturing environment where you talk, read, sing, and play with your baby encourages the language development process. With time, those first words lead to sentences, conversation, and the language explosion of toddlerhood. Keep engaging your little one, and be prepared to capture that magical first “mama” on video!