How long does it take for a baby to say their first word?

What is the average age a baby says its first word?

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First words are so fun, but as a parent, they can make you feel a little unsure, too. It’s like all of a sudden, you’re second-guessing and over-thinking every babble that comes out of their little mouth! This post will teach you what counts as a word, the baby language milestones that lead up to first words, and when you can expect to hear your baby’s first words. And, because you play a key role in helping your child learn to talk, you’ll also learn what you can do to encourage your baby’s language skills during this period of rapid brain growth that they’re in. Babies typically start saying a few words around age 1, but they’re learning to communicate and meeting language milestones long before that!

Even if your baby isn’t talking yet, you probably already have very rich communication with them. We bet you’re cooing, laughing, pointing, and gesturing together all day long! This is great because these are all foundational baby milestones and skills that precede speech. So if your baby is doing them with you, they’re on their way to words!

Love keeping up with what your child is learning? Download our free talking milestones checklist and keep track of these important skills as they develop!

A funny thing about speech is that not all speech sounds develop at the same time. Some are simpler than others for little mouths to master, so you can expect to hear early-developing sounds like b, m, p, and w first, as they begin to babble and talk.

First words are a big milestone for your baby and for you. The first time you hear “mama” or “dada”? Come on! Is there anything better in the world?! But first words can leave some room for doubt, too. Especially if you’re waiting patiently to hear them say something, it might feel like you’re willing their words into existence or second-guessing everything you hear.

Did she say “mama” or was she just babbling?

Does “da” mean dog or was that just a coincidence?

Does “uh oh” actually count as a word or am I reaching?

How about “moo”?

So let’s clear up what counts as a word for baby! To “count” as a word, your child should be saying the word intentionally, consistently, and in the right context. This tells you it’s not just a happy accident, but that they’re saying that word to communicate something with you on purpose (so amazing!). If your baby doesn’t pronounce their first word correctly, that’s okay, too! It’s very common for babies to just say part of the word, so “ba” for ball, “pup” for up, and “ma” for mama all count.

Aqui está o que mais conta como uma primeira palavra:

• Moo
• Baa
• Vroom Vroom
• Honk
• Siren
• Meow
• Woof
• Roar

Exclamatory words are sounds we often use to comment on the world around us. And, when…

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How long does it take for a baby’s first words?

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It’s such a joyful moment when your baby speaks that first precious word. But when should that happen? And should you worry if your baby doesn’t speak as early as other children? Kaleigh Loeffler, a speech-language pathologist with Children’s Health℠, explains speech milestones to watch for in babies and toddlers and ways you can encourage your child to talk.

Most babies say their first word sometime between 12 and 18 months of age. However, you’ll start to hear the early stages of verbal communication shortly after birth. “From birth to 3 months, babies make sounds. There’s smiling and cooing,” explains Loeffler. “Once your baby hits 6 months, you may hear more speech-like babbling. Your baby might make the ‘puh’ sound, the ‘buh’ sound and something that sounds like ‘mi.’

“Typically, right before that 1-year mark, babies experiment with different sounds, and then you might hear a few words,” says Loeffler. “But don’t worry if your baby is not forming complete words by age 1. Sometimes the babbling continues well into the next year of life, with pointing and gesturing. That’s okay. Your baby is still communicating.”

Baby speech development milestones include:

• Between birth and 3 months: Babies make cooing noises.
• Between 4 and 6 months: Babies laugh, giggle and make playful sounds.
• At 12 to 18 months old: Many babies start using single words. They name familiar people and objects – such as ma-ma, da-da, ball and cat.
• By age 2: Child says two-word phrases, such as: “Dog sit.” “Mommy go.”
• By age 3: Child has words for almost everything and speaks three-word phrases.

Each year after that, children should form longer and longer sentences. At 18 months old, babies may say anywhere between 10-50 words. If your child has not hit that mark, you don’t necessarily need to worry. Children develop at different rates.

“Instead of focusing on a specific word count for each age, consider: Is your child’s vocabulary growing? Are they learning more words each week?” advises Loeffler. “If you’re seeing continuous growth, that’s an indicator that speech is going well.”

Talk with your pediatrician if your child does not speak about 50 words by age 2.

Sometimes language development is delayed if your baby has certain medical issues or diagnoses, such as:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Cerebral palsy
• Down syndrome
• Hearing impairment

Environment also plays a role in speech development. If children are not brought up with a rich exposure to language – where people interact with them often – the age at which they say their first words may be later.

There’s a common misconception that children who grow up in bilingual homes and learn two languages will have speech delays. However, Loeffler says there is no evidence to support this. “If a child knows 10 words in both English and Spanish – water and agua, for example – we would count that as a 20-word vocabulary,” she says. “Developmentally, they’re on track.”

The best way to encourage your child to talk is to spend time talking and interacting with them.

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Can a 6 month old say mama?

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At what age do babies say mama and mean it?

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Hearing baby start to babble is pretty thrilling because it means they’re one step closer to talking! As you eagerly await those first words, you’re likely wondering what they’ll be—and there’s a good chance it’ll be “mama” or “dada.” After all, according to experts and research, baby’s first words tend to be based on the things they see and hear the most. While it’s unlikely baby will say either one soon after starting to babble, it naturally raises an important question: Just when do babies say “mama” and/or “dada” anyway? And which one will they say first and why? Keep reading to learn more, straight from the experts.

In this article:

• What age do babies say mama and dada?
• Mama or dada: Which comes first?
• How to help baby say mama and dada
• Other Parental Names for Modern Families
• What to do if baby doesn’t say mama or dada

While the timeline can differ for every child—even those in the same family—most babies start stringing together syllables that sound like “mamamama” or “dadadadada” by 7 months, says Jennifer L. Maietta, MS, CCC-SLP, a pediatric speech-language pathologist at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston. As baby approaches 9 months (and beyond), they’ll start trying to say “mama” or “dada”—but that doesn’t mean they actually know what it means yet. Baby may look at either parent to say “mama” or “dada”—or they may even say it to a stranger, like the mail carrier. “They’ll say it to anybody,” says Danelle Fisher, MD, FAAP, chair of pediatrics at Providence St. John’s Health Center in California. So when do babies say mama or dada and mean it? Around the one-year mark baby will likely start to use the words correctly within context, and, when it happens, “it’s magical,” Fisher says. “When they look at you and say ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ and mean it, it’s the best thing in the world.”

Many experts and researchers believe that babies say “dada” before “mama” because “da” sounds are easier for little ones to produce. However, Gina Posner, MD, a pediatrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, says—like so many milestones—this varies from baby to baby. “Some kids are really obsessed with the ‘da’ sound, and others like the ‘ma’ sound,” she explains. Whichever they latch onto in the beginning will help determine which word they say first. Usually, the order in which babies say “mama” or “dada” has nothing to do with them preferring one caregiver over another. That said, if baby does spend more time with one parent, they may have a leg up, Fisher says, as babies may say the name of their primary caregiver first.

While you can’t rush baby’s development, there are a few ways to help teach your child to say mama, dada or other parental names. Below, the experts share their tips:

• Repeat the names constantly: Babies imitate their parents, Fisher says, so continually sounding out “mama,” “dada” and other parental names, while encouraging your child to repeat the words is key.
• Goff agrees, adding, “The more the baby h…”

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What is harder for a baby to say mama or dada?

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Infant 2-12 Months

My wife spends so much time working with him to say mama (our oldest said dada first too) and I spent 5 minutes a month ago getting him to say dada and he picked it up instantly. Now every time I (or mom) say “MaaaaMaaaa” he just retorts dada immediately and goes after me.

Any tips?

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How to tell if your baby will talk early?

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Your baby is getting ready to chat long before they say their first words. Here are the early signs they’re trying to communicate with you, along with some practical tips for encouraging their very first ‘mama’ or ‘dada’.

Does your baby beam when you smile at them? Or copy sounds you make, like blowing raspberries? You might not realise it, but these are both early signs that your baby is communicating with you. And pretty soon they’ll be chatting away and telling you exactly what they want!

While your baby is picking up new skills from watching and listening to you, there are other ways to boost their early language development … and have loads of fun at the same time.

Fisher-Price toys are expertly designed to help babies reach their developmental milestones with a big smile. These ‘Smilestones’, including learning to crawl, walk and talk, are big moments in your baby’s life. And reaching them through play makes it waaaay more fun!

Keep reading for the early signs your baby is getting ready to talk, and the best toys to help them. And here’s all you need to know about your baby’s Smilestones.

Your baby has a lot of words to learn. So it’s no wonder they’re paying close attention to you when you talk.

Not only will they be hearing different words, your baby will also be learning different sounds and seeing how your mouth moves as you make them. In fact, you’ll probably notice your baby moving their mouth and tongue as they try to copy you.

How to help: Keep talking! Research shows chatting to your baby helps boost their vocabulary. Another lovely way for your baby to hear new sounds is with the Fisher-Price® Linkimals™ Learning Narwhal™ toy. They can spin a wheel or press the fish-shaped buttons to hear sounds and music. The colourful Narwhal includes words, phrases, letters of the alphabet and more than 135 songs. This early ‘baby speak’ is an important step towards your baby’s ‘Smilestone’ of saying their first words.

Babies usually start babbling from around 6 months. You’ll notice your little one is practicing their consonant and vowel sounds like ‘ga-ga’ or ‘ba-ba-ba’. You might even hear a ma-ma (our hearts!) but it might be a while before they connect this word with you.

How to help: Answer back when your baby is babbling. They’ll probably babble a bit then stop and look at you. Answer them as though they’ve asked you a question. This helps them learn about turn taking in conversation. Playtime is also a great opportunity to have a ‘conversation’ with your baby. The Fisher-Price® Little People® Light-Up Learning Garage™ teaches colours, sounds, and shapes. You can help your baby by translating their babble as they play with the little characters. For example, if they point at the playset car and say ‘ca-ca’, reply with, ‘that’s right, a car’. This helps them learn their vocabulary and they’ll love that you’re chatting with them.

Does your baby turn to you when you say their name? This is another early sign they’re communicating with you and usually…

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Can a baby say baba at 6 months?

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

smokesandmirrors · 13/06/2011 15:48

daughter is noisy and makes lots of sounds – ahgo, ahga, he ha he etc etc – but hasn’t done the babab dada mama etc. I read that maybe she should have by now? She’s 6 months and 1 week….?

NotJoiningIn · 13/06/2011 15:54

My DD is 7 months next week and she still doesn’t make any babbling noises either. I would like to know the answer to this question too!

bruffin · 13/06/2011 15:57

DS was 8 months when he started bababab. Remember it clearly as we had just arrived on our holiday and we were on the transfer bus.

jenrendo · 13/06/2011 15:58

My DS is 8 months and only really started with dadadadada about a month ago, but has now in the last couple of weeks started baba and mama. It just depends on the child doesn’t it? Some of his wee friends the same age are crawling and he isn’t. I’m not worried. You’re wee ones will babble soon!

JosieRosie · 13/06/2011 15:59

No early development stages are set in stone. Children usually start sequencing sounds (baba, mama, dada etc) at AROUND 6 months of age, but there isn’t a hard and fast rule for it. So don’t worry! Chat to them lots during daily routines, they love the sound of their parents’ voices. Holding them on your lap so they can see your face and copying the sounds that you make will encourage them to ‘chat’ more. Try extending what they say e.g. baby says ‘ooh’, you say ‘boo-boo’. Have fun!

hazeyjane · 13/06/2011 16:05

According to this developmental chart, the baba, dada, mama sounds are more likely around the 9 month mark.

Paschaelina · 13/06/2011 16:08

Boy started with dadadada around 7 months, along with gaga, yaya, vava etc. No mama yet at 9 months.

Cosmosis ·

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