too soon or too much to ask???

MamaSantos13 · December 2012

I'm starting to have my 11 month old son say momma when he wants to get out of the crib or playpin. I was doing it with his highchair but I only put him in there for eating not just to sit and play. But when he wakes up at night I don't do it or if he's crying for a ligament reason. He's more of a whiner than a cryer. He likes being picked up of course so if I feel that's all he wants i have him say momma. I'm also trying to have him pick up his arms toward the sky. He can be stubborn sometimes because I know he understands but after a few minutes he will just sit back down and play with his toys again. Am I asking too much? Should I take it slow?

littlev · December 2012

I don't know your son, but DD is 11 months and that sounds like a lot to ask of her. She reaches for me if she wants picked up, but sometimes I know that's what she wants so I'll just do it even if she doesn't reach. She rarely says "mama."

SoftSpot · December 2012

I guess I'm not sure what exactly you're asking. Is it too much to expect him to respond correctly every time? Yes.

My son will say up and put his arms up but I don't make him do it every time he wants out of the crib.

sunnybrook. · December 2012

I think it is asking too much. Maybe we could give you some more thoughts or ideas if you can explain what it is you're trying to accomplish by having him do it? Why have him say momma at those times?

I have been working on vocabulary with my 11 month old. I say and sign milk while he is nursing. I say up when he's reaching for me, etc. In this way, he is learning words and their meaning. i say the words for him to repeat if he wants but I'm not trying to do any behavior modification. He's just too young.

treble_clef · December 2012

I personally think it's more important to talk to him than to have him say a word at this stage. Just keep talking to him and show him how to communicate nicely with people. If your son is healthy, he will eventually say mama and raise his arms no matter what. And before you know it, he is going to be doing all sorts of tricks to get what he wants, trust me:D I think it's too early to teach him that he doesn't get what he wants unless he does something.

Jen0204 · December 2012

When they're in good moods we try to work with the girls on stuff like this. If they reach for us we say "up", if they want us to do something again or have more food we say "more". They've never actually said either of those words, but we say them a few times and try to get them to look at our mouths. I say them each two or three times and move on. I'm trying to get into the habit of vocalizing things more myself with the expectation that it will help them pick up on things better, but I don't expect any sort of response (except the inevitable whining that I'm not giving them what they want immediately). I don't think it's too soon to start working on these things, but I think it's too soon to expect appropriate responses.

sunnyday016 · December 2012

treble_clef:
I personally think it's more important to talk to him than to have him say a word at this stage. Just keep talking to him and show him how to communicate nicely with people. If your son is healthy, he will eventually say mama and raise his arms no matter what. And before you know it, he is going to be doing all sorts of tricks to get what he wants, trust me:D I think it's too early to teach him that he doesn't get what he wants unless he does something.

I agree.

MamaSantos13 · December 2012

Thank you Jen0204.

I am a new mommy and never really been around little kids at least enough to know what I'm doing. I know my baby is smart and maybe I'm giving him too much credit sort of speak. I can tell he understands... I should have mentioned that he was 2 months premature so I know he is not going to be up there with kids his age I just don't want him to fall too much behind when he doesn't have to.

sunnyday016 · December 2012

MamaSantos13:
Thank you Jen0204.
I am a new mommy and never really been around little kids at least enough to know what I'm doing. I know my baby is smart and maybe I'm giving him too much credit sort of speak. I can tell he understands... I should have mentioned that he was 2 months premature so I know he is not going to be up there with kids his age I just don't want him to fall too much behind when he doesn't have to.

So is he 11m, with a 9m developmental age then? If that's the case, I think expecting him to say words is definitely asking too much.

rlyttle · December 2012

What is the point? DS is much older, but from a very early age I have encouraged him to say "All done" instead of crying. He caught onto that pretty quick. I wouldn't force it, but I was say it every time.

greeneyed_bride · December 2012

I guess I'm not sure what this would accomplish. Also, it seems like he would start to associate the word "Mamma" with the concept of "pick me up" instead of as your name/title. If you're trying to get him to articulate what he wants, it would probably make more sense to try to teach him to say the word "up" when he wants to be picked up. But I wouldn't insist on it at that age.

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