First word?

legalbeagle1 · September 2013

When did your LO say his or her first word? L is 10 months old and I swear all of the babies on his birth board have word(s) already! I'm already worried about his development with physical therapy -- don't really want to worry about speech/cognitive too! And for cuteness, what was his or her first word?

aeh72 · September 2013

DS was probably close to 12 months. His first discernible attempt at a word was "doga" in reference to our dog. But, his first real word - using it correctly - was agua, which he learned at daycare because we don't speak Spanish! :-)

DS had probably 5-10 words by his 15 month appointment but his speech is only suddenly starting to explode at 17+ months - suddenly he wants to repeat everything.

I know it's so tempting to compare - I do it myself all the time - but at 10 months, I don't think you have anything to really worry about. It will come and every child is different. (And, FWIW, I think everyone has a different standard for what constitutes a "first word" so just because others are saying their LOs are using words, that doesn't mean it isn't something your own LO is babbling but that you don't necessarily consider a real word, KWIM?)

kristennd · September 2013

My birth month board was rather pushy about proactive speech therapy, so I know how easy it can be to get concerned when all the comparisons are flying around.

He had a couple consistent sounds around 12 months and then dropped those. Nothing again until 20 months, and it's still developing very slowly.

hopefulmom81 · September 2013

DD had pretty early first, basic baby words, but didn't really have a huge speech explosion until after she learned to walk at 12 months.

DiveFrog · September 2013

DD's first real word was bear and she didn't say it until maybe 12.5-13months. She has a few more now at 15months, book, dog, baby, Da (for Dad). She says Mama too, but indescriminately not associated with me. Se is constant,y babbling and even though she can say some words isn't 100% with them. Try not to worry. Your DS is still very young. DD's doctor didn't ask us until her 15month visit if she had 4words that "WE" recognize.

eyenigh · September 2013

I think a lot of people really hear what they want to hear and what they think are words are often happy coincidences or wishful thinking. A great example is my friend's MIL. She hears "words" from my friend's twin boys that are seriously grunts or babbles-- and she's done this since they were 6 months old. I remember her proudly telling us at 9 months that one of them sang "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" with her. That absolutely did not happen, lol. Sure, some kids start saying things earlier than some but I think that's more the exception, not the rule. From a lot of the Bump, you'd swear every kid is an advanced genius.

There's also a big difference between experimenting with familiar sounds by repeating them and understanding and using a word. My son started babbling mama and dada relatively early but there really wasn't any meaning to them. I think as your child gets older and you see what happens when the words do take on meaning and he actually starts to communicate, you really see the difference.

Also, language explosions happen fast so what you think is behind today could end up a total 180 in a matter of weeks. We went from about 3 words at a year, to about 10 words at 15 months to about 125 now at 18 months. That's not even including the words that he comprehends but doesn't say. The learning at this age is amazing to me.

TiffanyBerry · September 2013

My daughter signed before she spoke and she didn't sign until she was over a year (and we had been taking signing classes for months before that). I don't think she said mama or dada until she was nearly 16 or 17 months? They were far from her first word.

Don't worry. Everyone develops in their own time, and what you describe here isn't even cause for concern yet.

MonkeySender · September 2013

By 9-10 months my LO had figured out lots of sounds... But she did not use them correctly, so I don't think they count as words. Around 10-11 months she started saying dog, but didn't pick up anymore words for a long time.

legalbeagle1 · September 2013

Thanks ladies. I'm going to try and focus on what he can do instead of what he can't. He's a super happy baby.

ChiTown Bridget · September 2013

My son said Dada for the first time around 8 1/2 months. He didn't have a true word explosion until around 2. At 12 months he only had 4 or 5 words. I know it's hard not to worry but 10 months is still really early.

KatieB19 · September 2013

I don't remember when or what the first word was. Is that terrible? At 2 he had maybe 6 words and close to 10 signs, but he was always able to let me know one way or another what he wanted. I had him evaluated after his 2 year well visit at the pedi's recommendation, although he said ds was probably fine because he was communicating with me and we didn't have any tantrums over me not understanding him. By the time he was seen a few weeks later, he had well over 20 words. He's still behind girls (they seem to talk earlier than boys, at least that's been my overwhelming experience) but he's fine. He just needed time.

chardonnay24 · September 2013

His first word was "no" at 10 months. I wouldn't worry about speech at this age. One word by 12 months is the norm. A lot can happen in a couple months!

madmoizaile · September 2013

I was driving back home when I heard clearly "maman?!", Sacha was 8 months.
I was shocked, it happened just like that!

But each child develops its own rythm. We shouldn't worry too much.

For instance, my son had very early such a developped and rich vocabulary, that he couldn't cope with it anymore and he had to meet for months a speech therapist. Can you imagine that??
It was difficult for us...

So...relax. Everything will be fine and will happen on time

Kissty · September 2013

Yes try not to worry. At DS 9 mos. appt. the pedi asked if he was saying dada or mama. I was concerned because he was not. The pedi also told me not to be concerned because it is typicallya distress call at that age. He will say omma when he gets upset that I won't pick him up because I'm washing dishes or doing something else that I can't pick him up at that exact moment. He also has followed DH through the kitchen saying addy! addy!

According to his GG who is his care provider he says Momma & Dadda clearly. I haven't heard it. She also says that he says Nanny. I've heard him say Naaa and she comes running.

He did say uh-oh yesterday but it was only after we said it repeatedly so he was just mimicking us. Until he uses a word with purpose and meaning I'm not counting it.

Again try not to worry. Before long we won't be able to keep them quiet.

mac&chip1 · September 2013

I know it's hard not to worry, but it will be okay. My daughter didn't say her first word until 15 months (mama) and then shortly after added her second. At 18 months, she only had 4 words, and then a week after her appointment – her language explosion finally happened and she's on-track now.

I agree with the PP about parents and wishful thinking. I didn't claim DD had a word until I was absolutely positive and she could use it in context.

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