It’s pretty thrilling when baby starts babbling finally, your little one is a step closer to talking! Of course, that also means the race is on between you and your partner to see which word baby says first: ‘mama’ or ‘dada.’
It’s unlikely that baby is going to start saying either word right after they begin making noises, but it naturally raises an important question.
When do babies say ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ anyway? Most babies follow a similar pattern of language and speech developmental milestones. The journey to this milestone begins with basic communication skills involving cooing. These initial sounds are just babbles, but as they approach 9 months and beyond, they get better at saying the actual words. That still doesn’t mean they actually know what they’re saying at that point. They might look at you or the dad and say it. They’ll say it to anybody. But around the one-year mark, baby will likely start to use the word correctly within context. When they look at you and say ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ and mean it, it’s the best thing in the world.
‘MJama’ or ‘Dada’ Which Comes First? It’s a common belife that babies naturally say ‘dada’ before ‘mama.’ But Gina Posner, ᴀ ᴘᴇᴅɪᴀᴛʀɪᴄɪᴀɴ says that’s not necessarily the case. She said :”Some kids are ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴏʙsᴇssᴇᴅ with the ‘da’ sound, and others like the ‘ma’ sound.” Whichever they latch onto in the beginning will help determine which word they say first.Do Babies Mean It When They Say ‘Mama’ And ‘Dada’? Most babies can understand the words’ meaning ‘Mama’ And ‘Dada’ to the right parent by the age of 12 months . Some younger babies may understand the meaning of the words, that is, they learn that the words are used to refer to the primary caregivers the parents. However, it is not uncommon for younger babies to use the words interchangeably to refer to a parent.
How To Encourage Your Baby’s Ability To Communicate? From babbling to using complex gestures, there are so many speech milestones in every baby’s life. the best way is to read to her, play with her, talk to her and limit screen time and electronic toys. Find children’s books that rely heavily on the words ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ and read them often, it can go further than you think.
Remember that each baby is different, and it is okay for a baby to achieve milestones at a different age than their peers. It is one of the most memorable moments when you hear your little one say ‘Mama’ and ‘Dada.’ Most babies achieve this milestone by their first birthday.
You can promote this skill and other language-related milestones through frequent practice with activities. If you have any concerns regarding your baby’s developmental milestones or communication skills, do not hesitate to discuss them with ᴀ ᴘᴇᴅɪᴀᴛʀɪᴄɪᴀɴ on your next visit.
