When Do Babies Say Their First Word?
When do babies say their first word? My infant makes a number of cooing noises and it sounds like she wants to talk to me, but I am not exactly sure when she will say her first actual word.
Babies begin communicating with us from the time they are born, but they don’t need to use words to get their message across. A baby will cry or scream because they are hungry, need a diaper change, may not be feeling well, or could simply be bored and want attention. While there can be a communication breakdown between baby and parent with these screams, when an infant cries there is always a reason behind it. Essentially the cries are a way of telling you something is wrong.
The Development Of Language In Babies
Experts are still unsure of exactly how babies learn to talk, but the development of a baby in his or her first year is truly a remarkable thing, especially how rapidly their vocabulary increases from month to month after the first year.
Babies essentially learn from their environment and will try to mimic the things you do, including the words you say. A young baby may sit on your lap and try to converse with you and respond with coos and babble to what you are saying to her. It is important that you give your baby time to “respond” back to you, by not constantly talking. When talking to a baby, always pause for their reaction and let him or her finish cooing before you speak again.
Exactly when your baby will say his or her first real words can vary from infant to infant, but in general, most will speak their first audible words by the time they are a year old.
Typical Month By Month Language Development In Babies
3-6 months – around 3 months your baby will coo and attempt to converse with you in his own way. It can be quite a fascinating time for many parents as your baby is clearly interesting in what you have to say and is generally more alert than the first couple of months. Your baby will respond to your voice with smiles and may even turn his head to find you when you call his name. As your baby reaches 6 months, he will begin to experiment with different sounds and it is important to continue to speak to him in a conversational tone. You may find that you can make out certain words such as “dada”.
9-12 months – by 9 months your baby is continuing to use new sounds and will also start to understand when you tell him simple requests such as “yes” or no”. By 12 months he can say a few simple, clearly audible words and understand basic language and may respond to such questions as “are you hungry?”
Again not all babies develop at the same rate, but if you are afraid your baby is skipping any important language milestones, never hesitate to raise these concerns with your doctor.
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