babies and language development

[eternidad200]

All righty friends, I wonder how are your babies doing on their language development. James cooes a lot, he does not babbles much thought, he says ahhhhhggg, mahhhhh, mahhh, bahh  things like that but mostly he makes a lot of squealing loud noises, like grhhhhhh, grhhhh, gihhhhhhh, gehhhhh, arghhhhh, arghhhhhhh, grohhhhhhh. and he sounds a lot like a singing bird mostly when he wakes up in the morning and he is looking at his mobile friends. I worry he is not babbling much but cooing and squealing more, any suggestions.

Are you guys doing anything to encourage them to learn we read books, sing and talk to him a lot, hope I am doing the right thing.

[zazou]

Babies don't know what they are saying at this stage. Usually at the earliest, an honest mama or dada comes at 9 months but they are experimenting with consonants and sounds at the moment. I speak to Medina in Arabic, my husband in German and we talk to each other in German or English. We decided that we will be living in Sydney anyway soon where she will pick up on it. Children can learn several languages at once and as long as each parent stays consistent with one, it is fine.

I read to Medina and she recognises some words already. She recognized cat at the end of 4 months / beginning of 5 months, when I ask where is the cat, she looks at them (we have two, she loves them). She recognises the word water (she loves water), when I tell her to open the wardrobe door she reaches towards it (lol, so cute), when I put her plush elephant and dog in front of her, she usually recognises which word belongs to which about 80% of the time. Most babies sart recognieing words at around 6 months. The key is to talk normally with your baby, describe what you do, point out things. I have small picture books, go through them every once in a while. We read alot (in both English and Arabic).

Unfortunately they won't be saying much to us in te next year but will be great when they say mama with real meaning for the first time :-)

[Tasia32]

So JT says mamamamamama a lot these days he still coos and gurgles a bit but he has been trying to talk and I have also been doing what you ladies have been doing! Just keep on doing what you are doing eternidad!

[Dani711]

I think you are doing just fine!  There is no reason to be worried at this point.  The only thing to do is spend time with them and have fun and love them.  I was just on the phone with my friend and here "baby' was going ....mama, mama, mama....over and over.  She laughed and said "yeah, we all want them to say it and then they don't stop" LO!

[ladybugbob1029]

We read and sing and talk as well.  Cash is doing the exact same thing though.  Lots of vowels.  Ahhhhhhing, and gurgling and squealing and cooing.  He only lets the consonants out when he is really upset - which isn't often bc he only really fusses when he's hungry or sleepy.
II've been worried about it as well, but now not so much since you all seem to be experiencing the same things.  We go over colors and we always describe what we are doing when we are around him but not playing with him.  And we read everyday.  I think at this point what we are all doing is all we can do.

[eternidad200]

it makes sense, so I am going to try and not respond when he says grhhhh, or anything like that, I do talk to him and go over vowels also we look at colors and read outloud a lot. he too like to experiment with his voice and try out quite loud.

I also like the idea of pointing out at things and naming them like in the grocery store.

[Dani711]

Here is a great tip I got from our ped.  He said that when they say any vowel sounding words to talk right back to him.  Respond right away.  BUT if they say grrrrr or cough, to make sure to ignore it or if it is any noise other than a vowel.  When a baby coughs or grrssss it is sure to get everyone looking at him and they think they are "talking"...then pretty soon they are one years old and walking around grrrr'ing and coughing.  I have seen it!  I have a cousin who's kid does it all the time so it totally makes sense to me, and he is two!
I spend tons of time saying and sounding out vowels and go over colors and spelling.  I was talking WAY early and my mom said that is what she did with me.  Colter does make all kinds of noise...babbles and talks when he wants something and yesterday started to experement with how LOUD he can make noises LO!

[kaprovea]

From what I have read you are doing the right thing.  Maybe when you talk to him encourage him to respond to you.  I also feel like my son is cooing a lot but not doing a lot of babbling.  When he first started to tlak he was talking a lot but now he isn't really saying a lot.  He will kind of say aaahh aaahhh a lot and not really saying ah-goo like he was originally.  They say to talk to your baby and when you go to the grocery store talk about what you are getting.  Or when you go anywhere talk about what you are seeing and what you are doing.