Baby Babbles

[Anonymous]

I keep reading that at 6 months, babies should be babbling, like ga, ma, na type of consonants. Our 6 month old apparently does ba ba a little at daycare with the other kids, but not at all with us. She'll shriek, a little laugh sometimes, and do these funny grunts, but not any real consonant sounds. She did the sounds briefly at about 3 months to her toys, but now she seems to be either observing, or chewing on something (teething). Some days, she doesn't even say much at daycare - and the daycare provider has noted all this to me and is a little concerned. Should I make a ped's appt (just had the 6 month and forgot to bring it up)? Or just see how it goes until 9 months? We are regularly singing and emphasizing basic sounds for her and she seems to listen. She is attentive and otherwise healthy and smiley. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Just wait it out. Some kids take longer with the babbling/talking than others. Mine is 11 months and still doesn't babble much, but I know he CAN (I catch him doing Da, Ba, Wa, Bay, Ga, etc sounds, sometimes two syllables) At 6 months he was doing what yours is.

[NannyM]

All babies and children develop at different rates. I wouldn't be too concerned with this, so my advice would be just wait it out and bring it up at the 9 month appointment if it's still an issue.

Another thought... Does she get a lot of ear infections? A little boy I cared for frequently got them and after getting tubes he started 'talking' more and more.

[Anonymous]

I'd say wait it out--your baby is within normal. My DS is now 9 months old and didn't truly bable until just before 8 months. At the 6 month visit (when DS wasn't babbling), the ped said she wasn't concerned and that we'd check in at the 9 month. As long as your DD is verbal (can use her voice to express pleasure/displeasure--grunts, coos, screeching), I wouldn't worry and woud just focus on speaking and speaking frequently to her.

[Anonymous]

My first one was babbling like crazy by 6 months, but my second didn't start at ALL until about 7-8 months. Now at 9 months she babbles a lot, although not nearly as much as my first did. I'd give it a bit more time, don't worry yet.

[Anonymous]

Oop here, thanks for the thoughts. No ear infections thankfully.....