When Babies Say "Dada"

Do you think they are REALLY saying Dada or just babbling and that's what it sounds like? Emma babbles a TON lately and it sounds like she is saying dadadadadada. Now I know that's not really what she is saying because she doesn't really have a dada so that word doesn't even come up in our house. I don't think daycare would teach her to say it either since they know the situation. I just thought it was interesting. Now if I could get her to say mama!

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

Gillian still really doesnt say dada to often though my dh and I try to encourage it. Honestly, I think the beginning is alot of babble.

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

I think at first they are just babbling and put the sounds together.

But, now at a year old, Steven oftne goes over to DH and says "dada" or will look at him and call him. But at first, he used to call DH mama and dada or vice versa. So, I don't think it means anything in the beginning.

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

At that age it's just babbling and discovering the sounds they can make. For most infants it won't mean anything until they are a little older.

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

It's babble, but when Christopher looks at DH and says it, we say "Good job Buddy!! or something to that effect so maybe he can make the connection.

I try to get him to say MAMA all the time though

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

yup! i think its just babble. i'm a speech therapist, and the "D" is one of the easiest sounds to make- all they have to do is put their tongue on the ridge behind their teeth. so its one of the first ones babies make when they're " playing around" with their tongue and their mouth.
mama is pretty easy, too... they just have to put their lips together. so start working on that one

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

They say babies do not identify their parents when they are saying dada or mama. Not until they are speaking do they mean it.

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

M's, D's, P's and B's are very easy for kids at a young age.

I am sure a lot of kids call a bottle a "baba" because it is one of their first sounds and parents make and reinforce that association for them by bringing them bottles. I wouldnt be surprised if "Mama, "papa" and "dada" came about in the same way. Just a thought.

R's and L's come much later. I am not a speech therapist, but I work with many speech therapists. Many of my students have serious problems with R's and L's.

With my nephew, my name evolved from:

Sessie
to
Wesswie
to
Lesswie
to
Leslie

I was also told that when kids give you a raspberry, it strengthens their oral motor skills and though perceived by many as rude or innappropriate, it may be a good thing.

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

honeslty, it is just osunds.....dd doesn't really say dada still...love moma, moma, moma and more

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

Cailen says da da all the time too...

Heres the thing about language (excuse me as I put my developmental - and behaviorist - hat on and step up on this here ol box...)

all language begins with babbling.... consonants are the easiest thing to do - so sounds like dada, baba, mama wil come out a lot in the beginning....

So, this little baby will start with dadadada, and then they notice this nice guy that they see a lot gets really excited when he makes that sound. And everytime that same sound comes out - what was it again...? Oh yeah - dadada... it keeps happening. Dada must be a good thing to say - things happen when I say it... the sound sticks. It becomes a word. It becomes a word associated with someone who holds them, gives them comfort, hugs,e tc....


Babababa... Whoa - check THIS out - I just made some word and now theres a bottle in my mouth - what WAS that word again.... and speaking of which - theres that awesome lady who does everything for me, and she seems to like it a whole heck of a lot when I make some other random sound... something with mmm....

Thus, langauage develops. Everything has sounds and they become aware of it, since we are social creatures who use language and place a great deal of significance on sound, the formulation of words, and then sentences... Emotional connections are made... Language gets reinforced because we get stuff for using it.

So, long answer. Right now, she is saying some random babbling noise. Since she may not connect that sound with a specific person, it will eventually get replaced with other babbling noises that will become words more meaningful to her - like mama, baba, grandma, etc...

I am fascinated with how children develop language, if you can't tell...

Let me take off my hat now and step off the box.... whoa. Ouch.

Message edited 11/11/2007 8:36:58 PM.

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

DS is saying DaDa constantly...i dont think he is referring to DH---just babbling

Re: When Babies Say "Dada"

Posted by lipglossjunky73

Cailen says da da all the time too...

Heres the thing about language (excuse me as I put my developmental - and behaviorist - hat on and step up on this here ol box...)

all language begins with babbling.... consonants are the easiest thing to do - so sounds like dada, baba, mama wil come out a lot in the beginning....

So, this little baby will start with dadadada, and then they notice this nice guy that they see a lot gets really excited when he makes that sound. And everytime that same sound comes out - what was it again...? Oh yeah - dadada... it keeps happening. Dada must be a good thing to say - things happen when I say it... the sound sticks. It becomes a word. It becomes a word associated with someone who holds them, gives them comfort, hugs,e tc....


Babababa... Whoa - check THIS out - I just made some word and now theres a bottle in my mouth - what WAS that word again.... and speaking of which - theres that awesome lady who does everything for me, and she seems to like it a whole heck of a lot when I make some other random sound... something with mmm....

Thus, langauage develops. Everything has sounds and they become aware of it, since we are social creatures who use language and place a great deal of significance on sound, the formulation of words, and then sentences... Emotional connections are made... Language gets reinforced because we get stuff for using it.

So, long answer. Right now, she is saying some random babbling noise. Since she may not connect that sound with a specific person, it will eventually get replaced with other babbling noises that will become words more meaningful to her - like mama, baba, grandma, etc...

I am fascinated with how children develop language, if you can't tell...

Let me take off my hat now and step off the box.... whoa. Ouch.