The Mommy/daddy Issue

My son didn't say Mom until he was 2. Although his father wasn't around he was able to make the DA sound long before the MA sound. I think it's perfectly normal. :)

I think all kids say Daddy in some form first. Both my girls said dad/dog as their first words (I can't remember which order). It bothered me for a long time but now it is payback. A month or so ago my 20 month old started saying Mom and Mommy and now thats all she says! Well, she has other words too but she calls my husband mom now also. After months of only hearing Dad, I'm enjoying the "mommy" phase.

My was son doing the same thing for long time. Just now did he start saying mama and he is 18 months. I would say to not to worry. It will come

My little guy who is now just weeks away from being 6 was pretty close to the same. He said MaMa not Dada though and a few other word like dog and that. At 12 months he quit talking completely and he made me really worry about things like autism. When he was just over 2 I got him checked out developmentally and had his hearing tested, everything was great....he just didn't want to talk. At 3 years old he finally started talking and it was in full sentences. He started kindergarten this year and he is totally fine and does great. He has a few things that he says a little odd, but for the most part he is exactly where he should be! Just give her some time and I have learned the hard way, the more you push and try to get her to do what you want, more of the opposite will happen! Good Luck!

Hi C.,

Worry not, it is harder for some children to form the 'm' than the 'd'. She will say it before you know it and then never stop sayingit. Just have fun with her and be in the moment and imagine your surprise when she does say Mama:-)

sometimes they just get stuck on a word that they like. my son did that. he's now 2. i would walk around saying mom...mommy...mama...just hoping that he'd say it. and he does...now. you'll see that she will do that with other words too as time goes on. my son is nwo stuck on the word no. yelling it, whisperinging it, firmly saying it. and i long for the days it was all daddy!!

you are paranoid... my daughter didn't really start talking until 2 1/2 .. every child is different!!
Mommy will come.. eventually.. don't expect much by 15 months some children are still learning to walk.

we've taught our kids the simple signs around this age.. more, please, thankyou, eat, milk, all done!

don't worry.. she'll be talking before you know it and you wont be able to shut her up!! lol.. ;)

Start repeating every sound she makes. Not all the time, but when your playing with her. I did this with my kids and they both started talking at 6-7 months. My son's first word was mama and in the same day dada. My daughter's first word was "ada" for her brother Adam, and shortly following was mama and dada. At first we did think that was her saying dada, but when she actually started saying dada we realized what it was.

Nothing is wrong, every kid is different. She probably even has a way of saying "mommy" for you, just might be different than what your expecting to hear. Listen carefully.

My son did talk MUCH more than my daughter, but he has always been that way. She is catching up now (Kindergartener's do not ever stop talking...haha).

My second son, now two, did this to me as well! I was so stinking irritated by this. UMMM, excuse me Mr. Fruit of My Loins, did I not just lactate on demand for you and give up countless hours of sleep?! How rude! Actually, his first word was bru-bru (brother), then it was Dada. So, I ended up way down on his word list. My husband tried to make me feel better by telling me that my son just didn't see me as a separate entity from himself, therefore I needed no name. Gee, thanks!
Every child is unique and some just talk more than others. You can talk to your daughter and help her by giving everything a name. But you may just check with your peditrician to allay any fears.

Kids at that age, usually just listen to words, practice them, and then store them in their "word bank" for future use. I wouldnt worry to much if she is saying daddy and not mommy, because it is alot harder for children to prounounce to "d" syllable vs. the "m".

Yeah, you're being paranoid :). She WILL say "mommy", and there will be a point where you will wish she never learned the word! My son said a lot of words VERY early on (like 8-9 months), which he didn't say again until he was about your daughters age. Now at 22 months he's already using full sentences. When she gets it, she'll get it. Don't worry.

My first baby girl (Donna) did the same thing to me! Nearly broke my heart . . . Of course, family and friends didn't help, exactly. They picked up on the "game", and it took Donna about ten seconds to figure out she could get a big laugh from everybody if she said "dadda" when I asked her to say mama or mommie or anything remotely like mother.

Took her less than ten seconds to start saying mama without ceasing when her baby sister arrived!!! hahahah

Donna is 22 this year. This is one of our favorite family stories.

I don't know what it means for yours, but Donna turned out to be a total daddy's girl. And she never took to girls or women either.

Just so you know, ALL ENGLISH SPEAKING BABIES SAY DADA FIRST because the sound of "d" and "b" are two of the easiest sounds in language to make.

And babies, by the way, have the ability to make all the requisite sounds for ALL languages . . . they just slowly filter out the ones they don't need for their 'native' language.

You might try playing "deaf and dumb" as a way to require her to try to say mom in order to get your attention. Or you could have another baby girl . . . :]

Don't worry. This is perfectly normal. I asked my kid's doctor once and he said that this is most always a child's first word when he is learning to talk. It has something to do with the way our speech patterns work and has nothing to do with our kids not knowing us. All 4 of my kids did the same thing and all of them where very early talkers. Soon you will be wishing that she would call out daddy more often. Love her and things will progress on her schedule.

I wouldn't worry. Neither of my boys said mommy until they were almost two. They said daddy all the time but not mommy. Try not to let it hurt your feelings. She's not slighting you on purpose. Before you know it, she'll be talking all the time. Don't push her to say it. Use mommy in conversation. Do You want to go with mommy to the store or do you want mommy to give you a bath. It seems redundant but really isn't. Good luck.

My son was the same way and started saying Mommy at around 16/17 months. Before that...he just went ahhhhhh for me... Now is is 23m and says at least 75+ words and pairs 2 and 3 together. The language comes fast! Just be patient.

Hi. My son, who is now two, was kind of a late talker (though he could sign about 125 words by the time he was 18 months). When he started talking he said "dada" and "daddy" but no mamma. Everyone would try to prompt him, but to no avail (he could and would sign "mama"' when he saw me, so I knew he knew the word in relation to me). Later, as he said more words, he called me "ra ra" . That persisted for probably about 6 months or more, but now, at nearly 28 months, he calls me "mommy" or "mama" just fine. (PS: One of his favorite sayings is "go away daddy!").

If you haven't looked into signing with your child, I highly recommend it. Just go to the library and borrow the videos in the "Signing Time" series. You and your daugther will be signing together in no time flat!

NORMAL! I believe its because we are there all the time and there is no reason to call us, we respond to any noise and even sometimes before they do. My son did the same thing. Exept, I had to leave him at a babysitters and they said he stood at the window and cryed mamamamama after I left. He knew who I was, just had no reason to call me by name. I mean, if there is only 2 people around you dont use the other persons name. It will happen dont worry.

My 16 month old boy just started saying Mommy this week! He's been saying versions of daddy for months. I think D's are easier (dog was one of his first words).

I'm in the Tualatin/Lake Oswego area if you want to meet up?

B.
(____@____.com)

my 26 month old twins JUST started calling me momma maybe a week or 2 ago.. before that it was screeching at the top of their lungs to get my attention because they were just saying "daa.."
several times and I wouldnt realize they were trying to tellme something.
It is so much nicer now not to hear the scream, just "momma!"

I was a SAHM and my daughter did the same thing. I have been told that it was normal since she was with me all day and only saw Daddy when he was home from work. Don't worry she will say Mommy soon.

My 13 month old says Nana and Dad, and never really ever says mom or mommy, although on very rare occasions he might and I'm not even sure those aren't accidents! Don't worry with all of my kids, there are 7, mommy was one on the last milestone words they ever said. Maybe it's because they are secure in the fact that we will always answer to there needs no matter what they say and/or do. Also my know 3 year old rarley said any words up until she turned 2 and know she has the vocabulary of an adult.....not always the best vocab either :).

I'd say if you have no other development issues, then there most likey isn't any thing to worry about.

I would not say you are paranoid, but keep an eye on it. My 3 year old son used to talk up a storm.(at and before 12 months) Have a large vocabulary, and seemed to be progressing for the most part. By the time he was 18 months, he had lost most of the words he used. By 24 months he only screamed and whined for things. He was diagnosed with autism. It is more common in boys than girls. I am not trying to scare you, just keep an eye on it. If you feel that she is not progressing, talk with you pediatrician. During her 18 month check up, they will ask you about her vocab. She should be able to say at least 50 words. (Not always totally understandable)

Of course there are other things that go along with the loss of speach. Things I just over looked and had thought nothing of it until brought to my attention.

Best of luck!

This is something my son did too. He was saying daddy forever before he would say mommy. Its because the hard sounds are eaiser to say than the soft sounds so until they get it masteed daddy will be first. Dont worry she will get it and the first time will be awesome.

Children say what they need to say. If you look at twins, often one will talk before the other because the one says everything that the non-talking one needs to say. It is the same idea with singles. Your daughter may not need to say your name because she has no reason to get your attention. If you are giving her all the attention that she needs, there is really no need for her to say mommy. It may just be that you are providing very well for her and although she knows your name, she really has no need to say it. So good job! Keep up the good work. She will say it eventually!