WHAT TYPE OF BABIES SAY “MAMA”?
First, consider whether your baby is old enough to say “mama” and is ready to speak. Babies begin to say words like “mama” or “dada” by 12 months. It might be worth waiting a bit longer if they still need to be ready.
When your baby is 12 months old, be patient and remember that babies talk. Babies and toddlers are not afraid to confront us. It could be that they would like to speak less. This could be due to a need for foundational skills that are required for speaking.
What to do if your baby won’t say “MAMA.”
We want you to start by not putting too much pressure on yourself. Communication should be fun and lighthearted. Your child can often feel stress. This is usually a result of a deep, well-meaning desire to hear you say “mama,” but it can also cause stress. They shut down.
Try to be a mama by using the playful and fun ways we have outlined. Your child will be more motivated by them! Remember that children need repetition, so all the repetition that you do with them will pay off. Keep at it, and don’t let it become a stressful situation.
WORK ON THE M SOUND
You can tell if your baby isn’t saying “mama” yet, but they seem ready. Please pay attention to their babbling and play with their voice. Are you hearing them make an /m/ sound all the time? Skip to step 2.
If they don’t know it or it’s not common, “mama” will be more complicated for them to pronounce until they do. Play with a /m/ sound at mealtimes or pretend food during play. You can exaggerate by saying “Mmmmm!” after you eat. There is no pressure. Just model the sound and draw attention to your mouth. When you do it, it helps to be animated!
Mirror play can help your child learn the /m/ sound. Remember to have fun, be silly and keep it light.
MAKE A PHOTO BOOK
It’s great to practice names, including Mama, by creating a photo album of all the people living in your home. We recommend small photo books you can purchase at the dollar store to keep it simple. This is more of a toy than a treasure.
You can “read” the photo book with your child by holding a photo of yourself on your face. You’re drawing attention toward your mouth and allowing yourself to say, “Mama!” Dramatically, that’s Mama! If someone reads to your child, they might say, “That’s Mama!” Hi Mama!”
You will do well if you keep it low-pressure and just model, model!
INTRODUCE SIGN LANGUAGE
Teaching sign language to toddlers and babies is a joy. Model the sign repeatedly for mommy. This can be done with any of the abovementioned ideas, such as the photo album. You’ll need to use both sign language and spoken word when you point at Mama.
