Baby's First Sounds

I think this is normal. My DD would stop a skill she just mastered so she could concentrate on a new one. It all came back to her later. One example I clearly remember was rolling over. I think she did it with laughing too.

Hi J., I guess our first time we all get concerned. I know babies really focus on something when they first make a discovery. It could be just that. Keep talking to him, smiling at him and laughing, singing, etc. I'm sure he will go back to the sounds he was making and more. Some day you will say " I can't get him to stop for a minute" My five are all grown now but I know I stressed over many thing that were nothing after all. Good wishes, Grandma Mary

My son was the same thing. He would kind of go through phases where he would make one sound ( or other skills) constantly and then just stop saying it all together and start something new. Later he would go back and start saying it again.
But you could mention it to your pediatrician next visit just to make sure.

Hi J.,

The same thing happened to us -- one day my 7-month-old son was babbling and then he stopped. I thought it was because we were away from other kids during the holidays but a little while later, he was talking away again. I don't know the cause (and I'd always thought once the talking started it would continue consistently) but a friend told me that so much is going on developmentally at that age, that it's common for a new skill to replace an older one and that they will go back to it once they've mastered the new one (like cruising). At any rate, it was totally normal with our son and sounds the same with yours.

Best wishes,
K.

Hi J.
I am so glad that we have this source of communication (you know it takes a village). Thanks be to God.
Please be sure that you seek medical advice from your paediatrician. This could turn out to be a very serious situation. I have experience with two such cases in my church and family community - of course they both had been actually saying many more words until 2 and 3 years old before the deficiency became more noticeable. They develop physically in every other way and parents can tend to think they are developing more slowly than others and this may not be so. The earlier the true situation is evaluated is the difference between correcting successfully, a problem that could really develop into a mentally challenged child, especially since early detection and therapy could make such a big difference. God bless and guide you and yours.
F. G

Hi, I am a speech pathologist and a mom. Yes it is normal for flucuations in development before a growth spert, however "losing" words and vocabulary is a warning signal to serious issues. Listen to your gut, do not go into denial or let people tell you its ok when your gut is worried. Tell your pediatrician (this can be just a phone call) that you would like a referral for a speech evaluation. This is covered by the state, free to you, and it very painless to your child! Usually your child thinks that it is just playing. At the end of the evaluation the therapist will tell you what she thinks and even if everything is totally fine she will give you ideas and help you understand what to expect next.
If you are writing on here then it sounds like you already are concerned. Good luck and it is likely that everything is fine, but its easy and fun to get it checked out.

My daughter is also 6 months going on 7 months and she also started saying da da and other like sounds and stopped. My doctor informed us it's completely normal. Right now her new thing is concentrating on putting her feet and everthing else in her mouth! And I've been told this is the perfect age to start teaching her sign language so we're currently working on the words: mommy, daddy, more and love. Enjoy every moment!

If you tickle him does he laugh out loud? If not, I'd have him checked.

My daughter goes in cycles, it seems that when she has discovered something new, like you said your son found his tongue, they are so engrossed with that "new" thing that they kind of forget they can do other things for awhile. Mine is a screamer, (happy scream) and she went quiet for almost 2 weeks and I did getworried, but then she started back up again. Afterwards I realized it was when she had become VERY mobile, crawling everywhere, so I figure she was just so interested in this new activity that she didn't need to be so vocal for awhile. HA HA.

Hi,
This is totally normal. When babies feel they have mastered a sound,they store it in their memory and move onto other things. Don't be worried.But as always....if in doubt- give your doc a shout !!!
Keep us posted.
N.

Have you been seeing a Pediatrician on a regular basis? Did he have his hearing checked as a newborn (typically this is a routine screen done in the hospital before baby comes home)? Does he respond to loud or startling sounds? You can take a rattle and shake it off to his side out of his sight and see if he turns toward the sound. What you really need to do though is make an appt with your Dr and address this concern. Hope everything is OK!

My son and daughter both did the same thing and around the same time. It was right before they got their teeth. THen it happened again right before my daughter learned to crawl. It was almost as if she was so determined to crawl she forgot to have fun! It is probably just a phase especailly if he isn't crying or uncomfortable. Maybe he'll burst out with a few more words next week!!!

My first daughter was 10 months when she started using words and by her 1st birthday she had about 40 words she used regularly. Afout one week after her birthday she STOPPED talking all together. After a few weeks of silence it was a huge concern and called my dr. He said don't worry, I tought her some sign language and she created some signs of her own. At 2 still no talking and I saw a speech specialist. She understood EVERYTHING but didn't talk. She had speech therapy for 9 months and had cought up and passed the "normals" for her age. The speech therapist said that there brain is learning so fast that sometimes something gets put on hold. For my daughter it was speech. She was 3 when they did the final evalution and was testing as a 6 year old in understanding and 5yo in her speech. My point is don't panick but if you are real concerned see your doctor.
If there are other things going "backward" like making eye contact, socialness, avoiding contact with ones he would normally interact with (hugs and kisses for you, dad, grandparents ?), or if you think he isn't hearing and understanding you then you may want to call your dr. again. The probability is he probably is learning other things and doesn't feel the need to make noise. A.