Every parent wants a happy baby and enjoys watching their child reach certain milestones. They rejoice with each hurdle their baby tackles. Parents often find that baby development seems to be one of their main concerns. Some milestones that parents watch include baby?s first smile, step, and word. Baby?s every move, whether his first smile or first lost tooth becomes chronicled in a baby book. Almost every parent longingly looks forward to baby?s first word. Many become concerned when their child?s speech is slow to develop.
Experts state that there are statistical norms when it comes to babies? first word and other important speech milestones. However, not every baby is the same, and just because a first child talks at 8 months does not mean that the couple?s next baby will be an early babbler as well. However, parents need to be aware of regular speech milestones so they will know what is normal.
Expect the average baby to start making those adorable cooing sounds around 3 months of age. Many parents notice that by 6 months, their baby begins to make repeated syllable sounds. At this stage, ?mama? and ?dada? are merely speech practice. By a year, the average child might have a two- to three-word vocabulary and will try to imitate other words or sounds. Around 18 months of age, most babies say between 8 and 10 words. They also seem to enjoy reading books and pointing to pictures and objects. By age 2, most toddlers start speaking in simple two- to three-word sentences and start using that much dreaded word, ?mine.? This is the age where parents find that their toddlers add words daily. At this point, many parents wonder why they ever worried about their child?s speech, as the toddler now sometimes talks nonstop. But what should a parent do if their child does not reach these milestones at the expected time, and when should they be concerned?
Normal for one child may not be normal for another. Slightly delayed speech may just be a child?s own way of learning their language. However a child who has not met any of the marks of speech development or who is greatly delayed needs a consultation with their pediatrician. If the doctor feels that the child?s speech is delayed, a specialist will be contacted. These specialists could include other medical specialists, educational experts, or speech pathologists. The pediatrician will want to rule out any medical condition or problem that might be delaying speech. An educational expert can figure out if a child?s development is delayed due to learning issues, which sometimes show up in early development. If the issue is speech deformities or hearing issues, a speech pathologist will be contacted.
Parents need to realize that a happy baby is often a result of a happy parent. Baby development issues stress parents, especially when a child?s speech or mobility is delayed. When doctors assure parents that their baby?s delayed speech is just their own style, parents should learn to enjoy their child despite their concerns. Speech is a natural result of hearing parents and others speak, and before long, baby will catch up with peers and playmates in language development.
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