What counts as a first word?

[mambera]

I'm trying to record dd's milestones for a baby book and I'm not sure what to count as 'talking'? So far she's been babbling a lot but nothing I would really count as a word.

Yesterday my DH was eating some fruit and not giving her any. She sat there with her mouth open for a while. Eventually when he still didn't give her any she said "NOM NOM NOM!!" really emphatically. It was super cute, and in fact we have been saying "Nom nom nom" when we feed her so I guess she thinks that means 'food' now. So is that talking or not, or what? It seems to be a word in that it's a vocalization that stands for something, but it sure isn't anything in any of the 3 languages that she hears on a regular basis.

[jess5377]

I'd call that a word and a great one at that.

Congrats!

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

I'm wondering this too. My DD says "mama" exclusively when she's sad and wants me, "dada" when she's happy and playing, and "naynay" whenever she wants to nurse. A couple of people have said that's talking, but I don't think she has the concept of a name down. These are meaningful vocalizations. Does that count?