Is this a loss of a skill?

[snadaska]

My 11 month old used to be able to repeat "mama" after I said it. Not that often but occasionally (and for whatever reason only in her high chair) no she can't really do it. She either says "mamama" or "mammmm" Maybe twice I have gotten her to say it again and it is not as clear as before.

Right after she started saying it she learned how to crawl and then started to learn how to walk. I don't know if that is relevant.

Anyway, I am worried about her. And also worried that she does not have a first word yet and turned 11 months 2 days ago. The Sears baby book says 1-3 words by 12 months.

What do you all think?

[Knitting Mama]

Wouldn't "mamama" and "mammmm" still count as a word, since they're an approximation of the "correct" word and she uses them to refer to you?

[Abraisme]

I think it's TOTALLY normal. There are a lot of kids that don't say any words by 11mo. My DD used to repeat Mama as well and now she's on to bigger and better things. It's really, really common.

[ErinYay]

I wouldn't worry about it at all. Dropping verbalizing to focus on physical stuff is very normal (DD did it when she started crawling, and is now babbling a bit (7 mo) but is still putting a lot of energy into fine and gross motor.)

According to the Denver Developmental chart, which is used by many, if not most, peds to catch developmental delays, the range of "normal" for one word is around 9-18 months.

Careful, it's a PDF.

[KempsMama]

Ds1 would learn and drop sounds frequently at that age. HIs first words , said at around 5 months, were no longer in his vocabulary by 12 months. They had either been replaced with another word closer to the actual pronunciation, or he no longer had a use for them.

Don't get hung up on her first words sounding exactly like the real word. If she attaches a sound to a person, place, thing, toy, whatever, then that's her "word" for it.

[MamieCole]

No way did my DS1 have 1-3 spoken words by 12 months. But he had tons of sign language, which totally counts toward vocabulary. He didn't say "real" words until well into his second year and didn't use sentences until 2. I never worried for a second, as he had no trouble communicating.
I don't think you have anything to worry about. Sometimes putting down the book and just trusting your gut is the best thing to do.

[dakotablue]

Totally normal, could it technically be regression. Sure. But it is common to regress temporarily in one area while another is being worked on. Most commonly verbalization goes in favor of physicality.

Here's a new article about play regression while learning to walk.

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2007/05/30/25736.aspx

[Tway]

My DD, who is 9 months old, can point, clap, snap her fingers, mimic brushing her hair, show me things when I ask, shake a rattle when I say "shake!", and more. But you think she'll say mama? Or even point at me when I say "where's mama?". HA! I think she thinks we're one and the same, or else I'm terribly boring and not worth the effort. Honestly, she'll pick up a new skill in a day, but still refuses to speak--even though I know she can dadada and mamama (cause she's done it a few times before).

I'd say just give it time!

[donutmolly]

I wouldn't worry at all.

DD1 (now 5yo and clearly very verbal -- ie, never stops talking) would say a word and not say it again for months when she was starting to talk. I thought it was odd, but I guess she was just working on other things. I don't think she said any words at 11 mo, it was probably more like 13 mo. And as I said, she talks like crazy now and has an incredible vocabulary.

[Pookietooth]

I think repeating sounds is not really considered talking, it's just practice. She didn't actually know that she was saying mama.

[marge234]

If you're worried, you can contact EI and have DD evaluated.

[ElliesMomma]

first baby? relax.
if this is the only "issue" going on, there's nothing to worry about.

[Plarka]

Originally Posted by Pookietooth

I think repeating sounds is not really considered talking, it's just practice. She didn't actually know that she was saying mama.

That's what I thought when dd1, at 10 months, could repeat 'blue' and 'two' after me for a few days. Then she never did it again and started talking at 14 months. Now she's 3 and speaks like an adult!

[strawberryprincess]

just wanted to add that it is my experience and my personal theory that toddlers tend to focus on either movements (crawling or walking) or talking. and get one skill down before moving on to the other. dd talked really really early (full sentences before 18mo) but didn't walk til around then either. ds1 walked by 12mo, but had 1 or 2 words til 18mo. By 2 he was using full sentences and very clearly (everyone could understand him).

I don't think your baby is regressing so much as trying out new/different skills. Often these things are just a blip in the whole progression of learning...though it can be difficult to distinguish between a true problem and just a "blip"

[Dov'sMom]

Both of my boys would "forget" words when they were learning something else -- even if it was justa new word. DS1 said "bye" and waved at 9 months, dropped it at 10 months, and didn't say another word until 13 months (including mama and dada -- didn't say mama until 15 months) and by 2 was talking in full sentences of 10-12 words. Totally normal.