A Baby’s First Words: Which Are The Most Common?
Starting to talk is one of the biggest milestones in a baby’s development, and it’s a moment that moms and dads look forward to. In fact, most of them happily remember their baby’s first words.
As a rule, babies say their first words between 11 and 18 months and sometimes even earlier. Of course, every child is different and they learn to speak at their own pace. While not all babies begin by saying the same words, there are some words that are more common than others.
In the following article , we will review a baby’s first words as they enter the world of verbal communication.
A baby’s first words – which words are most common?
The first words children say are directly related to their own experiences in the immediate environment, especially within the family unit.
The words that are repeated most by adults, especially parents or primary caregivers, are usually the first words in an infant’s vocabulary.
In general, all mothers and fathers communicate in a similar way with their young children during the first months of life. This is why there are some words that babies tend to choose as their first. Here is a list of the most common.
A baby’s first words related to family members
Many children’s first words are “mother” or “father”. In addition to being simple and easy to pronounce, the terms are used to denote the closest family members that babies are used to interacting with.
Confirmation or rejection
“Yes” and “no” are two of the first words often heard by babies from birth. Whether it is through signs or words, babies quickly learn to express affirmation or rejection. For many, this is the way to launch their vocabulary.
A baby’s first words related to food
One of the basic needs of human beings is to eat. Therefore, it is not surprising that some babies choose to say the name of a food or something related to food when they say their first words. It could be water, for example.
It is also common for babies to say some kind of useful expression to get food, such as “Give me”, “I want”, “More”, etc.
Greetings
Greetings are a sign of courtesy and kindness. It is a social norm that has been passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, there are many babies who have acquired the habit of greeting, who try to pronounce “hello” or “goodbye” as their first word.
Onomatopoeic words
In some cases, a child’s first word is not a word that appears in the dictionary. Instead, it is an onomatopoeic word that is used to name something. For example, it could be “doggie doggie” for dog or “miss” to refer to a cat.
Encouragement for a baby’s first words
The family is the natural context in which children grow and develop all their skills. Because of this , it is essential that it is as enriching and stimulating as possible.
When you encourage your child to say his first words, what should you do? First and foremost, it is important that mothers and fathers establish constant verbal communication with the little ones right from the start when they are born.
As children get older, this way of communicating should become more and more apparent. You need to make sure that you speak in a very expressive way and maintain a high degree of eye contact.
After conversing in this way in the hope that your child will speak, you will hear your child say his first words one day when you least expect it. It is an unforgettable moment that is worth remembering for life!
