Not Saying "Mama" Yet...

Updated on September 02, 2008
K.M. asks from Oxford, MI
16 answers

Hi, I have a 14 month old daughter who can say "dada", "eyes", "cheese", etc., but will not say "Mama"...has anyone else experienced this?!? I've heard her make the "mmm" noise and when she would cry when she was younger she would say "mamama". So, I know she can say it! Any advice???

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M.M.

answers from Detroit on

yeah :) totally normal sorry :) they say what they want when they want - welcome to baby parenthood! we have kitty and almost doggy and thats about it - though we can do a D and an M sound kitty is more important to say lol

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C.M.

answers from Detroit on

It seems so unfair! I think every baby I have known over the years was late saying mama. No big deal...she'll say it eventually.

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H.F.

answers from Detroit on

My son is 16 months old and he just started saying "mommy" this week. He skipped right over "mama". I think he was probably sneaking and saying "mama" behind my back in his bedroom and just laughing at me -- LOL. I think they operate on their own schedule. She's saying some words, so I'm sure she's fine. Besides, once she starts calling you she's never going to stop. Enjoy it while it lasts :)

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K.S.

answers from Detroit on

My daughter, whom will be 16 months on Wednesday, just started saying Mama, or "Mamaee" (not sure how to spell that it is her word". She also said mama alot when she was little, but then kindof stopped sayinging. But since she has started saying it these past couple of weeks, I can tell she is directing it at me. So, my advice is be patient, it shouldn't be much longer.

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L.C.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hi, When my daughter started talking she said ma and mama a lot. When she started saying other words, she stopped saying mama. She called me dada for a long time. Both my husband and I were dada to her. It hurt my feelings and frustrated me for a while. Eventually mama came back (probably because I kept repeating it to her!) I wouldn't worry to much for now, but keep an eye on her hearing and illnesses. My children both had many ear infections which probably caused delayed speech. If they are congested, they don't here clearly causing some problems with speech development. If you have any questions about this call Early On through your local school district. If any of this sounds familiar and would like more information please contact me.

After reading some other responses, I remember telling my husband, as he was thinking it was funny when she called me dada, that she said dada because I said it. He never called my mom or mama when talking to me or about me. After getting angry with him one of those days, he did start using mom and mama and I think it helped.

Hang in there, Good Luck
L.

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S.G.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I know what you mean. My son is 13 months old and has the same problem. He knows how to say it, but usually only when he is upset. I don't know how to encourage him any more than I already am. When he is talking and saying his "dada" or "dog" or even "down" (we're really getting that one down, lol) I try to get him to say "mama". Once in a while it works but for now no more than the "mmm". If you figure it out please let me know. All I can say is keep working at it. Repetition is the key or so I've heard. Good Luck

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T.K.

answers from Detroit on

All children "forget" things they once could do as they learn new things, speech is often one of the first things to "suffer". Your daughter knows she doesn't need to say your name to get your attention anyway :) While she's on this hiatus from "mama" be content knowing that she's working on learning many new things, and that "mama" will return eventually... Though probably not as soon as you might like :)

...Babies! They never do anything when you want them too! (like they always poop in thier diaper immediately before or after you have to walk out the door - who wants that?!?)... :)

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R.K.

answers from Detroit on

My daughter did a similar thing, she always talked about Dadda or Daddy but didn't say Mama half as often...I finally realized that she heard me talking about Daddy all day while he was gone, but I hardly ever said my own name. I started referring to myself in 3rd person...saying things like "Mamma is going to get your lunch ready" "Help Mamma pick up your toys" stuff like that. It didn't make Mamma her favorite word, but I did start hearing it more often. Good luck!! (By the time she's 2 you'll want to change your name anyway...I swear if I hear Mama one more time!!!)

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M.H.

answers from Detroit on

My son didn't say mama until he was two! He called me "bob" or sometimes "baba", but "mama" didn't happen until right around his second birthday. He, also, had said M sounds when he was babbling, but it took him a long time to use that sound in words. Of course, he said "daddy" many months earlier. Now my son is almost three and follows me around all day saying, "Mama? Mama? Mama!" Don't worry, she'll say it!

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K.B.

answers from Lansing on

My sister has a 14 month old son and is in the same boat!! He says "dada" and "cheese". My three year old son was talking paragraph's at 13 months and my 2 1/2 year old daughter hardly said a word until about 6 months ago and now talks up a storm and speaks for everyone ;) Unless you have reason to believe she has a hearing problem, I would say normal and they all develop at their own pace. Not that that helps you feel better about your daughter not calling you mama....good luck!!

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A.S.

answers from Detroit on

my son is 3 and for the last year he's called me baba and before that nothing.just recently started calling me mama.but he couldn't say anything with m's.she'll say it.

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K.B.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hi K. :)
I just wanted to let you know that I too, had the same situation with my second son... who is now almost 22 months old. Please try not to worry or be frustrated, I have come to learn that children do everything in their own time. And believe me when I say that the day will come... my son says Mommy now all the time and from my own experience, I can tell you that once your daughter calls you Mommy, it will be worth the wait! As for advice, I would say the best way for your daughter to pick up on words you want her to say is to repeat them. For the word "Mommy" specifically, be sure you are talking to her all the time, telling her what you are doing... ex: "Mommy is going to change your diaper and then Mommy is going to wash her hands" or "Mommy loves you!" I hope this helps!

K. :)

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D.

answers from Detroit on

i know its a very anticipated and fulfilling thing for your baby to say your name, but try not to worry about it. She is not behind or anything, just hasnt felt the need apparently. my neice was the same way. when she was younger and jabbering she would say mamma (or scream it i should say) when my sister would leave the room and then once she turned one she would never say it, only dadda and a few others. then around 18 months she started saying it again along with a lot of other things and she is 2+ now and talks up a storm. once she says it, she will wear it out:)

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V.K.

answers from Saginaw on

We had this same issue. Mama was my son's first word, then all of a sudden he stopped saying it. No matter how much we encouraged, repeated, etc. he refused to say it for months. Then a couple of weeks ago he started saying it again nonstop, LOL. So don't worry, especially if it was there - it will be back :)

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S.C.

answers from Lansing on

What kind of advice are you looking for? You can't make her say 'mama'! She'll say it when she's ready. The 'm' sound is difficult to make.

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H.Z.

answers from Saginaw on

My daughter is about to turn 15 months old and just started saying "mama" a couple of weeks ago. For the longest time, my husband would say, "can you say mama?" and immediately back - "dada!" But he said it all the time, which probably helped her to learn it. And now, when he asks her to say dada, she says mama. =)

Ask your husband to refer to you as mama - I personally think babies think of us as an extension of them for a long time!

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