My little one, Leo, is almost 8 months now, and lately, he’s started this thing where if I make a certain sound, like a ‘baba’ or even just a clicking noise, he’ll really concentrate and then try to make it back. It’s often not perfect, of course, but the intent is clearly there. It feels like we’re having our first real ‘conversations,’ even if they’re just a string of babbles and garbled sounds.
Sometimes I’ll say ‘Dada,’ and he’ll respond with his version of ‘Mama’ or some other sound he’s got on repeat right then. It’s awesome to watch him try to connect and figure out how to use his voice to respond, almost like he’s trying to mimic what I’m doing.
What kind of sounds or early attempts at ‘talking’ back have your little ones been doing? How do you encourage it, or what do you find they respond to best when you’re trying to get a little vocal back-and-forth going?
Hey man, that’s awesome to hear about Leo! Eight months is a fantastic age for that kind of vocal experimentation. What you’re experiencing, that back-and-forth even if the sounds aren’t exact, that’s the real magic right there.
Don’t get too hung up on him saying ‘Mama’ when you say ‘Dada’ – honestly, the specific sound isn’t the point at this stage. What matters is that he’s engaging, he’s trying to connect, and he’s learning the rhythm and turn-taking of conversation. That intent you’re seeing? That’s gold. He’s figured out that when you make a sound, he can make one back, and that’s a huge developmental leap.
The best way to encourage it is really simple: just keep doing exactly what you’re doing. Respond to his babbling with your own sounds, even if it’s just repeating his ‘baba’ back to him. Narrate your day to him, read books, sing songs, or just chat about whatever’s going on. You’re basically building his understanding of how language works, piece by piece, and showing him that his voice gets a response. You’re laying down the whole foundation for talking. Just enjoy those ‘conversations’ for what they are – pure connection.