Is it true that babies work on one skill at a time?

Question

For instance, I have heard that babies work on one thing at a time, like crawling, and then other things, like talking. Just needing some encouragement on my 7 month old baby not "talking" a lot! She is VERY active and I'm not at all worried about her being delayed of any sort, but I want her to babble more than she does! She just looks at me and smiles and laughs when I say Mama or Dada--I feel she understands just fine. My pedi at her 6 month well baby exam didn't seem worried, but said she should be saying consonants. I know there is a broad range of "normal" in baby books. Thanks! (and I'm not trying to hurry her, truly, just a concerned Mom thinking my baby will never say anything!).

Answer 1

I could be wrong, but it may be the sounds you are using or just her mood. Another thing is babies unbelievably take turns, so if your speaking your baby is listening. If you're quit one day, your baby might surprise you. I noticed some parents these days are trying to get their kids to sign; saying babies sign before speaking.
My first son started communicating at three months. He used to say dadada for a diaper change and aniny for a bottle. At five months he added abba for his dad and a many more words came before he finally said mama at 8 months.
My second started with na-ny for food and drink at 5 months and quickly added daddy, amma for mommy, pappa for rice. He didnt learn as many words as his older brother to use independantly but he copies words at times and doesn't use them again. He also refuses to talk when we try to get him to. He'll pick up a phone and say hello and keep the phone off the hook, but if someone's on and we tell him say hello he'll laugh.
I knew one lady who told me she didn't speak till she was ten, 'cause she didnt need to. She said she had ten brothers and sisters and all she ever had to do as the baby was point and they all ran for her.

Answer 2

My daughter is a 12 months and a couple of weeks. This is what I noticed with her development in the past year. Mostly she would concentrate on one thing like rolling over, babbling consanants, etc and then stop for awhile while she started something else. I was a little concerned but she would get back to the babbling, rolling over a couple of weeks later. So, I think they over lap more than mastering one at a time.
As far as her not saying consonants I certainly would not worry. She may wake up tomorrow moring and sepnd the whole day saying "dadadada".

Answer 3

I don't know if you have other children but it sounds like you're a great mum. Spending time with your daughter and watching her grow and develop. She will thrive with the kind of attention you are giving her. Sounds like she is thriving, and if the pedi thinks she's doing well, then at least you've got that reassurance.

As a mother of 4, I'd like to reassure you also. My first 3 didn't start talking until 18mths (my 4th is only 3mths). That's when I say it started anyway. Other people said it started earlier when they were saying mumumumum or dadadada but I just classify that as babble which they start doing at 3mths. The first words of my kids were 'ta' or 'mum'. All 3 were only saying a few words until 2 and then the explosion happened. Now I can't shut them up!

It's possible that your daughter is in absoption phase and when she does talk she'll have an explosion and develop her language in a shorter space of time. It's a bit like those who start toilet training at 18mths and achieve success by 2.5yrs. Others start at 2.5yrs and achieve success in one week!

Another thing you might like to try is signing with your baby. At 7mths they may just be starting to understand signs. By 9mths definitely and they can probably sign some back too at that stage. Just do a search on google for baby signing or ask at your local library. They may have a DVD. It's a fun thing to do with your baby and also help alleviate some of the frustration brought on by language barriers.

Answer 4

yes it is very true. if your baby is trying to learn how to crawl or walk then she wont try to do the talking. Once the baby has mastered what they are concentrating on doing they will go for another thing. It might not be in an order you like but eventually she will get there. Shes completly normal! Dont go by the "normal" baby books. All babies are different and your baby sounds to be doing just fine.

Answer 5

I don't think that's true. I think people think that because once a baby has mastered a skill, they stop doing it and move onto something else.

But to alleviate your fears, my daughter was exactly the same way. She was always way ahead of the game when it came to physical things, but way behind when it came to talking. I've finally realized that I just have a particularly quiet little girl- she talks just fine, just chooses to remain reticent.

Make sure, though, that if she's using a pacifier, you are cutting back on it. I realized a little late that maybe the reason my daughter never talked is because she always had a paci in her mouth.

Answer 6

I achieved my physical milestones very early. Rolling over at 2 weeks, walking at 7mos, etc. My father was convince I was mentally compromised, though, b/c I didn't talk. Other than about 10 words, I didn't talk at all until I was 2 1/2 yrs old...but then I started talking in full, grammatically correct sentences. My baby seems to be similar...pretty physically advanced, but still only does vowel sounds...she sounds like a monkey. :-) She's a bit over 3mos right now, and ONLY concentrates on one skill at a time...right now, it's rolling over and trying to pull herself along on her belly. But, even if she's not talking at a year and a half, I really won't worry. As long as your daughter is achieving in most areas, doesn't seem to have any hearing problems, I wouldn't even begin to worry about this yet.

Answer 7

yes they do concerntrate on one thing at a time, bubs still young let them develope.. my son is 18months and just taught himself how to jump.. he even stopped talking like saying mum and dad cuz he was concerntraing on jumping, now he can jump he talks more, he didnt "talk" till he was like 9-10 months.. they usually stay with a few letters for a while like ga ha da.. things like that.. mine now says hehe hoho haha in a row.. give them time, every child is dif and they all eventually talk..