Why doesn't my 5 1/2 month old "talk"?

My son is 5 months and 19 days old, and I've noticed recently that he doesn't coo or babble. He used to, up until maybe a month ago. I try to talk to him, I repeat "mama" over and over and I tell him I love him and when he fusses I ask him whats wrong. When I put him in the stroller or car seat I tell him where we're going and what we're going to do. I play patty cake with him and point to his mouth, nose, etc. and say what they are. But he doesn't verbal interact with me at all. He smiles all the time and laughs when I tickle him or make a funny noise, but he doesn't coo or babble at all. Is this something I should be worried about? Is there anything else I can do to get him to develop his communication skills?

2011-06-28T10:36:10Z

of course every child starts at different times, my concern is that he used to coo and babble and now he doesn't.

elementoflife2011-06-28T10:42:01Z

Favorite Answer

My son did the exact same thing right around that time too. Don't worry at all about it because all of a sudden, he's going to burst with tons of babbling and making new sounds. I think my little guy started saying 'Baa Baa' at about 6.5 months and from then on it was amazing how many new sounds he made. I think that maybe they start to realize around 5 months that there are different sounds and they might be internalizing them. Once they 'get it' then they start trying those sounds on their own.

Keep doing what you're doing by talking to him and telling him where you are going and what you are doing! They listen and they absorb everything! My little guy is now 13 months and is mister talky-talky and says a bunch of words (although his favourite is 'ball' right now - so everything is an enthusiastic "BALL" but two weeks ago it was all "PUPPY" lol).

?2011-06-28T17:32:39Z

Every child starts at a different age.

Anonymous2011-06-28T17:36:25Z

Little soon to be worried don't you think? My nephew was quiet until he was 8 months old, give it time.

?2011-06-28T17:37:24Z

Was he vaccinated? He may have had a negative reaction to a vaccine and suffered some kind of permanent damage as a result
if not, then I'm not sure.

Quinn Hemenway2011-06-28T17:33:00Z

He could be just a quiet kid. If youre really worrying about it just see a doctor, it's what they're for(: