A Child’s First Words: What Are The Most Common?

Starting to talk is one of the biggest milestones in a child’s development, and it’s a moment that many moms and dads look forward to with great anticipation. In fact, most people remember their child’s first words with joy.

Usually  children say their first words between 11 and 18 months and sometimes even earlier. But of course, each child is unique and learns to speak at their own pace. Although not all children start by saying the same word, there are some that are more common than others.

In the following article, we will take a closer look at children’s first words.

The first words mark an important milestone in a child’s life, but also for his or her parents. From that moment on, the opportunities for communication are many times greater.

A child’s first words: What are the most common?

The first words children say are directly related to their own experiences in the immediate immediate environment, especially within the family.

The words most often repeated by adults, especially parents or other primary caregivers, are usually the first words in a child’s vocabulary.

In general, all mothers and fathers communicate in the same way with their little ones during the first months of life. This is why there are some words that infants tend to choose as their first more often than others. Here is a list of the most common.

A child’s first words – related to family members

Many children’s first words are “mom” and “dad”. In addition to being simple and easy to pronounce, as they are a repetition of two identical syllables, they are words used to denote the immediate family members with whom children are accustomed to interacting.

Yes and no

Your child’s first words related to food

One of man’s most basic needs is food. So it is not surprising that some children choose to say the name of food or something related to when they eat as the first word, such as “water”, “well” (for their baby bottle with gruel).

It is also common for young children to say a useful expression for getting food, such as “give me”, “want”, “more” etc.

Greetings

Greetings are a sign of courtesy and interaction. It is a social norm that we pass on from generation to generation. Because of this, many children who have become accustomed to greeting people try to say “hello” or “goodbye” as their first word.

Onomatopoeic words

In some cases, a child’s first word is not a word as we can read it in the dictionary, but an onomatopoeic word that they use to name something. For example, “doggy doggy” for a dog or “meow meow” when they mean a cat.

Encourage your child’s first words

The family is the natural context in which children grow and develop all their abilities. Therefore, it is important that the home is as enriching and stimulating as possible.

So when you encourage your child to say their first words, what can you do? It is important that mothers and fathers maintain a continuous verbal communication with the small child from birth.

As they get older, this way of communicating should become clearer and clearer. Make sure you speak in a very expressive way and maintain eye contact.

During the first months of life, it is important to be patient and not give up hope that your child will start talking. And so, one day, when you least expect it, you hear your child say his first word. It is an unforgettable moment that is worth remembering for life!