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Baby talks but still doesn’t say Mommy
Since our baby uttered his first word, we have been tracking the slightest sound that comes out of his mouth, but we have to face the facts: see you soon 2 years old, baby still does not say “Mom”! We can say to him and repeat to him “Ma-man, ma-man, moi, c’est ma-man”, there is nothing to do. It doesn’t come. How full period of language development, he is the only one in this case at the drop-in center, inevitably, one wonders if this is normal or if there is a problem, like “What is it?” that I did ”or“ Is he late ”. Of course we are worried about a possible delay in language. Calms you !
When baby does not say Mom: no susceptibility!
“We have such a tendency to put precise development patterns in the minds of parents that we immediately cause anxiety in them when their toddler does not fully fit in the boxes”, notes Patricia Chalon, president of the association Enfance majuscule and author of “The fears of the child, understand and reassure” (ed. Eyrolles). However, the psychologist and psychotherapist assures him: “As soon as your little one eats very well and has no oral disorders, there is nothing to worry about. »We still make an appointment with our pediatrician to check that he does not have a hearing problem. Does he hear perfectly? So we take your trouble patiently. It is in fact often with the word “dad” that the child makes its entry into bisyllabic language, “mum” sometimes arriving much later. So no need to self-flag! It doesn’t mean that we are a bad mother or that he doesn’t love us! It just makes it easier for him to pronounce.
Why doesn’t baby say Mom: jealousy in the air?
“Sometimes, he can also avoid the word mom because he spends all his days with her at home and therefore does not need to name her”, also explains Dr Rafi Kojayan, child psychiatrist in Montpellier. This may be the case if the mother has taken long-term parental leave. But if the phenomenon persists after entering a nursery or with the nanny when the baby will need to name his mother there, we may have to look for a psychological cause. If we are pregnant again, for example, it is possible that our “big” sulk out of jealousy. “It also happens that the father has trouble setting limits,” says the specialist. Very present, he takes our place at the bedside of the bathtub as soon as baby begins to repeat “daddy” in his bath and responds to all his requests, so moved, instead of being in solidarity with your maternal position?
What to do when baby does not say Mom: we create special moments
Going to consult a therapist together can then help us to understand how, in our couple, we have each built the bond with our child and to find solutions so that everyone has their place, natural. “Most of the time, rejection only happens in the presence of both parents,” says Dr. Kojayan. “So sometimes it is enough simply to set up individual moments with the child to unblock the situation: let the mother take care of the baby alone for an evening or a weekend, for example. “
Testimony of Mathilde, mother of Sarah
“Sarah had already said daddy for a long time and I admit that I sometimes took offense. But one day, sitting in her high chair, she looked me intently straight in the eyes and pointed her finger at me, exclaiming “Mom” with a huge smile. I would have cried for joy! “