Theories on why kids say dada first
There are several theories as to why babies often say “dada” before “mama” as their first word:
- “Dada” is easier to say – The sounds “d” and “a” are among the easiest for babies to articulate, which may explain why they say “dada” earlier.
- Dads engage more in play – Fathers often spend more time playing with their babies which may motivate them to say “dada.”
- Moms do more caregiving – Mothers spend more time feeding and caring for babies which doesn’t encourage as much back-and-forth communication.
- Dads imitate babies more – Fathers may imitate their baby’s early vocalizations more often which encourages them to respond back with “dada.”
- Baby boys say dada first – Male babies are more likely to say “dada” first compared to females, possibly due to gender identification.
While these theories may explain the tendency, individual factors like a baby’s personality, motor skills, and family dynamics also likely influence the first word.
When do babies start saying dada?
Most babies say their first word around their 1st birthday. However, there is a wide range of ages:
- 25% say their first word by 10 months
- 50% by 12 months
- 75% by 15 months
- 90% by 18 months
For babies saying “dada” first, research shows:
- 3-8 months – babies will playfully babble sounds like “da da da”
- 8-12 months – babies associate sounds like “da” with their father and may say it meaningfully
- 10-15 months – many babies will consistently use “dada” to refer to their father
Do all babies say dada first?
No, while many babies say “dada” first, some say “mama” or other words like “baby” or “hi.” Studies show:
- 30-40% say “dada” first
- 30% say “mama” first
- 30% say another word like “baby” or “hi” first
So while a good portion say “dada” first, many babies say something else as their first word.
Do baby girls say dada first too?
Baby girls are more likely to say “mama” first, but some still say “dada” first. According to research:
- For boys, 51% say “dada” first and only 22% say “mama”
- For girls, 46% say “mama” first and just 29% say “dada”
So while baby girls more often say “mama” first, close to a third still say “dada” as their first word.
Why is dada easier to say than mama?
There are a few reasons why the word “dada” may be easier for babies to say:
- Requires less motor skills – “Dada” only requires lips to touch for “da” sounds while “ma” requires more tongue control.
- Salience – “Dada” has two repeated syllables making it more salient and easier to notice in speech.
- Cognitively simpler – “Dada” uses consonant sounds only while “mama” uses a more complex consonant-vowel combination.
So the physical and cognitive requirements to produce “dada” may be simpler compared to other words like “mama.” This likely explains why many babies master saying “dada” sooner.
Do early words reflect meaning for babies?
While babies’ first words often sound meaningful, research suggests they initially don’t understand the associated meaning:
- 6-9 months – babies can say sounds but don’t connect them to meaning.
- 9-12 months – babies realize certain sounds elicit responses from others.
- 12-18 months – babies associate sounds with meanings.
So in the early months, “dada” or “mama” may not hold much meaning other than getting parents’ attention. Only later do babies associate these words with their parents.
Why do babies say mama later than dada?
There are a few explanations why “mama” often comes slightly later than “dada” as babies’ first words:
- “Ma” sounds are motorically more difficult to make with the tongue.
- Mothers engage in more caregiving while fathers engage in more playful interactions.
- Fathers’ deeper voices stand out more than mothers’ higher pitches, making “dada” more salient.
Together, these factors may account for why “mama” can be a marginally more difficult word for babies to produce and associate meaning to.
Can coaching help babies say mama or dada?
Coaching probably won’t influence which word a baby says first. Babies’ first words are based on factors like:
- Physical developmental stage
- Vocal capability
- Family dynamics
- Gender identification
- Attention and engagement
These factors occur naturally according to each baby’s unique development. While parents can create an enriching language environment, the first spoken word depends largely on the baby’s progress.
Are late talkers cause for concern?
If a baby hasn’t said their first word by 18 months, parents may worry. But late talking isn’t necessarily problematic:
- 15-20% of toddlers are late talkers.
- 2/3rds catch up by age 3 without intervention.
- Late talkers still understand language and communicate through gestures.
- Delayed speech may run in families.
While concerning, late talking doesn’t always indicate a disorder. Tracking other developmental milestones provides a fuller perspective.
How can parents encourage a baby’s speech development?
Parents can create an environment to optimize their baby’s language development in early months by:
- Speaking frequently to their baby face-to-face.
- Using exaggerated parentese speech with simple words.
- Responding consistently when their baby babbles.
- Reading books and naming pictures together.
- Avoiding overuse of screens which reduce interaction.
This type of engaged, responsive communication supports infants’ emerging speech capability.
Does dada or mama come first in other languages?
The tendency to say “dada” before “mama” isn’t consistent across all languages:
| Language | First Word |
|---|---|
| English | Dada |
| Mandarin Chinese | Mama |
| Hindi | Mama |
| Arabic | Baba |
This suggests language-specific characteristics also influence which words babies acquire first in their native language.
Why do Mandarin-speaking babies say mama first?
In Mandarin, “mama” uses sounds babies master earlier than the “sh” and “r” sounds in “baba.” The reduplicated syllables in “mama” also make it more perceptually salient.
Why do Hindi-speaking babies say mama first?
Hindi babies hear and say “mama” earlier because mothers do more caregiving traditionally than fathers in Indian culture.
Why do Arabic-speaking babies say baba first?
In Arabic, “baba” uses sounds easier to pronounce than the “m” sound of “mama.” Arabic-speaking dads also spend more time interacting with babies than moms.
Do twins and multiples say dada or mama first?
Studies of twins and higher order multiples show:
- Multiples progress at the same rate as singletons.
- Multiples develop strong social skills from constant peer interaction.
- Staggered developmental milestones between siblings is normal.
So while having a twin may delay some speech development, their first spoken words emerge at a similar pace to single children.
Conclusion
Many theories attempt to explain why “dada” is frequently among an infant’s first words, from motor development to family roles. While certain babies may say “mama” or another word first, “dada” clearly emerges early for many once babbling gives way to meaningful speech sounds. Whatever the first word, babies’ initial forays into language represent an exciting milestone for families.