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ADVICE RATING

4.29 (Worth a try) from 9 votes (244 Visits)

Much ado about the first word

by pfallerj

(August 2006) (rank 96th)

Today's first time parenting tip - Don't gloat too much over whether the first word is dada or mama

Between my wife constantly babbling "Mama mama mama mama" at our baby and the other non stop barrages of baby talk our son gets, I'm sure he won't be

able to help being anything but a babbling idiot. When he does say mama or dada for the first time, whoever its directed towards will feel so much pride they'll want to burst.

For the other parent, don't worry. Even though they may say your partner's moniker first, be assured that the baby has no idea what they're doing. They'll be saying it indiscriminantly and won't build the actual association until much later on.

So don't go moping around and being bitter. There will be plenty of ice cream trips, gifts and other bribes to get your child to like you better much later on.

See all the first time parenting tips

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ADVICE RATING

4.29 (Worth a try) from 9 votes

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	3.00 (Average) \| September 2006 \| JadieLady

first words

hahaha yes, plenty of bribes. like a weekend at grandma's! which can be good for your and your partner too!

Although i don't completely agree... my son DEFINATELY knows what mum and dad mean, even when he is the one saying it! he also understands NO! but cant say it yet. in fact, he drops whatever it is that he shouldnt be touching and screws up his face and busrts into tears. either that or go to the other parent and see if they allow it to happen!

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	4.00 (Good) \| September 2006 \| tinker79

Good advice

There is so many of a child's 1st, that we should take pride in them no matter who they are saying them too. My last child said ''mom'' to his 9 year old sister. LOL. I was so upset but realized he didn't really mean anything by it. My daughter was soo proud thou.

I am at the point that my name is actually mom, not Karla. LOL

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	4.00 (Good) \| September 2006 \| family-man

Much ado about first word

Good advice. Children get so many things said to them it is amazing they come up with anything coherent in the early days. The first word is one of many and should be a happy moment for all of the family no matter what word is said. The little ones dont play favourites and we should be happy that they are taking another big step in their development.

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	4.00 (Good) \| September 2006 \| Jessgore

much ado about the first word....

My sons first recognised word is papa.... Then it was something simillar to Camille (Said Cammy) That is his sister.. he says mama but no where near as much as papa or Camille and he only sees her ever two weeks. I am more proud at the fact that he can say banana... And the dog is named Jack, but our son calls him gack... Which is cute.... I am not jealous.. As said in the advice, pleanty of ice cream trips, and other little bribes... :)

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	4.00 (Good) \| August 2006 \| allyp

mom first

My husband was saying "mom mom mom mom" to my daughter for like 20 minutes i think one day he was home. And then all of a sudden, my daughter started to say it. He pretended to be mad at it because she was saying it. It was cute really, and then I told him don't worry she'll say "dada" soon enough.

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	5.00 (Excellent) \| August 2006 \| irateblacksheep

first word

Technically, Tabitha said Dada first, and she's a total Daddy's girl, but the first word she said that she knew the meaning of, was NO! Which kind of contadicts some advice I wrote the other day, about babyproofing so as not to have to say no all the time...however, as much babyproofing as I did, I still found myself having to say no...obviously enough that that's the first word Tabitha used correctly! Go figure! Anyhoo, I wasn't bent out of shape because I know Tabitha loves me, despite who she acknowledged first!

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