https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 09:42:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1319048 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 09:35:38 +0000 delight 1319048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: @Kimberlybee: you're both welcome! There are a few of us Speech Pathologists on HB so hopefully we can be of help in these new "Talking/Speech" boards. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1318862 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 01:54:21 +0000 Kimberlybee 1318862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: I am saving this thread for these great tips. Thank you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1318822 Sat, 04 Jan 2014 00:43:23 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1318822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: thank you so much!!! You are awesome!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1312022 Wed, 01 Jan 2014 18:39:24 +0000 delight 1312022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: @Bao: @Periwinkle: thanks! Love to help out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1311987 Wed, 01 Jan 2014 18:22:50 +0000 Bao 1311987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: great tips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1311980 Wed, 01 Jan 2014 18:20:39 +0000 delight 1311980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: sorry so delayed, I was at cottage!</p> <p>I wouldn't be too concerned with his sounds at 16 months. Just encourage him to speak as much as possible! At this age, they don't have a huge sound inventory so it is typical to use the same sounds for different words. He can do an "m" though, as you said he says "mama" so keep trying for "milk" even if he will just say something like "meh" for it. It might be a good idea to just focus on that particular word for a few days! Keep practicing the "m" sound with him. Always get down to eye level, exaggerate your mouth movements and just keep repeating "mmmmmm" over and over. It's a good idea to concentrate on one or two words a week, words that he would use frequently like "milk" or "bye". Words with P, B and M are great to practice at that age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1310282 Tue, 31 Dec 2013 14:02:37 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1310282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: I have an amendment to add when ou get a chance. What about when he uses the same sound for different things. He will say bu for milk and bubbles. He uses them in context but he definitely has certain sounds he uses because he can't seem to form certain parts of words yet. Like duck or anything with a hard K becomes Gu. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1307465 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 10:18:13 +0000 Periwinkle 1307465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: so helpful to read your tips!</p> <p>@MrsMccarthy: I would count those all as words, too especially if he uses the same part of the word each time he refers to something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1307167 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 07:44:31 +0000 mediagirl 1307167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: what awesome tips. Thank you. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1307149 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 07:03:05 +0000 delight 1307149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMccarthy: yes I'm a speech therapist and I'm loving this new board! I hope you were able to understand what I wrote above. It was 3am and I was typing one handed while nursing ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1307137 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 06:01:03 +0000 katsupgirl 1307137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was wondering that too. I think it counts if the sound consistently refers to the same thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1307123 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 05:04:02 +0000 loveisstrange 1307123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally counts! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1307103 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 03:33:13 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1307103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow these are amazing tips!! Thank you! Are you a speech therapist or OT @delight: ? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1307101 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 03:19:45 +0000 delight 1307101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes those count as words! The 'l' sound for example does not typically develop until a few years down the road so it's completely acceptable to use "bah" for "ball"! Anything that your child says over and over again to mean the same thing counts as a word. He could call a couch a "tout" and as long as he was consistent in that, it's part of the word count!<br /> Don't be too much of a stickler yet for pronunciation as children master sounds at different ages. The p", "b" and "m" sounds tend to come first. However, every time he says a word, repeat it back the right way and add a couple words. This helps him not only to continuously hear words correctly but also to expand his language. For example, LO says "ball", you say back "yes ball. Red ball. That's a red ball." To help further with language, give him "communication temptations" which are little ways to help to make him talk. Put his snack in a container he can't open. When you give it to him and he looks at you for help, bend down to eye level and say "open". Exaggerate your oral movements so he can see you forming the "o". If he makes any sort of an attempt, open and give the snack! If he doesn't, give him the snack anyways :) and try again next snack. Other examples, put his socks on his hands, give him a fork instead of spoon, anything that really encourages him to say something. Most importantly, always talk about what you're doing when around him" Washing dishes. Mommy is washing dishes. Wash, wash, wash." Fill the house with language to help encourage it. I don't know much about transitioning from sign to oral, but sounds like you're doing a great job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/does-it-count-as-a-word-of-its-only-one-syllable#post-1307096 Mon, 30 Dec 2013 02:50:04 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1307096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 15 month (who is about 10 days from being 16 months) old son has been using words finally to communicate a bit. I am thrilled but I am wondering if we can count them as full words because he tends to only say one syllable part of a word. Ball for example is Bah, bird is BIR, with a very soft r. Wow is kind of a whispers Waah. Water is Wawa. Nanna , Mama and Dada be says complete but bubble is Buh and baby is Bee! Uh oh he used to say by sighing the Uh and then saying OH but now he kind of sighs for the whole word. He tries so hard to form the words but its almost as if he can't figure them out. I have read you should always give praise no matter what and his receptive language and signing are so good that I feel like he definitely knows what he is saying and we know what he means for the most part. I guess what I am wondering is how much of a stickler should one be regarding pronunciation or syllables AND as a bonus How do you handle transitioning from sign language to getting your baby to talk more? </p>