Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 3/13/2011

Question
QUESTION: Around 4 months of age I noticed my son would give great eye contact while nursing, on the floor, in his swing, on his changing table; but if you pick him up and put him in your lap facing you he will look all around the room and will not look at you. I am concerned. He is 6 months on Wednesday and still does the same thing. He will squeal or grunt to be picked up and his whole body exhibits excitement toward mom and dad. He turns toward voices he recognizes and really engages in play and talk when not being held. But pick him up and he is into everything else but you. Also, he squeals, grunts, and makes rasberries, but no sounds like ma, da, ga, ba, etc. He started babbling where it sort of sounded like talking babble for about 2 days and then now it is just squeals, giggles, grunts and rasberries. I feel a little uneasy about the eye contact and whether he should be making more defined sounds????

ANSWER: Hi Jeannette

A child of his age should be babbling and making sounds other than squeals and grunting. Does he make cooing sounds like "ah" "ee" "oh" like those? Or just noises?

I'm not as concerned about the eye contact alone, though the sounds are a concern.

He needs to get his hearing tested, though I doubt that is the issue. If his hearing is good, then find a developmental pediatrician to evaluate him. It may be nothing and he is just a little late in starting to babble and coo, but still, you may want to get it checked out.

Your other option is to wait until 8 months and see if he progresses. It's up to you as to whether you like to jump on things or wait.

Keep me in the loop

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Valerie,

He does from time to time make sounds sort of like "aahh oo" or "oh," not as frequent as the squeals. When he is playing under his floor gym he mostly squeals with excitement and then uses his tongue and lips to make like rasberry sounds. Again, from time to time he will definitely make a "aahh" sound. But it isn't like my daughter who would get stuck on ba, ba, ba, ba or "mmmm" and then "ahhh." He is 5 months and 3 weeks. He will be 6 months (28 weeks) on Wednesday the 16th. I am trying not to over analyze, but I am concerned whether he should be doing more. This in combination with the eye contact...really scares me. What is your opinion on why he won't make eye contact while being held? Thank you so much for your quick response. He goes to the ped. for his 6 mo. on Monday. I have already raised concern about the eye contact, but haven't discussed the babbling, so I appreciate your input to help me make sure I express proper concern to the ped. and get my son what is ultimately best for him. I don't want to "wait and see,"if there is genuine concern. Again, thank you. (FYI his d.o.b. is 9/29/10; if that helps).

Answer
Hi Jeanette

Babbling is supposed to come around 6 months. But before babbling is cooing-what I described before. And I agree that he should be making more sounds not less when he is face-to-face with you.

Here is your choice:
Wait a couple of months (which is certainly what your pediatrician will tell you) or I can do a phone assessment with you and determine exactly what he is doing in more detail. Then if we feel he is behind, then we can move on from there. And as I mentioned, you should get a hearing test and if you want, have a developmental pediatrician check him out.

It just depends on your personality. It's hard to be definitive from just an email from someone, so I have to make my suggestions based on what you have told me. We can dig further if you want.