Parents on TikTok have been sharing amusing videos of their babies adamantly saying ‘dada’ instead of ‘mama,’ despite their best efforts. These clips, garnering millions of views, depict mothers trying to coax their little ones into saying ‘mama’ to no avail.
While it might feel discouraging for mothers, experts suggest there’s a science-backed reason behind this trend, reassuring parents not to take it personally.
Stephanie Cohen, a speech-language pathologist and author, explains that babies saying ‘dada’ first is not a matter of preference but rather a result of what they hear most frequently. Cohen notes that mothers often talk about their partners more, leading babies to repeat ‘dada’ before ‘mama.’
Furthermore, Cohen suggests that in some cases, babies are simply experimenting with their speech abilities rather than intentionally favoring one parent over the other.
Diane Paul, director of clinical issues in speech-language pathology at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, offers another perspective. She proposes that when a baby appears to refuse their mother’s request to say ‘mama,’ they might actually be asking a question or engaging in social language use known as pragmatics.
In essence, it’s not a reflection of parental preference but rather a natural part of a baby’s development. So, for moms frustrated by their baby’s preference for ‘dada,’ rest assured—it’s all part of the process.”
