9-Month-Old Speech Milestones: Babbling, Name, and First Sounds

✓ Reviewed against ASHA communication milestones, Zubler et al. (2022), ASHA consumer guidanceEvidence level ALast reviewed October 14, 2026Published October 14, 2026

Around 7 to 9 months, most babies babble strings of sounds like “mamamama,” look at you when you call their name, pause when you say “No,” and raise their arms to be picked up. First words usually come around 10 to 12 months. A baby who is not babbling or not responding to sounds should have a hearing check.

Speech and communication at 7 to 9 months

ASHA groups its first-year milestones into four age bands. These are the items it lists for 7 to 9 months.¹

Looks at you when you call their name.
Stops for a moment when you say “No.”
Babbles long strings of sounds, like mamamama, upup, or babababa.
Looks for loved ones when upset.
Raises arms to be picked up.
Recognizes the names of some people and objects.
Pushes away unwanted objects.

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Milestones are “most children,” not “every child”

The CDC’s revised milestone checklists use milestones that most children — at least 75% — reach by a given age, and were designed to discourage a wait-and-see approach when a milestone is missed.

That standard comes from the expert working group that revised the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. checklists in 2022.²

What came before, and what comes next

ASHA communication milestones across the first year.
Age band	Selected milestones
4 to 6 months	Giggles and laughs; vocalizes vowel sounds, sometimes with a consonant (“daaaa”); blows raspberries
7 to 9 months	Babbles long strings (“mamamama”); looks when you call their name; pauses at “No”
10 to 12 months	Points, waves, shows objects; tries to copy sounds you make; says one or two words like mama, dada, hi, bye

ASHA communication milestones across the first year.¹

How to help at home

Talk back when your baby babbles, as if having a conversation.
Copy their sounds, then add a new one: “ba-ba” → “ba-ba-boo.”
Name things they look at, and use animal sounds (“The dog says woof-woof”).
Play peek-a-boo and clapping games, which build turn-taking.

These come from ASHA’s activity suggestions for babies: look at your baby when they make sounds, talk back and repeat what they say, say simple sounds like “mi” and “ba,” and talk about animal sounds.⁴

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When to check in with a professional

If your baby is not babbling, does not react to sounds, or does not look when you call their name, raise it with your pediatrician and ask for a hearing test. ASHA lists a baby not reacting to loud noises or other sounds as an early sign of hearing loss, and hearing sounds and words is how children learn to talk.^3,5

In the US, you can also contact your local early intervention program yourself: ASHA notes that families do not have to wait for a referral from professionals to ask for an evaluation.⁶

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About SpeechStep and babies

SpeechStep’s practice is built for ages 4–8. For babies and toddlers, honest coverage hasn’t started yet: use the free milestone checker and join the waiting list instead.

Free speech delay quiz — from age 1: 20 quick questions, no recording, about 3 minutes

Frequently asked questions

What should a 9-month-old be saying?＋

Babbling rather than words. ASHA’s milestones for 7 to 9 months include babbling long strings of sounds like “mamamama,” “upup,” or “babababa,” looking at you when you call their name, stopping for a moment when you say “No,” and recognizing the names of some people and objects.

When do babies say “mama” and mean it?＋

Babbled “mamama” at 7 to 9 months is practice, not yet a word. ASHA’s milestones place saying one or two words — like mama, dada, hi, and bye — in the 10-to-12-month range.

Should I worry if my 9-month-old is not babbling?＋

Talk to your pediatrician and ask for a hearing check. ASHA lists a baby not reacting to loud noises or other sounds as an early sign of hearing loss, and hearing sounds is how children learn to talk.

Can SpeechStep help a 9-month-old?＋

Not yet. SpeechStep’s practice is built for children about 4 to 8. For babies and toddlers, honest coverage hasn’t started: use the free milestone checker, talk and play with your baby, and join the waiting list.