My Baby Ignores Me When I Call Their Name – 5 Effective Ways to Encourage Response

As your baby grows, they reach different developmental milestones, and there are certain expectations for what they should be able to do at different ages. These milestones are based on the average rate of growth among babies, and they can vary from child to child. For example, it’s typical for babies to have a strong gag reflex for the first four weeks, and they may start to outgrow their bassinet around four to six months of age. Another significant milestone is the ability to recognize their name. However, some parents may become concerned about why my baby ignores me when I call their name.

According to studies, babies are expected to reach this milestone of total recognition of their name on their first birthday. Babies can start having a clue about the existence of their name from 7-9 months old. A certain group of babies have been found to defy this order of growth. There are possible reasons why these babies ignore their names when called.

• Is it possible that they can’t hear?

• Are they unaware of their name?

• Do they seem to be developing slowly?

• Could it be a case of autism?

No need to panic. This article serves to provide all you need to know about why your baby ignores you when you call their name and what you can do to help them out.

What Does It Mean If My Baby Ignores Me When I Call Their Name?

Recognition skills in babies seem to be consistent at about 7-9 months. However, the inability of a child to have this skill down by the time they mark their first birthday or arrive for their 1-year well check-up will make many pediatricians independently take note.

They could either be flagged for closer monitoring or just go ahead and refer the child to be screened for developmental delays and potential autism.

Do not panic.

The lack of this recognition skill is only related to autism if other concerns exist. Other concerns that can link lack of recognition to autism include:

• Lack of or sudden regression in communication: This is when your baby is showing signs of being socially withdrawn or isolated. If this occurs with a lack of recognition skills, your baby might be flagged or suspected of autism.

• Inability or trouble making eye contact: Autistic babies are characterized by extreme shyness and inability to keep eye contact; even with you as the parent.

• Not pointing to items or making much effort to request other than crying

• Repeatable behavior: if your baby tends to do the same set of activities or actions over and over again, it might be a sign of slow development.

If all these signs are seen together with a lack of recognition, your baby ignoring you when you call might just be because they are autistic.

My Baby Ignores Me When I Call Their Name, Why?

Your baby ignoring you could be a result of many factors. Many parents see this as a trivial situation, while others get worried about it. If you’re worried about why your baby ignores you when you call their name, consider these:

1. How old is your baby?

Babies develop a sense of recognition from about 4-6 months. If you call a baby below 4 months, they are probably not going to respond.

Meanwhile, if you call a baby from 4-12 months old, they are expected to respond under normal circumstances. If they fall between the range of 4-12 months and they do not respond, it might be due to slow development or an early sign of autism.

In some cases, it could be a result of an ear infection from the long use of pacifiers.

2. Is this the first time your baby has ignored you?

You need to ask whether your baby does this continuously or if they have some particular moment when they listen to you.

If they only ignore you sometimes, it might be that they are not interested in whatever you are calling them for at that time. They seem to find more happiness in whatever it is that they are involved in at that moment.

3. Are there other concerns about your baby and social interaction?

Babies not responding to you calling their names might be a result of some other factors as seen in symptoms, not autism.

4. Can your baby hear you? 

Long use of pacifiers has a side effect of causing ear infections known as Otitis media. Otitis media is an ear infection that might prevent your baby from hearing properly. So, it might be that your baby is suffering from an ear infection. 

How Do I Know That My Baby Recognizes Their Name?

Knowing if your baby recognizes their name can be tricky yet so simple. Babies are different; hence, their development is unique.

Some babies can identify your voice at 4-6 months old. Some babies, on the other hand, need to be 7-9 months old to get that consistency.

Paying attention to your baby’s reaction when you call them is important. If your baby makes a sound, a strange look, or any constant response when you call their name, there is a high chance they know their name.

You can also try to mention other names and see if they react the same way. At age 7-9 months, most babies are expected to have a distinct recognition of their names and would respond.

To know if your baby knows their name or not, consider your baby’s age and their response each time you mention their name.

How Do I Know That My Baby Does Not Recognize Their Name?

1. Hard to get a child’s attention

If your baby does not recognize his name, it might be hard to make them see what you want them to see. They have no idea that you were begging for their attention in the first place. 

2. Questions about your child’s hearing

A visible sign that your baby does not recognize their name could be you doubting if their hearing is okay.

You must have probably called them on a few occasions but found them fixated on whatever it is they were interested in. They seem to stay happy and comfortable in their little world.

3. Focused on objects

This is closely linked to your child’s lacking social interaction. Your baby tends to be more interested in their toys than people. They probably never notice people in the room.

4. Very shy

When people try to forcefully get their attention, they are likely to burst into tears.

5. Crying when you call their name

Your child may find it aversive when people are trying to engage them in conversations. They do not recognize that they are being called. They can’t pick out what it is that’s being said and feel endangered.

How Do I Help My Baby To Recognize Their Name?

1. Try repetition 

You might need to say their name many times to make them get used to it. Use their names in little conversations you have with them.

Make it a constant word in your talking to them. Say things like “Tommy is a good boy”, “Tommy misses mommy”, “Tommy, come and take candy”, and so much more.

By doing this, you’re bringing their name into their subconscious.

2. Eliminate distractions

In possible cases, your baby might be having a hard time hearing you or responding to your call because they are distracted.

This distraction could be the TV, it could be toys, and it could be noise. Try and get your baby in an isolated place and try again. Do this till they can recognize their name.

3. Change your tone

Changing the tone used in calling your baby might work wonders for you. If your baby is having a hard time picking out your voice in a regular tone, try calling them with a whisper or in a musical form and see if it catches their attention.

4. Use photos

This works when you’re trying to identify someone by a name. This works by showing your baby a photo album and pointing at people while calling their names.

When you get to your baby’s picture, let them know they are the ones in the picture. Say something like “This is Abby”, “Abby is a fine girl”,” Mummy loves Abby”, etc.

When Should My Baby Be Able To Respond To Their Name?

Each baby is different in their development. The time it takes baby A to develop is not the same as it takes baby B.

However, they both have a range of time that has been studied to be true. The average time a toddler starts showing signs with their initial explicit word is around 7 to 9 months old.

If your child is unable to respond to a call of their name within this time threshold, there is nothing much to worry about; they are still in the proper developing phase. You should give them a rest to progress their communicative competence rather than getting worried over it.

You should be expecting your baby to respond from this moment till their first birthday. If there’s no progress by their first birthday or 1-year medical checkup, you might need to make a proper diagnosis of what’s going on with your baby.

When Should I Expect My Baby To Say Their Name?

Your baby is expected to recognize their name as early as 4-6 months. By 12 months old they can have full conscious recognition of their name. The ability to hear their name and call it are two different skills.

Though it takes them as early as 4-6 months to recognize their name, pronouncing their name and that of those around could take as much as 18-24 months. 

You should note that some names are not easily pronounced like others. Your baby might have an increased pace in pronouncing names like Mike, John, etc. Your baby might find it difficult to pronounce names like Javier, Guinevere, etc. 

To cope with this and make it better, you’re advised to have a monosyllabic short form of their names. 

At ages 2-3, they are better at speaking and can call any name with ease. 

When Should I Be Worried?

You should be worried when you notice something strange in your baby. It’s good to be proactive. If you, however, observe that your baby tends to ignore you when you call their name, seek out your doctor for a proper diagnosis. They would:

1. Test your baby’s hearing to affirm that they can or cannot hear

2. In the absence of hearing problem, suggest or flag the possibility of early signs of autism

In both cases, the doctor is your best savior. 

Is It A Big Deal If Toddlers Do Not Respond To Their Names?

Whether or not you should worry if your toddler does not respond to their name depends on their age. A toddler is expected to have a trace of recognition and response to names from about 5-9 months old.

If your toddler does not respond to your calling their name in the first 4 months, it’s not a big deal. If your toddler is within 5-6 months, you should not be in a panic thinking they are having a slow development because babies grow differently.

Nevertheless, if your baby is not able to respond to their name by 12 months and above, you should take it seriously.

Why Is It Important To Respond To Name?

1. Attention

Toddlers’ ability to respond to their names is a sign that their attention can be gotten. It shows that they can shift focus from time to time.

This is a sign of a healthy mind. Autistic toddlers have an issue trying to pay attention to anything beyond them; being able to respond to a name helps to pay attention.

2. Comprehension of language

To understand a particular statement would have to be that the person pays attention. If your baby is having a hard time paying attention to you, they might be having a problem understanding simple statements and instructions.

3. Safety and self-regulation 

Your baby’s response to their name is very important to their safety. Calling your baby’s name when they are going to a dangerous place is to get their attention for once and distract them from whatever they are going to touch.

Their inability to realize that you are calling them regardless of how much you shout might be detrimental to their health.

What Strategies Can I Use To Help My Child Respond To Names?

1. Decrease the number of times you call their name.

Repetition works, but the unnecessary calling of their names makes the name vanish into the background noise.

2. Train them with less distraction

There’s a high probability they are not able to respond because they are distracted. Train them by reducing distraction. Introduce the distractions as they get better.

3. Call them by their name right in front of them

Don’t try to call them from afar or from the next room. At least, not for a while. Practice calling them right in front of you.

4. Change your tone of voice to something comic or sonorous

They might be attracted to that more than a serious tone.

5. Set a reward for every time you call their name

Let the reward be something they like. That way, they anticipate being called. 

What To Do To A Child Who Has An Issue Responding To Their Name

• Make them look at you when making requests.

• Reinforce when your child engages with you socially. If the child is trying to get your attention, look in their eyes, smile, and provide a positive model of social connection.

• Don’t let your child off the hook. If your child avoids social interaction with you by not responding to their name, engage directly. Go over to your child, get on their level, make eye contact, and repeat their name.

• Avoid calling your child’s name and then doing something negative to them. It paints their name in their mind to be associated with danger or pain to them. By doing this, they try to not respond whenever they are called.

• Pay attention to social skills challenges with your child. Yes, some kids will grow out of these issues, but it will be very important for your child to learn how to be comfortable socially and to form meaningful connections with others.

Final Thought

In summary, every baby is different in their ability to recognize their name, so it’s important to give them time. However, if your baby consistently fails to respond to their name after a certain period, it could be a sign of slow development or early signs of autism. These observations can be addressed through proper treatment.

It’s important to note that early detection and acceptance can greatly aid in the treatment of autism. If you are concerned about your baby’s development, it’s recommended to seek a proper diagnosis from a pediatrician before jumping to conclusions.