Nasalization is the phonological process where a child replaces a non-nasal consonant like “b” and “d” sounds with nasal consonants like the “m” and “n” sounds.  

Nasal consonants are where air is released thru the nostrils.  “m” and “n” examples of nasal consonants.

A tip to help the child see airflow coming out of their nostrils is to place a mirror under your / their nose during the production of nasal consonants.  The mirror should fog up from the nasal emissions.  If no mirror is present, have the child place a finger under your / their nose to feel the air stream works too!

Examples of nasalization include:

• “mom” for “mop”
• “no” for “toe”
• “lean” for “leaf”
• “mug” for “bug”

It is common for all children to make theses errors; however, if the errors persist after the child turns three, you may want to consult a school / local Speech-Language Pathologist to see if they qualify for services.