Talking to your baby

After birth, your baby uses crying as their only way to communicate wants and needs.

After three months, they will begin to use voice sounds, facial expressions and body movements to tell you how they feel. You will see them smile, laugh, coo, and move their arms and legs around when they are excited.

Some babies begin to make some vowel sounds around this time, such as ‘ah-ah’ or ‘ooh-ooh’. They will begin to recognise their name and the routines they are experiencing.

Between six months to one year, your baby will be building on the control of their lips, tongue and jaw. They will begin to make different sounds and may even use them to get your attention.

Your baby will probably start saying several sounds in one breath, like ‘Ma, ma, ma’ or ‘Da, da, da’. They will repeat the sounds they have heard from you in the previous months.

Your baby’s understanding of speech and language will improve as they reach the age of one. Their earlier babblings will become recognisable as simple words. Your baby may also be able to respond to simple requests and point to objects they are interested in.

By the end of their first year, often babies begin to say their first words. They are more likely to start using the words they hear all the time. For example, mummy, daddy, milk, bye.

• Face baby at their level - when your baby makes a sound, show them you are listening and interested by facing them at their level, repeating the sound and waiting for an answer. Your baby will begin to respond to you, learning to listen, share an interest, take turns in conversations and know that they can trust you.
  
  
• Talk about your everyday routines to baby - chat and sing while you cook dinner, bathe them, drive them in your car or take them on the bus. Talk about anything and everything - your baby will love to hear your voice and is learning new things all the time.
  
  
• Point and name parts of your baby's body - nose, feet etc. Use everyday experiences as a chance to name objects - bottle, nappy, pram etc.

• Sing nursery rhymes and songs, especially ones with actions and repetition. At this age, babies love songs with a surprise and / or an action. They will learn new words as they hear you repeat them over and over again. For example, Row Row Row Your Boat or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. They will show enjoyment by squealing and shrieking. The BBC Bitesize website has an A to Z of nursery rhymes. You can also attend free baby rhyme time sessions at Peterborough libraries.

• Listening to music with your baby will help language development. Music will help your baby tune into a beat, and the rise and fall of music and words. This can help your baby understand how words are formed; the beginning and the end of a word or sentence. Sing along to the music too!
  
  
• Babies love books - explore board books, sensory books, books with lift-up flaps. Read the words, talk about the pictures and point things out to your baby. Let them feel the different materials in the sensory books. Visit a Peterborough library to see what baby books they have available.
  
  The Words for Life website has a list of book suggestions for babies and toddlers. They also have tips on how to engage your child in reading when they're a bit older.

• Play Peek A Boo! Babies love you being at their level and will watch your face and mouth as you play together. Try playing Peek A Boo with yourself and their toys. Make funny sounds and faces to make your baby giggle.
  
  
• Play simple turn-taking games like rolling a ball between you or rolling a car down a ramp. Choose something your baby loves to take turns with e.g. cuddling teddy, rocking a baby doll. If playing with cars, say 'brum brum', 'beep beep' or 'neenaw neenaw'.
  
  
• Blow raspberries – a good way to make babies giggle. Take turns with them if they’re able. This game helps your baby exercise their facial and mouth muscles. Tongue and lip control is important for making speech sounds.

• Make gestures and use objects to support your baby’s understanding e.g. saying ‘nappy’ and showing them a nappy, saying ‘tissue in the bin’ and pointing to the bin.
  
  
• Tickling, bouncing, gestures, actions - sing 'round and round the garden like a teddy bear'.
  
  
• Talk to your baby about what you can see and hear when you're out and about together. They will love to hear your voice, even if they can't understand what you are saying yet.
  
  
• Little Moments Together Cards | Words for Life are filled with tips and conversation ideas to help you chat to your 0 to 2-year-old throughout the day.

• Choices – show your baby two things to choose between such as a teddy or a ball. Your baby may show you want they want by looking, reaching, pointing, or trying to say a word.
  
  
• Roll a ball to your baby to help their language development and improve their hand-eye coordination. Describe what you're doing as it happens.
  
  
• Keep on singing and reading to increase the number of words they understand. You may get bored of reading the same book and singing the same songs, but this is the very best way to develop their understanding and vocabulary.

• Watch closely – what is your baby looking at? Babies often let you know when they want you to talk to them, by looking at you, pointing, or bringing something to show you.
  
  
• Feeding time – talk and sing to your baby while feeding so they get used to the sound of your voice. This close contact time lets your baby watch your face to see how words are formed by your mouth. Your voice may also help keep baby calm and happy during feeds. Make eye contact.
  
  
• Nappy chat – great opportunity for close-up and face-to-face interaction with your baby. Babies can listen to the sound of your voice and the words you say, watch the expressions on your face and feel your touch. Chat and sing through the things you are doing so your baby tunes into your voice. You could try hanging a baby mobile overhead as you change them so the dangly objects catch their eye.

• Include older siblings – if you have an older child, try to get them involved with your baby to help them both bond. You could ask them to read or sing to their younger sibling. The BBC’s Tiny Happy People website has an article on how you can involve older siblings in baby’s development - Do Siblings Help Children Develop Faster? Top Tips from Speech Therapist - BBC Tiny Happy People
  
  
• Play 'what’s in the bag' – fill a shopping bag with a variety of everyday items that are safe for your baby. Build excitement for what you pull out, name the item and show it to your baby. Let your baby touch it if safe to do so. This game allows your baby to hear new words and use their senses and motor skills. You could also get an older sibling involved.