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Talking to your bump during pregnancy

Your baby's brain starts developing in the womb. Unborn babies can hear sounds and pick up on vibrations from 16 weeks onwards as their ears start to develop.

Talking to your baby during pregnancy can help with their language development. 

Babies hear their mother's voice most clearly, but anyone can chat and sing to them. Your baby will love to listen, even though they can't understand the words you are saying.

Chatting and singing to your bump will start to build a bond between you and your baby. You will already be helping them to grow the skills they need to listen and communicate with others after they are born.

The BBC’s Tiny Happy People website has more information on the science behind singing to your bump:

Singing to baby: When can babies hear in the womb? - BBC Tiny Happy People

Tips for how to communicate with your baby bump

  • Play music and sing songs, nursery rhymes or lullabies - even theme tunes to television programmes will be familiar to your baby!
  • Move to music - gently rocking and moving to music will help your baby develop their movement skills and balance
  • Read a story or magazine to your bump using a gentle soothing voice
  • Chat as you go about your daily chores and when out and about
  • Tell your baby what you're looking forward to doing with them when they arrive
  • Massage or tap your bump while singing a soothing lullaby

Encourage your partner, family and friends to get involved too!

Bonding can begin before birth, especially in the final two or three months of pregnancy.

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How Family Hubs can support you

Family Hubs act as a 'one stop shop', offering guidance and advice on a range of circumstances to support families through pregnancy and beyond.

Visit our Peterborough Family Hub webpages.

Through Family Hubs, you can access free courses and webinars at Child and Family Centres in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

  • Antenatal PEEP - for expectant parents from 26 weeks into the pregnancy. This course aims to support you to think about your baby, tune into their feelings and respond sensitively. Become more aware of the social and emotional aspects of the transition to parenthood. Things you can do to bond with your baby. Meet other expectant parents. 

  • Chatter Matters - aimed at parents and carers with children aged 0-2. Understand how communication starts from before birth, how babies and children learn to communicate, and how you can support their speech, language and communication skills. You can also learn about early warning signs of any problems and what to do if you are worried.

  • Babbling Babies - regular sessions with a holistic approach to play. They support your baby to use their early sense to explore and develop their social skills in a relaxed and calm environment.

  • Tots Talking - for when your child reaches 2 years old, understand how everyday activities can boost children's communication skills. This course provides ideas of what you can do at home to support your child's language development.

For more information, or to book onto these courses:

View further Family Hubs courses for parents.

The NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthy Child Programme offers free antenatal webinars. They are designed to help you feel more prepared, confident, and connected as you get ready to welcome your little one into the world.

The sessions take place over two weeks and cover topics such as:

  • Introduction to the Healthy Child Programme (HCP)
  • Immunisations
  • Infant brain development
  • Safe sleep
  • Managing minor illnesses
  • Infant feeding
  • Parental mental health

Book your place via the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthy Child Programme website.

Find out more

You can also find further information from the following sources:

Speech and Language Therapy Toolkit

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS has published a Speech and Language Therapy Toolkit containing advice, activities and general resources to help with the development of children and young people's speech, language and communication skills.

Healthy Child Programme

This local service is made up of a variety of NHS staff with specific training and qualifications to support the health needs of children, young people and families in the community.

The team are developing a new antenatal pathway to support families.

Visit the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthy Child Programme website for more information. They have a phone number you can ring for support, advice and guidance.

Visit the BBC's Tiny Happy People website for pregnancy tips and advice. They have lots of ideas about bonding with your baby before birth and chatting to your bump.

The Barnardo's Family Space website contains information about the ages and stages of child development.

Peterborough Information Network is our online directory of websites with information about pregnancy and birth.

Last updated: 11 July 2025