5 Fun ways to get your baby talking early

5 Fun ways to get your baby talking early

5 Jul 2016 | 4 min Read

Preeti Athri

Author | 117 Articles

Most parents can’t wait for their infant’s gurgles and coos to formulate into words. And why wouldn’t they, as there’s nothing cuter than hearing your own little ones express and communicate in their sweet voice. Experts say that babies understand what you say long before they speak, but if you’re keen to get little words tumbling out of your baby soon, try these fun, engaging tips to get baby talking early.

Here a few engaging ways to get your baby talking:

Label everything

This doesn’t mean physically sticking a label onto things, but pointing and labeling everything that you and baby come across, especially at a new place. So next time you take her for a walk in the garden, point out to the trees and say, “Look, tree!” Point out to something else and say, “That’s a slide.” Your baby may not look like she’s listening, but believe me, she is. 

 

Get into running commentary mode

Talk aloud about every day routines and talk clearly, normally and face-to-face. Experts suggest sticking to short, simple sentences with easy vocabulary when doing this. After a while, this may feel odd. So no need to use a false voice, just speak about the process in your own words. 
For example, if you’re changing the baby’s diaper, say, “It’s time to change your diaper now. Mummy is now going to make you lie down.” And the next time try, “Your diaper is sad. It wants to go away now, so let’s put your back to the bed and say bye  bye to it, shall we?”

Sing a song of sixpence

Singing, reading and telling stories are great ways to get your baby talking. Read out simple board books with large pictures or story books with maximum 2-3 sentences on each page. Animate the story and add your own zing to it. You could even add a tune. Ask questions like, “You know what happened next?” in between and read further to indicate an event.


Pause to encourage

When your baby begins to point to things she desires, ask, “What is it you want?” even if you know what she’s asking for. Then pause for a bit before you give it. Also, respond to or imitate every gurgle, coo or syllable with your own answer or add to your baby’s version. Specialists suggest that if your baby points to the bottle and says, “Ba,” respond normally with encouragement such as, “Yes, that’s a bottle, red bottle.”


Encourage nonverbal actions as well

Do not ignore your baby’s actions when she tries to communicate in other ways as, like mentioned earlier, she understands much more than her ability to form words. Giving a positive response will help her make associations and hence develop language. So next time your baby raises her hands to say she wants to be picked up, pause, but smile, nod and say, “Oh, you want mummy to lift you?”

Each child has her own developing pace so do not stress on baby milestones. With patience, consistence and encouragement, you will surely have a little chatterbox soon talking nineteen to the dozen.

 

Explore the entire collection of articles: Toddler Learning

If you are reading this article on our website and have an Android phone, please download our APP here for a more personalised experience based on your lifestage. 

Source for banner image: salinelibrary.org

 

Read More On Baby

A

gallery
send-btn

Suggestions offered by doctors on BabyChakra are of advisory nature i.e., for educational and informational purposes only. Content posted on, created for, or compiled by BabyChakra is not intended or designed to replace your doctor's independent judgment about any symptom, condition, or the appropriateness or risks of a procedure or treatment for a given person.