How do you talk to a baby

The roads to communication with a baby are endless, and each parent travels some more than others. Here are some you may want to take:

Do a running commentary: Don’t make a move, at least when you are around your baby, without talking about it. Narrate the dressing process: “ Now I’m putting nappy….here goes the T-shirt over your head…. Now I’m buttoning your dungarees”. In kitchen describe washing of dishes, or process of making a dish. During the bath explain about the soap and rinsing, and that a shampoo makes the hair shiny and clean. It doesn’t matter that your baby hasn’t the slightest inkling of what you’re talking about. Blow-by-bowl descriptions help get you talking and baby listening – thereby starting him or her on the path to understanding.

Ask a lot: Don’t wait until your baby starts having answers to start asking questions. Think of yourself as a reporter, your baby as an intriguing interviewer. The questions can be as varied as your day: ‘Would you like to wear the red trouser or the green one?’ ‘Isn’t the sky a beautiful blue today?’ ‘Should I buy green beans or broccoli for dinner?’ Pause for an answer ( one day your baby will surprise you with one), and then supply the answer yourself, out loud (‘Broccoli? Good choice’).

Give baby a chance: Studies show that infants whose parents talk with them rather than at them learn to talk earlier. Give your baby a chance to get in a coo, a gurgle or a giggle. In your running commentaries, be sure to leave some openings for baby’s comments.

Keep it simple – some of the time: Though in the second month your baby would probably derive listening pleasure from a dramatic recitation of Hamlet’s soliloquy or an animated assessment of the economy, as he or she gets bit older, you’ll want to make it easier to pick out individual words. So at least part of the time, make a conscious effort to use simple sentences and phrases: ‘See the light’, ‘Bye-bye’, ‘Baby’s fingers, baby’s toes’, and ‘Nice doggie’.

Put aside pronouns: It’s difficult for a baby to grasp that ‘I’ or ‘me’ or ‘you’ can be mummy, or daddy, or grandma, or even baby – depending on who’s talking. So most of the time, refer to yourself as ‘mummy’ or ‘daddy’ or ‘grandma’ and to your baby by name: ‘Now mummy is going to change Sonu’s nappy’.

Raise your pitch: Most babies prefer a high pitched voice, which may be why women’s voices are usually naturally higher-pitched than men’s, and why most mothers’ voices climb an octave or two when addressing their infants. Try raising your pitch when talking directly to your baby, and watch the reaction.

Imitate: Babies love the flattery that comes with imitation. When baby coos, coo back; when he or she utters and ‘Ahh’ , utter one, too. Imitation will quickly become a game that you’ll both enjoy, and which will set the foundation for baby’s imitating your language – it will also help build self-esteem (‘What I say matters’).

Set it to music: Don’t worry if you can’t carry a tune – little babies are notoriously undiscriminating when it comes to music. They’ll love what you sing to them whether it’s a current hit, an old favorite or just some nonsense you’ve set to familiar tune.

Read aloud: Though at first the words will have no meaning to baby, it’s never too early to begin reading some simple rhyming stories or board books out loud. When you aren’t in the mood for baby talk and crave some adult-level stimulation, share your love of literature (or recipes or gossip or politics) with your little one by reading what you like to read, aloud.

Take your clues from baby: Incessant chatter and song can be tiresome for anyone, even an infant. When your baby becomes inattentive to your wordplay, close or averts his or her eyes, become fussy or cranky, or otherwise indicates the verbal saturation point has been reached, give it a rest.