Talking to your baby
6-minute read
Key facts
- Your baby listens to you and can recognise your voice from a very early age, even if they can't reply.
- As part of learning to talk, your baby will make cooing and babbling sounds.
- Talk to your baby as you go about your day, using lots of words to describe what is happening.
- By six months old, your baby will start to understand a few words.
- It's OK to use more than one language to talk to your baby.
Why should I talk to my baby?
If you talked to your baby during your pregnancy, you're likely to keep up this habit once they're born. Babies are easy to talk to and it's fun to watch them listening.
Even as a newborn, your baby will respond to your voice. Your baby will enjoy it when you talk to them.
Talking to babies helps them learn to talk.
How do babies communicate in their first months?
Long before they can speak, your baby will be listening and watching everything that is going on around them.
At first, your baby will cry to let you know that they need something. If your baby starts to cry take notice and respond to them. Look for your baby's reaction when you talk to them. They may stop crying, become calm and look for where your voice is coming from. Responding to your baby's cries lets them know that they are important and that they've been heard.
As your baby grows and develops, they will learn other ways to get your attention. They might point, or crawl towards something they want.
How do I encourage early talking skills?
From around 8 weeks old your baby will learn that they can make sounds. Listen for your baby to make little noises, which don't sound like cries.
Your baby will practice making sounds using their:
- mouth
- lips
- tongue
- jaw
You can join in and have a 'conversation' with your baby. Don't talk over these sounds, use a gap to reply. You could say something like 'you sound very happy' or 'say that again' to get your baby to make more talking noises.
Try watching closely and imitating the sounds that your baby is making. If they make a sound that's like a word you can show that you're pleased. Repeat the sounds or say the word yourself.
Remember, your baby's brain is wired to seek connection with you. You can also support their early talking skills by:
- holding them close
- looking at their face and eyes
- copying their mouth movements
Language and speech development
Learn how you can help your child to talk and develop their language and speech skills.
What else can I do to support my baby's speech development in their first 12 months?
Talk to your baby throughout the day and describe what is happening. Speak slowly and clearly and repeat common words. Talk to your baby when you:
- play with them
- change their nappy
- get them dressed
- go out
If you speak more than one language talk to your baby using both languages. This will help them to learn the sounds that they will need to speak two languages when they are older.
Reading and telling stories
People communicate and connect with each other in all sorts of ways.
You can use storytelling as a fun way to talk to your baby:
- make up your own little stories for your baby
- sing songs and read nursery rhymes
- read to your baby — they will soon learn to recognise familiar pictures, and the tones of your voice.
- use different voices and tones to communicate what happens in the story
- use your hands and face to link words with meaning.
- choose simple picture books with bright, primary colours for your baby
Developing the muscles needed for speech
Sucking and swallowing helps to support language development.
Learning to chew and swallow will also build the muscles needed to talk. From around 6 months of age, offer your baby solid food.
5 tips when talking to your baby
- Try to fully focus on your baby when you're talking to them. Televisions, screens and music can all create distractions.
- Try to be natural when you're talking to your baby. Be patient with yourself as well - you're both learning.
- Sometimes your baby won't be very interested in talking, such as when they're tired or hungry.
- Pause when you're talking and give your baby a chance to reply. This will help them to learn about taking turns during conversations.
- Look for many small moments during the day to talk. Your baby is too young for a long conversation.
How can I monitor my baby's speech development?
There are ways you can observe your baby's speech development .
As they grow, your baby will learn how to make a wider range of sounds. By 12 months your baby should understand a few words, including their name. They will be babbling and copying sounds.
Hearing
Hearing problems can impact your child's speech.
Look at your baby's newborn hearing test result. Repeat the test if it is recommended. Check if your baby reacts to sudden or loud noises.
Seek expert help as early as possible if you have any doubts about your baby's hearing.
When should I get help?
If you feel like your child isn't making progress with their speech, you can speak with:
- your child health nurse
- your doctor
Resources and support
You can find more information through Speech Pathology Australia.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.