Talking to your baby

Talking to your baby helps them learn how to talk. Even before they can speak, your baby is listening and learning from the words you use and how you say them.

If you talked to your baby during pregnancy, you're likely to keep doing it once they're born.

From around 6 months of age, babies start to join in more when you talk to them. These short conversations may become longer and include more words.

Talking with your baby can help with:

• developing their language skills later on
• building their social, thinking and communication skills
• strengthening the bond between the 2 of you

Read more about your baby's growth and development.

Baby talk

A happy, sing-song voice, called 'baby talk', is a great way to connect with your baby. Babies like this kind of talking and it helps them learn to listen, respond and have conversations.

Baby talk also helps your baby feel loved and safe.

Listening and responding to your baby's sounds

Listen for your baby's noises, which don't sound like cries. Your baby may make sounds using their mouth, lips, tongue or jaw.

You can join in and have a 'conversation' with your baby by listening to their sounds, and pausing before you reply. You might then respond with something like 'you sound very happy' or 'say that again'.

Watch closely and copy the sounds your baby makes. If it sounds like a word, you can show that you're pleased and repeat the sound or word.

Remember, your baby's brain is wired to seek connection with you. You can help by:

• holding them close
• looking at their face and eyes
• copying their mouth movements

Reading and telling stories

You can read to your baby or use storytelling as a fun way to talk and connect with your baby.

You might:

• make up your own stories for your baby
• sing songs and read nursery rhymes
• use different voices and tones to communicate what happens in the story
• use your hands and facial expressions to help link words with meaning
• choose simple picture books with bright, primary colours for your baby to enjoy

Talk to your baby throughout the day and describe what is happening. Speak slowly and clearly and repeat common words. You might like to talk to your baby when you:

• play with them
• change their nappy
• get them dressed
• go out

If you speak more than one language, you can talk to your baby using these languages. This helps them learn the sounds that they will need to speak in different languages as they grow.

Here are some tips for connecting with your baby through talking:

• Try to give your baby your full attention when you're talking. Turning off the television and putting down your phone can help you stay focused.
• Try to act natural when you're talking to your baby. It's OK if it doesn't feel perfect — you're both getting used to communicating with each other.
• Your baby may not be as interested in talking with you at certain times, for example, when they're tired or hungry.
• Pause when you're talking and give your baby time to respond.
• Take advantage of small moments to talk with your baby throughout the day. Your baby is still learning, so short and simple interactions are perfect for keeping their attention without tiring them out.

There's no one right way to talk with your toddler. Follow your toddler's lead and show interest in what they say. Try not to take over the conversation. When you respond to their talking, it helps them feel listened to.

You can talk to your toddler anywhere — at home, in the car or while going for a walk. You can point out what you see, describe what you're doing or how you feel.

Here are some tips for talking to your toddler and helping them feel heard:

• Make some time each day to talk and play. Reading, singing or going for a walk can be great ways to get a conversation started.
• Include your toddler in everyday conversations, such as at mealtimes.
• Be present — limit distractions, such as screens.
• Answer your child's questions with simple, age-appropriate language.
• Talk about feelings and name emotions to help your toddler understand them.
• Watch their body language for clues about what they're trying to say.
• Accept that sometimes they might not feel like talking.

If you're finding it hard to talk to your baby, you're not alone. You might want to seek support and speak with:

• your child health nurse
• your doctor
• friends, family or other parents and carers

If you're unsure about your child's speech or language development, check in with your doctor or another health professional.

Getting advice early from a speech pathologist can be reassuring and may help your child build the skills they need to develop good language skills.

• Speech Pathology Australia offers resources to help your baby learn to talk, such as a flipbook on communication milestones.
• HealthyWA provides tips on steps you can take in helping your baby learn to talk.
• Tresillian offers information on baby speech development.

Languages other than English

• Speech Pathology Australia offers a fact sheet translated into Easy English and Dari about helping your baby learn to talk.
• NSW Health provides translated fact sheets about visiting a speech pathologist and what to expect during an appointment.