WeMoms
2 Apr 2024

Engaging in Conversations with Your Baby

Engaging in Conversations with Your Baby
During those initial months, conversations with your baby might seem a tad one-sided.
While your little one may not be responding verbally, rest assured that every word you utter is being absorbed.
Before you know it, she'll be chattering away with you!
Around 4 months, babies typically begin to babble, and you can expect their first word to emerge sometime around their first birthday.
However, this timeline isn't set in stone, with some children starting their verbal journey closer to 18 months.
In the meantime, talking to your adorable bundle is a powerful way to foster those first words and cultivate her language skills. Uncertain about where to begin?
Here are some conversational cues to consider.
Engaging in Baby Talk: Tips for Communication
Narrate Your Day
As you navigate your daily routine, describe your actions to your baby. "I'm turning on the water for your bath—swoosh! This water feels cozy. Now let's pick a toy. How about this yellow duck? Quack, quack!"
Does she understand you? Not quite yet. But keep at it, and eventually, you'll be met with her first "da"—for "duck"!
Pose Questions
While you don't need to hold trivia contests, asking questions effectively engages your baby. For instance, "Shall we walk to the park or drive?" or "Do you want to read a book about animals or one about cars?"
Pause to allow your baby to respond with coos or babbles, then offer your own answer: "I enjoy reading about cars too!"
Though most of the chatter stems from your end, you're demonstrating the flow of conversation—exchange of ideas between two parties.
Label the World
Simple language can help babies associate words with objects, especially as they grow and get closer to speaking themselves. Identify and point out things you encounter, like "ball," "banana," and "bird."
Consistency is key. For instance, if your child is accustomed to "dog," stick with that term rather than shifting to "doggie."
Play with Tone
If your voice naturally rises in pitch when speaking to your baby, that's completely normal—and advantageous, given that most babies prefer high-pitched tones. Experiment with subtly elevating your pitch and gauge her response.
Indulge in Reading
Reading is an exceptional technique to enrich your baby's vocabulary. Set aside time for storytelling whenever possible. Nursery rhymes and sturdy board books, particularly those adorned with vivid pictures and easy-to-turn pages, are excellent selections.
Animal Sound Adventures
Ever wonder why numerous children's tales are centered around farms? Animals captivate not only visually but with their straightforward, intriguing sounds like "moo," "baa," and "woof." At home, you can imitate animal sounds ("Listen, a dog is barking—woof, woof!") or outdoors ("I hear a bird chirping—tweet, tweet!").
Harmony of Song
Don't fret about hitting the right notes. Your baby doesn't mind. Whether you're crooning nursery rhymes, "Baby Shark," or a spontaneous melody, your singing will captivate your baby's ears, especially when paired with gestures. Compile a playlist to discern her favorites—get ready for a repeat performance!
Embrace Their Efforts
While your conversations contribute to her vocabulary development, allow your baby room to experiment with her own sounds. When she begins babbling, pause and give her your full attention. Make eye contact and genuinely listen as she tries to master sounds, like "mmm" or "ahhh."
Mirror Her Responses
Support your baby's attempts at communication. When she coos, respond with coos of your own. Match her breathy "ah" with an equally breathy "ah," expressing enthusiasm for her babbles. These "chats" will delight her and may evolve into a favorite game.
Recognize Rest Signs
Everyone craves quiet moments, and babies are no exception. Observe her cues: if she seems unresponsive, turns away, or becomes restless, it's time to give her ears (and your voice) a break.
Embrace Playfulness
Experiment with diverse conversational styles. Feel free to switch things up—opt for a musical day or indulge in reading on another. Before you know it, your endeavors will be rewarded with your baby's initial words.
If Concerns Arise
If your baby hasn't started using gestures by their first birthday, doesn't employ one to two words by 12 months, or isn't speaking by 15 to 18 months, discuss it with their pediatrician.
Around 1 in 5 children experience a delayed start in talking, per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Sometimes, hearing loss or other factors cause language delays, but frequently, children catch up independently.
Your doctor can help determine if your child's speech milestones are developing at a standard pace or if there's an underlying reason for any delay.
A
Addison
12 Jan 2024

Question: those who talked to their doctors about wanting to get induced how did it go? I’m thinking of asking to be induced at 38 weeks instead of 39 that way my baby doesn’t get to big and I can try and have a natural birth. Just wanted to know how other people’s conversations went when they talked about it with their doctor. Picture of my chunky cheeked boy just because 🥰

3 comments
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'*•.¸♡Hαყʅҽιɠԋ♡¸.•*'
All you can do is voice your wants, and hopefully, the doctor agrees, but if not, you can always get a second opinion from another doctor!
27 Mar 2024

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Joevena
I asked mine. I have gestational diabetes. She wouldn't do it unless there is a medical reason to do it earlier than 39 weeks such as pre-eclampsia and other things. But it's just a conversation. It doesn't hurt to ask. who knows if your OB will be willing to
27 Mar 2024

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Brandy
6 Jul 2023

Has anyone every felt there baby either engaging in there pelvic or just head down at almost 24 weeks.

7 comments
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Ashley
Yes that's where I feel her mostly!
27 Mar 2024

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Ashley
I am 23 weeks as of yesterday
27 Mar 2024

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LeNayah
14 Jun 2023

im only 5 weeks and 2 days and i be in the car having full conversations with my baby 😂 Poor almost tadpole dont even have ears yet but i think they can feel what im saying 🥴

5 comments
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LeNayah
lmao thank youuuu same to you ❤️❤️❤️
27 Mar 2024

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Kaci
Love this!
27 Mar 2024

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Kara
24 Feb 2023

Ladies how was your relationships after you had your baby? I feel like friends and family and even my husband are weird around me now, conversations are strained ,I’m not included in their plans anymore unless they want to see the baby. It’s like I’ve turned into a ghost unless they want the baby

2 comments
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Brittany
That almost made me legit cry. I hate that for u girl I’m here if u need anyone to talk to. 😇I know u don’t know me but I’m a good person and I hate seeing people feel like this! I know how u feel with my previous relationship.
27 Mar 2024

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Kara
Thank you so much. It’d be nice to have a conversation that’s not strained
27 Mar 2024

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Alicia
6 Feb 2023

Y’all I need some pregnant friends that I can talk about pregnant stuff with 😩😩 I have friends that have children but they slick dismiss my cravings and pregnancy conversations 😂😂

21 comments
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Yolanda
You can bother me when ever!
27 Mar 2024

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Alicia
Aww thanks love 🥰❤️
27 Mar 2024

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Keanna
30 Jan 2023

Me and my baby just be having full conversations..he don’t know what I’m saying & I don’t know what he be saying..but we be talking 🤣😂🤣🤣💙

2 comments
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Patricia
🥰🥰. And that’s how we teach them to talk
27 Mar 2024

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Ashontia
5 Nov 2022

Although she is far from being here me and baby girl have one sided conversations everyday🤣 Mostly because she wants to move around for everyone else but hides when i try to get her kicks on camera😂 I feel she’s going to be very stubborn!!

2 comments
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Shae
Omg I thought I was the only one dealing with that when I have the flash on she would just stop all whatever she was doing until she notices my focus isn’t on her anymore then even if the flash is off she’ll still stop moving when i hit record it’s so weird
27 Mar 2024

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Ashontia
Thats literally what happens ever single time i try to record her! Even without the flash its like she knows lmaooo. Or she’ll be very active when i eat.
27 Mar 2024

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Mia
27 Oct 2022

Conversations with P&M Me:* has a plate of watermelon, grapes, and strawberries* Princeton: And your feeding me that nasty formula milk. How dare you, mother. And at this moment is when he kicked my plate🤣🤣🤣. It be your own.

3 comments
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Porscccc
He wanted parts 😂😂😂
27 Mar 2024

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Mia
knowing it would tear his stomach all the way up. He already been constipated and hated it 😂😂😂
27 Mar 2024

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Amber
14 Oct 2022

I dislike having conversations with my granny about my prenatal depression or any depression for that matter. She refuses to believe there's a such thing and tells me all I need to do is talk myself out of it because it was so easy for her to do 😒🙄 I just stop talking to her about it because it upsets me every single time

1 comments
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Amber
Yea if she’s upsetting u don’t bring it up in front of her anymore.
27 Mar 2024

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Shanice
13 Aug 2022

My baby boy love his mommy 💙💙 our little conversations mean everything to me already I'm so in love

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Melissa
awwww how sweet 💙
27 Mar 2024

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Shanice
thanks hun 😍
27 Mar 2024

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