It is never too soon to start talking, reading and singing to your baby as all such communication helps the speech development of your baby. From the day your baby arrives he or she will pay particular attention to your voice and the sounds you make. The baby’s brain records these sounds and speech patterns before slowly beginning to understand them and process them so they to can develop the ability to communicate.

In the early days your baby will look to express himself or herself in the only way they know how, by use of facial expressions and of course by crying. Of course babies cry for a number of different reasons but whatever the reason they are seeking to communicate with you. Over time the crying is replaced with other sounds that in part may resemble words before they can then say words and sentences.

Through talking to your baby, about anything and everything, they will tune in to your voice and begin to appreciate all the different sounds that go into making words. The more you talk the greater the number of opportunities your baby has to understand these sounds and words.

By looking at your baby and making eye contact they will begin to understand that you are talking to them and communicating with them. Indeed that they are part of this communication process and should respond to you.

This is further enhanced by stopping and listening to them as they begin to make sounds and gurgle in response. Allow your baby time to have their say before you then say something back to them, as you would in adult conversation. This interaction informs your baby that communicating is a two-way thing and that they are being listened to. What they tell you is equally as important as what you say to them.

Singing to your baby is another great way to interact with your baby that allows them to hear words and reinforces the sounds that make up the words. It also offers them variety from talking, which is no bad thing. After all we sometimes get fed up when someone talks too much and just won’t shut up!

As well as reinforcing sounds and words, singing helps the baby develop listening skills and that they need to wait their turn rather than just talking and being the centre of attention.

Reading with your baby further enhances their development in terms of forming words and listening. However, it also adds another dimension to the interaction, a visual element that brings the words to life. Picture books enable baby’s to associate words with a whole range of objects, animals and colours. From red tractors to cats and dogs to popular TV cartoon characters, books cater for all tastes across a multitude of subjects.

Reading offers further variety for your baby and more so than talking and singing is a great activity that can form part of a daily routine. Reading a book with them at bedtime helps bring on their communication skills but can also help them to drift off to sleep, a win win situation!

Author Bio: Carl Fletcher writes for Bumfluff Babies, the number one online retailer of cloth nappies, organic baby clothing and baby gifts.

Category: Parenting
Keywords: baby talk, baby communication, baby crying, read to baby, sing to baby