Now that your baby is approaching one year of age, you’re probably desperate to know what his first word will be. In fact, if he’s an early talker, you may already know. Over the next few months, your baby will be developing language skills and learning new words. This will happen naturally, but there are things you can do to compliment this natural process. Here are a few things you can do to teach your one year old to talk:

1. Repeat words

Perhaps unsurprisingly, repetition is important for helping your baby to grasp new words. You should make an effort to repeat words throughout the day. This could be as simple as saying the word ‘drink’ when you pass your baby his sippy cup or naming the toys he is playing with. Hearing the words over and over again will make it easier for him to learn the names of things.

2. Take your time

If you want your child to learn to talk, you need to provide him with the opportunity to practice new words. This means you need to stop second-guessing him, finishing his sentences and answering for him. Instead, take your time and wait to see what he has to say.

3. Always respond

Your child’s early attempts at conversation are important and you can build his confidence by responding positively. Always chatter back to your baby, even when you have no idea what he’s saying (this will happen a lot, it does not mean you’re a terrible mom). Expand on what your child tells you. Your child may master simple words soon and you can repeat these words back to him and include them in a sentence. This will help him to understand the next stage of language development.

4. Cut out background noise

Turn the television off, switch off the radio and spend some time each day really focused on your baby. You might be surprised to discover just how much you miss when you’re distracted by background noise. Give your baby your complete and undivided attention and strike up a conversation.

Has your baby said his first word yet?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

The funny sounds your baby makes might be pretty cute. But they also serve a purpose and help prepare her for saying her first words. For example, somewhere between five and eight months, you might notice your little one is blowing bubbles, clicking her tongue on the roof of her mouth or smacking her lips. So what’s going on with all these silly sounds?

Your baby has been developing her communications skills since her first cry. She may have started cooing and giggling a couple of months ago, but now she is learning even more. Making sounds, such as clicking her tongue, is part of your baby’s language development. These little tricks actually help her learn to talk.

Although her first words may still be a few months away, she is learning how to move her mouth and tongue to create different sounds. Don’t be surprised if you hear these sounds over and over again. Your baby wants to practice her new skills.

You might also notice that she tries to copy the sounds you make. Although she may not always get it right, she’ll give it her best shot. So if you blow raspberries, she is likely to try to do the same thing. After a few tries, your baby will usually catch on pretty fast.

Making sounds, such as blowing bubbles or clicking her tongue teach your baby a few skills that are needed for language development. For instance, blowing bubbles teaches her how to change her volume and move her mouth, lips and tongue. She will need those skills when she is learning how to pronounce words.

Around this same time, your baby may also be starting to babble more and may vary his tone and pitch. Your baby’s babbling may produce various combinations of consonants and vowel sounds that eventually turn into words, such as mama.

Keep in mind, babies are unique and hit certain developmental milestones at different times. Not all babies blow raspberries or babble by a specific age. If your baby is not attempting to babble or vocalize by about eight months, talk to your pediatrician.

You can encourage language development by imitating the sounds your baby makes. Go back and forth making silly noises as if you are having a conversation. Above all, be sure to spend a lot of time talking to your baby. She probably makes for a pretty captivated audience.

Written by MaryAnn DePietro @writerlady34

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

It’s never too early to start reading to your baby. Though she may not yet understand the words you say, she will be soothed by the sound of your voice and will enjoy some quiet time snuggled up with you. You might want to start reading the favorites books from your own childhood, or perhaps you were given some children’s books as presents when your baby was born. While your baby is young, you could even read aloud from whatever you’re reading, giving you a chance to enjoy a book too. Here are just five of the reasons you should start reading to your baby:

1. Time to bond

Life can be pretty hectic, especially when you have a young baby in the house. You probably find you spend most of the day rushing around changing diapers, trying to get out of the house on time for baby group and trying to stay on top of the laundry. Reading gives you a bit of quiet bonding time to enjoy with your baby. Away from the hustle and bustle of life, you can both relax and enjoy some cuddles whilst enjoying books together.

2. Reading encourages language skills

Reading to your baby encourages the development of language skills. She’ll be hearing new words, listening to the way you use your voice and learning more about language. According to reports, more than 1 in 3 US children start kindergarten without the language skills necessary for learning to read. You can give your child some extra help by reading aloud, and it’s never too early to start.

3. Reading aids brain development

Reading aloud to young children can help brain development. The American Academy of Pediatrics says, “Reading regularly with young children stimulates optimal patterns of brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy, and social-emotional skills that last a lifetime”.

4. It’s relaxing

Reading is a great way to unwind after a busy day. Many parents use bedtime stories as part of their relaxing bedtime routine. To help your baby prepare to sleep, enjoy some cuddles in bed whilst you read aloud to her. This quiet bonding time won’t just benefit your baby, you’ll enjoy it too. After a busy day of parenting, you’ll benefit from some focused one-to-one bonding time with your baby.

5. It gives you something to say

Talking to your baby is the best way to teach her about language and social communication, but that doesn’t mean it comes naturally to every parent. You might find yourself struggling for something to say, after all, the conversation is pretty one-sided at this early stage. Books give you things to say. You can read the story but also point out the pictures and talk more about the issues raised in the book. They’re a great starting point for if you’re struggling to things of things to talk about.

What are your favorite books to read to your baby?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

For now, your baby is communicating through coos, smiles, babbling and of course crying. But before you know it, your baby’s sweet coos will turn into baby’s first words. Whether it is mama, dada or bye-bye, hearing your little one say his first words, is exciting.

How Babies Develop Language

Your baby’s language development starts long before he can say real words. Somewhere around four to six months, your little one will start babbling and experimenting with making different sounds. Babies use their lips, tongue and palate to make sounds. Making silly noises, such as blowing raspberries, is more than just cute. It is a precursor to talking and an important part of development.

A few months later, your baby starts mimicking tones and sounds similar to the ones you make, which is why talking to your baby is so important. Although it can vary, somewhere around her first birthday your baby may start saying single words.

As she grows, her language skills will continue to develop. With each passing month, your baby adds words to her vocabulary and understands even more.

Keep in mind, what’s considered normal is wide open. Although your baby may be an early talker, it’s also considered normal for a baby not to say his first real words until he is 18 months. Remember, babies sometimes do things at their own pace, not by the books. But if you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician.

Encouraging Language Development

There are several things you can do to help your baby develop her language skills, and you may already be doing many of them. For example, talking and singing to your baby are excellent ways to encourage language. Although your baby will not understand everything you say, she is still a captivated audience. Describe activities as you’re doing them, point out objects and make up silly rhyming songs.

It’s also helpful to respond when your baby “talks” to you. For instance, if you’re talking to your baby, and he coos or babbles back, pause just like you would if he was talking using words. Make eye contact, be responsive and let your little one know you’re listening.

Reading is also a great way to encourage language development. Consider making reading a part of your nighttime routine. Reading also provides quiet time to cuddle with your baby and help her settle down. While you’re reading, point to the pictures as you say the words. This helps your baby understand what different words mean.

Written by MaryAnn DePietro @ writerlady34

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

What is baby talk?

Baby talk is that hideously annoying thing you hear other parents doing sometimes which is totally adorable and perfectly acceptable when you do it with your own kids. When speaking to babies, you may find yourself drawing out your vowel sounds, speaking in a high-pitched voice and using words like ‘gigi’ instead of ‘horse’. That’s baby talk.

Baby talk is often referred to as ‘motherese’. It sounds sexist, but researchers have found that moms are more likely than dads to use baby talk. Baby talk may be a little embarrassing in public, but it could have great benefits for your baby’s developing brain.

One study found that baby talk boosted language development. Babies who frequently heard baby talk spent more time babbling. Participants were followed up a little while later and those babies who heard the most baby talk had grown into the toddlers with the biggest vocabularies.

If the thought of whipping out your best baby talk at the grocery store fills you with dread, worry not. Baby talk was found to have the biggest impact on language development when it was used in a one-on-one situation. This attentive environment heightens learning and allows babies to babble back. So there’s no need to go public with your motherese, you can keep it as your little secret for now.

How to help your baby learn to talk

If you’re keen to encourage your baby to talk, you could try the following:

• Motherese – as explained above, spending one-on-one time conversing with your baby using baby talk could be beneficial for language development.

• Chat – it doesn’t have to be baby talk, but your baby needs to hear lots of words to aid language development. The more you talk to your baby, the more opportunity he has for learning.

• Books – if you’re struggling for conversation with your baby (it’s not easy when they don’t chat back), reach for a storybook. You can read the story or simply discuss what you see in the pictures. Either way, your baby will be benefiting from listening to you talk.

• Respond – it may sound like your baby is randomly making hilarious noises, but that babble is his early attempts at conversation. Chat to him by repeating the sounds back to him.

• Focus – background noise can make it difficult for babies to concentrate. Make sure you spend quality time in a quiet environment each day together. Turn off the television so your baby can really focus on the sounds you make.

What steps do you take to encourage your baby’s language development?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Children raised in bilingual homes are at an advantage when it comes to learning to speak. The earlier your child is introduced to a second language, the faster she will pick it up. In this global world, there are many benefits to speaking two or more languages. Most importantly, it will allow your child to communicate with her extended family and friends who speak another language. Raising your child to speak two languages can actually alter her brain development for the better. If you’re thinking about raising a bilingual child, here are some top tips to help you get started:

1. Do your research

There are plenty of books, blogs and articles out there full of advice that could help you on your journey. There are also plenty of on and offline support groups filled with parents on the exact same journey as you. The more research you do, the better prepared you’ll be when raising a bilingual child. Read the books, sign up to the blogs and join the parent support groups to help make this journey a little easier.

2. One parent, one language

Many families create a bilingual home environment by having each parent talk to the child in a different language. Whilst dad might speak to your baby in English, you yourself may speak Spanish. Consistency here will aid the development of your baby’s language skills. Of course, your baby will hear English frequently outside the home, but if you commit to always communicating in Spanish, this will help your baby to begin to understand both languages.

3. Frequency

In order to truly become bilingual, your child will need to hear both languages frequently. This means you can’t isolate one language to just an hour a day, both must be used frequently to give your baby the best chance at a bilingual start in life.

4. Connect with other families

Rest assured, you are not the only bilingual family in your local area. Look online for other bilingual parents to connect with. Setting up play dates with other bilingual families gives your child yet another chance to strengthen his language skills. Search online for a bilingual baby group in your local area. If you can’t find one, consider setting one up. All you need is a space to meet (it could even be your local park), a few toys and a handful of other families to meet up with. This will give your child another opportunity to see interactions in other languages.

5. Use resources

Even at a young age, babies love having bedtime stories read to them. Storybooks provide yet another opportunity for language development, so make sure you have storybooks in both languages. If you’re trying to teach your child Spanish, reading bedtime stories in Spanish is another great teaching tool. As your baby grows older, you may also want to watch Spanish speaking television shows together and use Spanish preschool apps to learn language skills.

Are you currently raising a bilingual child? Do you have any tips to share with other parents?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

From the day your little one was born, you have yearned to hear him or her utter a single word: Mama. You tell your partner you don’t care which comes first, and you tease that your baby is more likely to honor some other integral piece of your life (like the dog’s name, or some curse word you’ve been guilty of dropping). But really… you’re waiting for “Mama.”

And, of course, for the day your baby’s language development allows him or her to actually converse with you.

Most babies have a handful of words by age one, and they are starting to string them together into short sentences by two. But if you are anxious for the day real communication can begin, there are ways you can help to encourage your baby towards those language development milestones.

1. Read: Your little one is never too young to be read to, and making story time a part of your nightly routine can help him or her to develop a lifelong love of reading. Be sure to angle the book so that they can see the pictures, and choose stories that provide the opportunity for you to alter your voice and express enthusiasm. Your baby is sure to love that!
2. Narrate Your Life: Don’t ever feel silly talking to your baby! In fact, tell him or her everything you are doing as you go about your day. For instance, “Mommy is going to get you a blanket now,” or “What do you think about sitting in your swing while Mommy makes us dinner?” Just because they don’t respond, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be engaging in the conversation. And the more you talk, the more they will learn how to associate those words to what you are talking about.
3. Babywear: If you haven’t worn your baby up to now, it may be time to consider doing so. There are a lot of different options for wearing your baby on your chest as you go about your day, and doing so can increase interactions between you and your little one, thereby improving your ability to narrate.
4. Tell Nursery Rhymes: Nursery rhymes have a rhythm that captures the attention of little ones and engages them in ways simple story telling might not. So memorize a few of your favorites, and repeat them throughout the day.
5. Sing: Most babies love music, and just as with nursery rhymes, singing has the ability to uniquely draw them into the words you are sharing. So sing along to the radio, cultivate your own lullaby, and introduce a few classic children’s songs. Bonus: Sometimes busting into tune is the perfect way to get your baby to smile for a picture!

Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general informational basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.