Baby’s first word
“Light”! It was as clear as anything. It was 2am when Hannah woke up
crying. I went into her room, lifted her from her crib, she pointed to the ceiling and said it. Twice! I was thrilled. Exhausted, but thrilled. She says it regularly now. When she crawls into a room she looks up, points and says it. Although, it’s sounding more and more like, “ight”.
Here are some tips to help your baby’s language skills along. Create a nurturing communication environment by including these things:
• Talk. Speak to your baby whenever you’re together. Describe what you’re doing, point things out, ask questions, and sing songs. Some “baby talk” is OK, but don’t over do it. Your baby will learn to speak well by listening to you speak well.
• Read. Reading to your baby is a great way to expose her to new vocabulary, the way sentences are put together, and how stories flow. Your baby loves the sound of your voice and to be cuddled. Reading together is such great bonding time for families, too.
• Listen. When your baby talks (or babbles) to you, look at him, smile and be responsive. He’s more likely to speak up when he knows you’re interested in what he’s saying.
Tags: babbling, baby talk, cooing, first word, language skills, listening to your baby, reading to your baby, speech, talking to your baby, vocabulary