The first year of your baby is full of roller coaster rides. From first eye contact to seeing the first smile and from hearing gurgles to coos, the moments are full of emotions. But when babies start learning to speak words like “da-da ” and “ma-ma,” they have baby talks with you too. You need to encourage your tiny one to build communication skills
during that period. Understanding baby talk is equally important.
You must understand their baby talks and practice the same while addressing your bay. But why should you initiate baby talks? Well, understanding baby talk can help to develop language skills and help them to learn words faster. Keeping your concerns in mind, here’s everything you need to know about understanding baby talks.
In This Article
- Do Babies Understand Baby Talk?
- Should You Talk To Your Baby?
- Why Is Talking To Your Baby Important?
- When Should You Start To Communicate With Babies?
- What Happens If You Don’t Talk To Your Baby?
- Dunstan Baby Language: What You Need To Know?
- FAQ’s
Do Babies Understand Baby Talk?
Babies do understand baby talk even before they start speaking clearly. They can understand the meaning of simpler words with which you are addressing them. Moreover, babies do notice the emotional tone behind your words.
Thus, try to encourage your baby with baby talks. Maintain a smile while communicating with your tiny one. Do baby talk with your babies with a smile, especially when they are gurgling, cooing, and speaking unclear words.
Should You Talk To Your Baby?
You should start baby talks with your little one or toddler when they speak a few words. It helps to develop their communication skills and language learning process. In fact, the more you baby talk with babies, the better they learn. This is because parents who use different words, sounds, and emotions to talk with babies are likely to help their babies communicate.
When a baby hears these words with different sounds, they start understanding language and learn more words and how to use them. Also, talking with babies not only helps in improving language skills but also helps in the development of the baby’s brain. This further helps to grasp things during school time in a better way.
Why Is Talking To Your Baby Important?
Talking to your baby is crucial as it helps develop communication and languages. In fact, the more you talk with babies, the better they learn the language. Babies focus on different words and sounds and try to mimic you. Hence, it would be great to talk with your babies.
Also, talking with babies can help improve language understanding and increase their word-catching power. They begin to learn a few words and try to speak what they are thinking. Talking to your baby not merely helps in language development but also helps in the brain development of the baby.
When Should You Start To Communicate With Babies?
Your babies absorb information such as words, sounds, and talks by watching you and listening to different sounds. It’s excellent to start baby talks with your babies as early as possible. You can also start talking to your baby when your baby is five-six months old.
Communication with the baby may sound one-sided at first. Even if your baby is too small to speak, they will attentively listen to you. Moreover, they also try to participate in the conversation. They will communicate through crying, direct eye contact, and hearing.
Later, your baby will coo, laugh, giggle, make additional sounds, and wiggle their body to communicate with you. Pay attention to the babies when they are trying to communicate with you with their baby’s talk. Start addressing them with simple words so that they can learn them.
What Happens If You Don’t Talk To Your Baby?
The biggest consequence of not talking to the baby is slow progress. Your babies learn language very slowly if you aren’t communicating with them. The vocabulary of the babies will be smaller if you do not speak with them. Apart from this, you’re less likely to listen attentively to the baby and connect with your kids if you’re not chatting with them. It can be tough to form a deep attachment with your infant when this happens.
Hence, starting communication with your babies as early as possible is essential. In fact, playing games, reading books, and conversing with your baby aids in the formation of lasting habits. Starting things early increases the likelihood that they will stick. The habits may never form if you don’t do them at all. Speaking to your children from an early age will encourage them to acquire a love of literature that will become a lifelong interest.
Dunstan Baby Language: What You Need To Know?
Priscilla Dunstan, an Australian opera soprano, invented Dunstan’s infant language. She noticed that all babies produced certain noises before crying. Learning these noises, as per Dunstan, can assist you in figuring out whatever your baby is trying to convey to you before their sobbing becomes too loud.
Dunstan isn’t a speech pathologist or a baby expert; however, she utilized her expertise as a singer and performer — as well as her musical ear — to conduct a study on babies all across the globe for eight years. Dunstan’s infant language was the eventual outcome.
According to Dunstan infant languages, all babies produce only five noises shortly before crying. You should listen for these sounds rather than the real cry to determine what your baby requires.
- Neh:- This means “I am Hungry.” Along with this sound, babies start sucking their fingers.
- Heh:- This means “I am physically uncomfortable.” Babies usually make this sound when they pee in their diapers and have to change it. It can also trigger itchiness on the skin.
- Owh:- This means “I am sleepy.”
- Earth:- This means “My stomach is upset.” The sound is produced as a result of gas accumulating in the baby’s tummy. It can signal flatulence as well as the need for a bowel motion. You may quickly take your kid to the toilet before changing a soiled diaper.
- Eh:- This means “Come on- Burp Me Up.”
Bottom Line
Understanding a baby’s language can help you know a lot about your baby’s needs. Moreover, talking to your babies as early as possible helps your kids to learn languages easily. Besides this, talking to your babies can help in brain development, so try to understand the baby’s language and learn the Dunstan language, as it helps to know what your babies are trying to say.
FAQs
1. What Language Should I Speak To My Baby?
The thumb rule is to speak your native language or English to address your babies. Try to be realistic, use baby talk and small words and maintain conversational fluency. Speak softly using different sounds as it helps to learn words easily.
2. Should I Interact With The Baby All The Time?
You can interact with your baby for the maximum time, which is crucial for their development. However, maintaining a conversational gap helps avoid confusion and learn them peacefully.
3. How Do I Communicate With My Baby?
Listen to your child’s sounds and words, especially cooing and babbling, and react to them. Try to mimic and expand on her sounds or words. Vocabulary words should be introduced during everyday habits and outings.
