Why you need to talk to your baby…even if it’s awkward
Talking to your baby can be … weird. It can feel awkward just chatting and pretending that your baby understands or can respond. But talking to your baby and modeling conversation is essential for brain growth and development. This article breaks down why it’s so important to talk to your baby.
What are the benefits of talking to your baby?
It boosts brain development. A baby’s brain triples in size by the age of three, but caretakers need to support this growth. Research shows that babies whose caretakers speak with them less can fall behind even through elementary school. And babies whose caretakers speak to them often are more likely to succeed in school.
It improves vocabulary. There is a famous (but controversial) study that found children’s vocabulary and sentence patterns are almost completely made up of their parents’ words, and the children whose caretakers don’t speak with them often can, potentially, have thirty-million fewer words. It found that children benefitted from hearing rich conversation.
It models conversation. When babies hear (and see) conversations, they will understand how they work and begin “conversing” more quickly. They will understand conversational turn-taking, eye contact, responding to others, and more.
Speaking more to your baby isn’t about hitting a quota of words spoken each day. Shift your mindset from needing to talk non-stop to being a good role model. By reading, singing, and modeling conversation for your baby, you are preparing him or her to do all of those things and more. And remind yourself that while you’re just talking to yourself now, in no time, your toddler will be chatting and telling long (long, long) stories.
Hi! I'm Gigi; I'm a postpartum doula, mother to three toddlers, including twins, and a wife to my high school sweetheart. I’m a #swiftie who loves cheesy novels.
As a former teacher, I bring realistic, evidence-based, and actionable advice (and LOTS of handouts.) I help families get the tools they need to prepare, so once baby arrives, they can focus on resting and bonding instead of researching or stressing. I’m here to streamline the newborn learning curve and help birth parents, partners, and other family members. There isn’t ONE way to have and raise a little human. I’m here to guide parents to find THEIR way so that they can thrive in the fourth trimester and beyond.
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