Speaking your baby's language is important, but so is speaking yours, early and often. Babies learn by imitation, so be sure to talk up a storm.

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Transcript:

Look who's talking! Your baby's adorable grunts, gurgles and coos are delighting you morning, noon and night. And the best way to encourage more of that crazy cute communication is to keep the conversation going. So go ahead and coo and gurgle right back. Matching coo for coo will be super satisfying to your sweet talker and will encourage the verbal baby steps that will eventually lead to that first meaningful mama or dada. Can you hardly wait for that?
Speaking your baby's language is important, but so is speaking yours early and often. Babies learn by imitation, so be sure to talk up a storm. Sure those chats will be one-sided affairs for now but keep at it because your little one's speech will develop faster and better if you nurture it. How can you keep the conversation flowing? Here are some of my favorite language immersion tips.
First: narrate your day every step of the way. "It's time to get dressed. "The doggie is hungry. "Let's feed the doggy. "The phone is ringing." When you're out on a walk talk about the weather. "It's such a sunny day." About what you're seeing. "Look at that squirrel on the tree." About what you're hearing. "Did you hear the duck say quack, quack?" And about what you're doing. "Now Daddy's going to change your diaper." During bath time, dish on soap and rinsing, and explain that shampoo makes hair shiny and clean. Point out that the water is warm and wet. The towel is soft and dry.
Baby doesn't get it? Of course not, but that's not the point. Blow-by-blow descriptions help get you talking and baby listening and ultimately understanding. In the meantime she'll hang on your every word, even if she doesn't know one word from another.
Next, channel your inner talk show host. Ask your baby questions throughout the day. "Should we put on your red shirt or your white one? "Should I buy tomatoes or peppers?" Of course you'll have to supply the answers for now. "Tomatoes, good choice." But baby will soak up every one of your syllables. As you gab on, leave an opening for your baby's comments pausing to let him get a coo or squeal in edgewise. No comment? Ask for one. "What do you think?" So he can model the give and take that makes a conversation and puts the interaction into communication.
Here's another tip to get your baby listening and talking. Sing your words. Don't worry if you can't carry a tune. Babies don't know their sharps from their flats and they don't much care. Your baby will love your singing whether it's pitch perfect or off key, rock or rap, country or R&B. Develop a playlist for your little one's enjoyment and you'll soon see which songs rock your baby's world most. Can't remember the words? Make up your own to suit the situation.
And while you're pulling out all the communication stops, be sure to pull out the books, too. Reading out loud to your baby bookworm will teach volumes helping her build a library of sounds and eventually a vocabulary of words. Plus, reading will become a treasured ritual you'll both look forward to for years of cuddly story times to come. Rhymes will be especially pleasing to her eager ears, but really anything goes.
Finally, remember that everyone needs some quiet time, even your baby. When your little one tunes out, turns away or cranks up the crankies, that's a signal he's had enough for now and that it's time to give your voice and baby's ears a rest. Here's to happy talking.