Baby's Language Development: Put Down That Phone & Talk to Your Baby! Here's Why & How! by Mindy Hudon, M.S., CCC-SLP

The most important aspect to enriching your baby’s speech and language skills is not found on a tablet or smartphone. You are your baby’s best teaching tool! At 4 to 6 months of age, your baby is going through rapid language development. 

• You will notice that your baby will start to look in the direction of sounds. 
• He will notice that toys make noise and will pay attention to music. 
• You will hear your baby start to babble sounds like “bababa” or “mamama.” 
• He will start to vocalize excitement and displeasure. 
• This is an exciting time because you will start to hear your baby laugh and giggle! 

Encourage these early milestones by spending face-to-face time with Baby.

• Read and talk about pictures in books.
• Sing nursery rhymes.
• Model finger-play like “peek-a-boo” or “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” 
• Use gestures and/or signs like “more” “bye” “all done.” 
• Encourage consonant-vowel sounds like “ma,” “pa” and “da.” 
• Expand on their words and sounds: “I see Dada."
• Use animated vocal intonation and facial expressions.
• Talk, talk, talk about actions and what they experience in their environment: “See the bird fly?” “Let’s wash your belly.”