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The roads to communication with a baby are endless, and I never have the problem of wondering how to talk to my baby. In fact, I have been talking to her ever since she was four month old after conception (yes! in my tummy). It was part of her fetal education. After she arrived, the baby talk came even more naturally, because now the communication became two-ways: I could see and hear her feedback. Here are some examples of my baby talking.
In the early morning when I approached to her crib, I would greet her like this: Good morning, DD, how are you? Did you have a good sleep? It was raining last night. A big thunderstorm! Did you hear the thunder? Mom heard it. It was so scary. Good you were soundly sleeping at that time. The weather changed so fast. It was still 90 degrees last week. Now it felt like late fall. But, you know what, it means Thanksgiving is coming. Do you know what Thanksgiving is? It is a religious holiday .Do you know what people do at Thanksgiving? They cook turkeys and pumpkin pies. Do you like pumpkin pies? I bet you will. Mommy likes them. They taste sweet, like you. You are a sweet little girl. You cannot eat pumpkin pies this year. But you can next year. Yes, Thanksgiving next year. Daddy will make pumpkin pies for you. Daddy loves his little girl. He will do anything to make you healthy and happy…
When I put her onto the changing table and changed her diapers, the conversation went like this: You are smiling! You like mommy changing diapers, don’t you? Nobody likes to wear poppy diapers. Mommy knows that. DD, you are such an adorable little girl! Mommy loves you to pieces. Daddy loves you very much too. So do grandma and grandpa.…wow, you have good poop. Do you have more? Get them out. That is ok. Mommy can wait…
Each nursery is accompanied with my spontaneous monologue: Dinner time! Are you happy? You are smiling! Mommy has plenty of milk. They are very good for you. Mommy will be very happy if you eat them all. Yes, the more, the better. Mommy wants you to eat well, sleep well and keep growing…oh, oh, be careful, don’t eat too fast. You will chock yourself. That is not good for you. Don’t worry. Mommy has plenty of milk. They are only for you. Even Daddy cannot share with you…
Play time is also a good talking time with my baby. Sometimes the communication was like this: DD, let’s play a game. How about the game of “introducing yourself”? First, mommy and DD shake hands. Now, mommy is saying “hi, DD, this is mommy.” What DD should do? DD should say to mommy “hi, mommy, this is DD.”…Ah-goo? What does Ah-goo mean? Is it part of baby language? Can DD explain it to mommy? Can DD say mama? M-A-M-A. Yes, M-A-M-A. Not Ah-goo, it is M-A-M-A…
Sometimes it went like this: DD, why you always suck you fingers? What do they taste like? Do they taste like Chocolate or lemon? Can mommy have a bite? Sorry, DD, you cannot put the whole fist into your mouth. Your mouth is too small. Maybe you can try with Mommy’s mouth. Oh, don’t cry. Mommy is just kidding. Mommy would never hurt her baby. Mommy will do everything she can to protect her, take care of her and make her a healthy and happy child…
When DD was fussy, I would hold her over my shoulder, patting her gently and singing to her softly:
Everybody loves a good baby. DD wants to be a good baby.
How to become a good baby?
Healthy baby is a good baby. DD will be a healthy baby.
Strong baby is a good baby. DD will be a strong baby.
Smart baby is a good baby DD will be a smart baby.
Cute baby is a good baby. DD will be a cute baby.
Everybody loves good baby. DD wants to be a good baby.
The conversation before bedtime was shorter:
DD, it is 9 o’clock already. You should go to sleep now. Sleeping is good for you. It will help you grow bigger and stronger. Mommy is also tired. Mommy needs sleeping too. Would you please go to sleep for me?
Baby talk helps the baby to develop his speech fast and better. According to
What to Expect the First Year (Second Edition)
, babies who aren’t communicated with at all suffer not just in language development but in all areas of growth. Therefore, I try to talk to my baby whenever there is an opportunity. It doesn’t matter whether DD has the slightest inkling of what I am babbling about. It is a two-way interaction which prepares for our mutual understanding in the future.
