🧠 Wellbeing · From the first few weeks
📚 Language and early reading: getting your baby talking
Language doesn't just kick off with that first word around 12–15 months; it starts right in the first few weeks with eye contact, coos, taking turns to 'speak', and sharing books. The best tools don't cost a penny, mate: your voice, your chats, and simply showing up.
The reading kit
- Board books, cloth books, or textured touch-and-feel books (virtually indestructible and chew-proof).
- Your lap, your voice, and an index finger for pointing at pictures.
Habits to get them talking
1. Give a running commentary
Narrate your day out loud: "Right, let's get you into your green babygrow", "Listen to that rain on the window". They soak up the rhythm, tone, and vocabulary long before they can actually say the words.
2. Sing-song voice? Yes. Made-up baby words? No.
Chatting in a slightly higher, melodic, slower pitch genuinely helps their little brain map out syllables. But stick to real words: say "dog" rather than "doggie-woggie".
3. Take turns
From 2–3 months, when they let out a little coo or babble, answer them back, then pause and wait. You're teaching them the golden rule of every good conversation: listen, then reply.
4. Crack open books from 3–4 months
Pop your baby on your lap, point at the pictures, and name what you see. Don't worry about following the actual story: it's all about connecting an image, a word, and a proper cuddle.
5. The dad hack
Skip the flashing electronic toys that babble at you: they do all the talking and kill off real interaction. Two chunky board books explored together will do a hundred times more for their brain development.
Classic mistakes
- ❌ Waiting until they can talk to start chatting They learn entirely by listening, months before their first word ever pops out.
- ❌ Insisting on finishing the book If they're flipping pages backwards or just gnawing on the corner, that's completely normal for this age. Let them explore it their way.
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This guide doesn't replace medical advice. When in doubt, call your doctor or your local emergency number.