Top 10 To Do List To Help Teach Your 6-12 Month Old Baby To Learn to Talk (Strategies Are Also Useful for Older Babies Up to 18 months Who Aren't Using Many Words Yet)

Speech and Language Development in 6-12 month olds

This is such an exciting age where your baby learns and develops so much.  Here are some of the exciting things your baby will learn to do:

​* Turns and looks in the direction of sounds
* Listens when spoken to
*Responds to simple spoken requests e.g. "come here", "up", "ta" 
* Copies gestures (e.g. clapping hands)
* Uses simple gestures such as shaking head for "no" or waving "bye-bye"
* Laughs in response to something
​*Enjoys playing simple social games such as peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake
*Understands first words such as familiar peoples names (e.g. "Nana") or common items such as “cup,” or “milk”
*Babbles using long and short groups of sounds he/she repeats (“dada, mama, bibibi”) and will start to vary sounds (e.g.babadaga) once skilled at repeating them.
*Babbles to get and keep attention
* Imitates different speech sounds he/she hears (e.g. ah oh, brrrm)
* Has one or two words (“hi,” “dog,” “Dada,” or “Mama”) by first birthday

Babbling and attempting to copy sounds and first words is a critical stage of speech and language development and sets the foundation for future speech and language development.   If your baby doesn't seem to play with making sounds or hasn't gone through the babbling stage by 12 months of age, a speech pathology assessment is recommended.

Top 10 To Do List To Help Babies Learn to Talk:

Number 1

Babies learn about talking and listening through play, so it's important to set aside time to play with your baby each day.

Number 2

Imitate your babies sounds.  Watch your baby and copy their actions and sounds.  Do this immediately after your baby has made a sound.  Make this into a fun game you play everyday.  Reward your baby if he/she imitates the sound back by showing them you're excited they copied you (e.g. smile, cuddle, comment "clever talking").

Number 3

Take turns making sounds and playing. Pause to listen and speak just like you would in an adult conversation.  Copy their actions and sounds and then wait for them to try to copy you or make a different noise or action.

Number 4

Talk to your baby often, get face to face with them speaking slowly, clearly and simply.  Babies love to watch their parents faces and this is great for encouraging sound play, language development and early social interaction skills.

Number 5

Lots and lots of sound play.  Play games and activities that encourages lots of sounds.  Watch and listen to your baby to see what activities he/she likes to make sounds during. What sounds does he/she like to make?  Are there certain times of the day he/she likes to make sounds (e.g. bathtime, mealtimes, waking up time)?  Use these times to join in making sounds and modelling how to make different sounds. 

Number 6

Use exciting toys, books and games to encourage making sounds.  Toys that have a 'surprise' or books that are colourful with tags, flaps and crinkley fabric they can play with are most likely to make your child vocalise (e.g. Jack in the Box, Pop Up Farm Toy).  You can choose key words to model repeatedly that your baby will enjoy listening to, learning and might try to copy (e.g. open, pop, peek-a-boo Jack).

Number 7

Mirror time is great! Babies often love making sounds in front of a mirror with mum or dad.  Sit in front of a mirror together and make silly faces and noises together.

Number 8

Sing songs and nursery rhymes together everyday.  Singing the same words over and over again will help your baby learn language and rhythm.  Try singing to your baby in babble sounds and nonsense sounds (e.g. la la la, da da da, na na na, MMmmm) and see what he/she does.  Encourage your baby to join in by smiling, clapping or praising any of his/her attempts.

Number 9

Introduce new sounds once your baby is able to take turns producing a single sound (e.g. baba). You can encourage your baby to copy a new sound (e.g. mama). You might focus on a sound your think they might be starting to try to make (e.g. Mmm) or introduce a sound they aren't making yet (e.g. gaga)

Number 10

'Use lots of sounds during play.  These don't have to be real words, they can be made up sounds or easy words like an animal noise.  'Play sounds' catch a baby's attention, are easier to understand and are often easier to imitate than real words.  Examples you could try are:
     wee - when pushing on a swing.
     pop - when popping bubbles
     moo, baa, neigh, woof - animal noises when playing with toy animals
     Brrrmm brrmm - when pushing a toy car to each other
     ha ha ha - when patting panting dog
     Grrr - when pretending to be a lion
     Mmmm - when eating something nice
     raspberry blowing - when pretending to be a horse or playing with toy horse
     wee - when lifting up high
     eeow - when flying toy plane or pretending to be a plane
    oh oh - when drop something
    toot toot - when playing with toy truck or watching real truck go past 

Written By Sarah Creagh, Speech Pathologist.

References Used:

Speech and Language Developmental Milestones - NIDCD
www.nidcd.nih.gov
Child Development Milestones - 6 months - Queensland Government
www.health.qld.gov.au
'Early Communication Skills' Handout, Speech Pathology Department, Priness Margaret Hospital
Helping Your Baby To Talk, Speech Pathology Australia
www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au