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Baby bonding
Talking to and communicating
with your child shouldn’t just
be about increasing their
intellectual abilities.
More importantly, it also
gives you special time to bond
with your baby and develop a
relationship that will last for
life. Have fun and the learning
will come!
top tips
Speech and language therapists have come up
with the following tips to get your baby –
and you – talking.
• Babies just a few minutes old will look at faces.
Try sticking your tongue out – your baby may
copy you!
• Hold your baby close so they can see your face
• Your baby will know your voice from the womb.
Each time you talk, your baby will listen
• Use your daily routine as prompts. Talk about
getting up, changing their nappy, mealtimes,
walks – anything
• Dummies can stop children from talking so try
to limit them to bedtimes and nap times
• Games are fun ways to communicate with each
other. Try ‘This little piggy’ with their toes or
tickling games
Sing when you’re winning
Another great way to
communicate with your baby
is through singing. Little ones
love music and a song or
two will grab their attention.
You don’t need to be brilliant
(think of all those X Factor
competitors!) – you just need to
be ready to let your hair down
and have fun. Any music will
work but traditional nursery
rhymes, with their associated
actions, particularly please
babies and toddlers. It can be
difficult remembering these
from when we were kids, so
try popping down to your local
library and borrowing a book or
CD to spark your memory.
Alternatively, check out
your local children’s centre
or noticeboards in your local
shops to see what baby and
toddler music sessions they
run. This gives you and your
baby the added benefit of
meeting more people.
• Try not to let the TV take over. Half an hour a day
for under-twos is enough. Turn the set off if no
one is watching it
• Always look at your baby when you talk to them
and give them time to respond
• Sing to your baby. They will love the sound, even
if you don’t!
FURTHER
INFORMATION
www.oxonchildrenscentres.org.uk
www.talkingpoint.org.uk
www.wordsforlife.org.uk/baby
www.ican.org.uk
www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries