15 - 18 Months

Baby’s first words. It’s the chitter-chatter of tiny peeps

#YourGrowingBaby

They’re full of wonder at the world and can’t wait to explore it. Here’s some tips to encourage your baby’s first words and sentences (and the torrent of questions that follow soon after).

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Try to teach your baby to talk about the things you see and do.

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Try to describe things as you’re doing them (I’m cooking dinner, I’m calling mummy, I’m packing your bag).

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Try to read to your child every day and describe pictures in books too.

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Singing and acting out songs and nursery rhymes makes learning words fun.

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Try to expand on what your child is saying e.g. if they say “tree” you can say “Yes it’s a tall tree”.

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It helps if your toddler can clearly see your face and mouth when you’re speaking so they can copy the shapes your lips and mouth make.

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Ask them to make choices like ‘banana or apple’ to encourage them to speak rather than point.

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Repeat words back to them correctly, but don’t focus on their mistake.

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Turn off the radio, TV or tablet so there’s fewer distractions and you can spend time focusing on talking to each other.

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Baby’s first words. It’s the chitter-chatter of tiny peeps

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