Is your 8-12 month old trying to talk? (Baby Communication Development) Let's find out!

Your little one, who is between 8 and 12 months old, is now starting to interact with the world, isn't he? During this time, their ability to talk, that is, their way of communicating with others, is developing at an amazing rate. Sometimes you wonder, 'Will he understand what I'm saying?' Today, we'll talk about the language skills of these little ones and how you can help them.

How do you "talk" to us, kids?

By the time they are 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 months old, your baby will probably start saying the words you've been waiting for, like 'mama' and 'dada'. But instead of saying them out loud, they will start with sounds like 'mamamama' and 'daadada'. It's like they're learning to say words. We call this 'babbling' . They love to say letters like 'babababa' and 'mammamama' in a row. When you say 'mama' or 'daada' and they smile and are happy, they will slowly understand that 'ah... this is the sound they love so much.' That's when a connection is made between that word and that person. Imagine, if you say 'daada' and they look at their father, it means they have started to associate that word with their father.

Not only that, they communicate with us through body language even before words arrive.

• I wave to you to say 'Tata', right?
• If you don't like something, you shake your head from side to side.
• They raise their hands to take him.
• They smile beautifully when they're happy, cry when they're sad, make faces when they're angry, and widen their eyes when they're surprised. These are all ways they're trying to tell you something.

At this time, they are very attentive to the words you say and the things you do. They are trying their best to copy you. So, you should be a little careful about what you say and the words you use, right? Because they are catching everything!

How do you know if your child understands what you are saying?

You may sometimes wonder, 'Does he really understand what I'm saying?' Yes, at this age, they understand more than they think. See if these things happen:

• When you ask, 'Where's Daddy?', does the baby look in the direction where Daddy is?
• When you point to it and say, "Where's the ball?", does it crawl in that direction?
• Does he look at you when you say his name?
• When you say 'No!' a little too firmly, does he stop what he's doing for a moment? Or does he look at you?

Things like this can help you understand that your baby is starting to understand simple things you say. Isn't that a great feeling?

What can you do to improve your baby's speaking skills?

You can do a lot to develop your child's language skills. It's not that hard. It's very simple. The most important thing is to interact with your child often .

Always talk, sing songs, read books!

Talk to your baby often . Tell him about what you are doing, saying, and seeing. Simple things like, "Mommy is going to cook now," or "Look, there's a beautiful bird outside." Repeat back to him the sounds he makes, like "me," "baba." Use simple words.

• Ask, 'Where is the cup?' and ask him to show it.
• Point to a ball and ask, "What's this?" Wait a moment before he answers. After a while, he'll start saying something like "Bo..." or pointing at it.

Singing songs is great. They love the rhythm and words of the songs. Sing songs while clapping and waving your hands. It keeps their attention and makes learning the language fun.

Label Everything

This is very important. Teach him that everything he sees and uses has a name. It's like labeling .

• When you feed him milk in the morning, say 'this is milk', and when he goes to bed at night, point to his teddy and say 'this is teddy'.
• Name everything in the house - the chair, the table, the toys, the food.

Make this a whole-body experience .

• Hold a toe on the baby's leg and say, "This is the toe."
• Point to your ear and say, 'This is mommy's ear' (or 'daddy's ear').

When you talk to him , look him in the face . Then he can see your facial expressions and lip movements. This is a great help in learning words.

Let's practice words with games!

Make learning words a game. Say nursery rhymes , short poems, etc. The repeating words and rhythm in these can be easily picked up by them.

• Add hand gestures. When you say 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', make a star shape with your hands.
• Sing the song at different tempos and volume levels to keep their attention.

Babies love this kind of playful language .

Let's read big picture books

Look at large, colorful picture books with your child. Encourage him to turn the pages himself.

• When you ask questions, let him 'read' and 'answer'. Imagine if you pointed to a cat in a book and asked 'Who is this?' and he said 'Pooh...', that's a big deal.
• Talk about the things in the pictures. Say things like, 'Look at this dog's big ears', 'This flower is red'.

Times when you need to think a little (When should you see a doctor?)

Not all children are the same. Some children start talking a little earlier, some a little later. That's normal variation . However, if you have significant concerns about your child's ability to talk or whether he or she can hear, be sure to talk to your family doctor or a pediatrician.

Typically, by the age of 12 months (one year), most babies will be doing the following:

• They understand when you say 'no' (they might stop what they're doing for a moment, or look at you).
• They make different sounds like 'mammammamma' and 'bababababa'.
• Waving to say 'Tata'.
• They call their mother 'Mom' and their father 'Dad' (or whatever special name they use).

Important: This doesn't mean that every baby should do all of these things at exactly 12 months. There may be slight variations. But if you notice a big difference or delay, it's best to consult a doctor. They can examine your baby and tell you if everything is going well.

So, here are some things for parents to remember! (Take-Home Message)

So, we've talked a lot about this wonderful time when your little one's speech develops between 8 and 12 months, haven't we? To summarize:

• Your attention is what matters: The best way to develop your child's language skills is to regularly talk to them, play with them, and sing songs to them.
• Every sound, every gesture tells a story: The little sounds your baby makes, the way he moves his limbs, the expressions he shows on his face – these are all attempts by him to 'talk' to you. Respond to them.
• Always name things: Always name things they see and do. That way, the words will stick in their heads.
• Make reading a habit: Looking at colorful picture books together will not only help him learn words, but it will also strengthen the bond between you.
• When in doubt, don't be afraid to ask: While every child is different, if you have any concerns about your child's speech development or hearing, seeking advice from a doctor can help ease any fears you may have.

Remember, you are not alone on this journey. Be patient and loving with these little talkers. They have so much to tell you!

Baby talk, 8-12 month olds, language development, parenting tips, baby talk, communication, child development