Is it better to use 'baby talk' when speaking to babies and young children or should you talk normally

Question

as you would if you were speaking with adults? I read someone else's question about what kind of things you should talk to children about, and that got me thinking about HOW you should talk to children. I have no children, am an only child, and have not had much experience with children. Thank you for your help!

Answer 1

Babbling is not good for the baby. The goo goo ga ga is actually bad for a baby's development. However, motherease helps them learn the language much faster.

Motherease is the pitch, tone, and elongation of sounds you'll hear a mom use when talking to her baby. It isn't babble it's regular talk just comes out in a different way.

It has been studied and when moms use the regular adult language the child doesn't pick up on the language like another whose mom uses motherease. Also, a child whose mom uses motherease will not respond to someone who uses regular adult talk. This happened with my son who wouldn't respond to his dad. My husband has since tried to mimic motherease and as baby (nine months) gets older he responds more to dad and others who don't use motherease.

But, most women inistictively use it. I think it's natures way. Also, a woman who is talking to a baby will usually autmoatically slip into motherease. I think it's amusing to watch how nature works.

Answer 2

you should speak to them as you would any other person but use age appropriate words for example "automobile" a 2 year probably would not know that so you would say "car"! talking in "baby talk is fine as a game to make them smile or muck around and have fun but talking to them like that all the time can impair there speech and it does nothing to widen their vocabulary people don't give kids enough credit they are so good at accepting change and loss and they are so much smarter than most people think. the best advice i have regarding adult and child conversations is NEVER talk to children about adult situations the things that they have no control over do not need to be brought to their attention for example things like the money you don't have or the bill you need to pay or if daddy is coming home etc.. these are adult problem don't put them onto your kids hope this helps good luck in the wonderful world of kids communication

Answer 3

I don’t encourage that...

As for babies or young children, if u speak to them normally, not only you will help them speak out faster but you will also enable them to develop their communication skills earlier than other children of their age. Therefore, make them special children

Another thing is that not all people are actually good at it. Like when some parents do the “baby talk” to their babies thinking its cute, others might just go “yuck” inside, hearing them do that. It’s disliked by many people.

Answer 4

I think it is important to do both. Babies usually respond well to very high voices (and some even prefer very low) - especially when they start to smile. You can really get them going with that. I also think it is important to use your normal voice around the baby - read to the baby, talk about what you are doing, etc. This is especially true for the mother because the baby has been hearing her normal voice in utero for nine months. Talking with babies is fun either way!

As for older children, I would start using just your "adult voice" around two or three years of age. My mother teaches preschool and they respond well to that. You definitely wouldn't want to use baby talk with a child much older than that. :o)

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

I agree-talk normally. I have two children (4 & 2). Not only do they learn the correct way to talk. You, yourself will understand THEM better. My 4 yr. old uses 3 and 4 syllabled words. Because when I say a word I'm not sure she knows (via storytime or conversation), I''ll stop and ask her if she understands that word? Then I'll explain the word to her and continue the thought. Never talk down to children. Just clearly and concisely. Kids are much smarter than anyone gives them credit for.

Answer 6

I know I am going to get a bollocking for this, but I'll say it anyway. I never used baby talk with my two children. I never said "look at the doggy woggy". I mean, how friggen stupid does that sound in the first place?! I would've said "Look at the dog", and then pointed to his ears and mouth and nose, saying each part as we went along. I never used rhyming words (doggy woggy, coochi coochi coo) mainly because I felt like a right dickwad! Even with my nieces and nephews when they were babies, I didnt do the whole baby talk thing.

Children are not dumb! If you feeling like using baby talk, then go right ahead, I dont care if other people do. I just didnt feel very comfortable using it.

Answer 7

I think with babies its just fine to speak in that baby type of lovey voice, they're too young for that to matter I would say
..but I have heard in the past that with young children, it is best to speak to them in a normal adult tone because apparently they'll act in a better manner if you speak to them in a more grown up tone...and if you speak to young ones in more of a baby voice they'll act young and as child like as possible.. Just what I heard. I think it sounds appropriate

Answer 8

isn't language aquisition humorous? First, word that boys on the wide spectrum advance their language skills slightly later than women. some linguists could probable say that studying to talk isn't by using memorization of asserting "say hi" From journey with my 19 month previous son. The DVDs of infant sesame street, elmo's international, and infant einstein have helped him plenty. examine a e book to him a pair of times an afternoon. and easily shop on having conversations with him as though he have been an entire fledged participant.... sooner or later he will marvel you. sturdy luck.

Answer 9

You should speak to children normally because most of the time if you talk to them like a baby that is how they are going to talk. My cousin when she was 9 had to go to a Speach Thereapist because my aunt had talked to her like a baby most of the time. You have more questions about babies try this I use it alot http://www.askdrsears.com/

Answer 10

Speak normal..........children learn fast and they do not know the difference between "baby" talk and regular talk. Why speak "baby" when you'd just have to change it later on? It probably only sounds cute to us anyway.