Learning to Speak

Hearing your baby say their first word is a magical moment for every parent, as well as a key stage in your baby's development. Being able to talk helps your child learn about the world around them, and enables them to communicate their feelings, thoughts and needs. Babies learn about communication from the moment they are born by hearing adults communicate with each other, and by having people talk to them. You play an important role in your baby's language development; babies learn by imitation, so how you communication with your baby directly affects their development. There are lots of ways you can help your baby to learn to talk, many of which you can do from when they are newborns, so check out our section on Learning to speak for tips on how to get your baby talking. Knowing what to expect from each stage of your baby's development means you can stay one step ahead and help your baby progress in his journey of language development.