Parents often can't wait to hear their baby talk to them in words that everyone can understand. It's true, baby's first words are magical but it should be noted that there is a lot of learning, effort, and attempts before actual, meaningful words are delivered. When you learn about how much had to happen before your child could say "Mama," you'll realize what an incredible achievement your baby's first words really are!
As a general rule, most babies will start saying their first words around 5 months to 1 year of age. Long before that babies are listening to you, to family members, to your friends, the radio and learning the patterns of speech. In fact, many scientists believe that while in utero, your baby is able to tune into both your heartbeat and the sound of your voice.
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Following the birth, your baby immediately begins to learn as much as he can about his surroundings as well as sounds. Babies as young as 4 weeks can distinguish different syllables. By several months of age language is becoming a more tangible subject for your baby. Words are slowly being memorized because of repetition. Your baby is noticing the tones of people's voices, as well as what words spark negative or positive emotions. By 13 months your baby will begin to ask questions by changing the tone of his voice. More impressively, this is only the cerebral part of learning how to speak.
Throughout the process babies are trying to use their lips, palate and tongue to mimic the words and sounds that you make. Those "Oohs" and "Aahs" that your baby often makes are actually first attempts at speech. Shortly after the coos, your baby will start babbling, which is the next step to actual speech. Babbling babies sound the same in every country due to the fact that the babbling is actually a baby's way to figure out how to say different syllables. If your child says the same syllable repeatedly that means that he likes the way it sounds or the reaction it triggers. It can be difficult for babies who have few developed teeth to really say much but baby's speech effort can still yield results.
There are certain ways to help your baby develop a knack for languages and speech. When your baby starts babbling (and even before that), reading to your baby, talking to him regularly, singing lullabies, etc. will help make speech easier. Why? The more that your baby hears human speech, the easier it will be for him to pick up first different sounds and later different words and expand his vocabulary. Singing simple tunes to your child will also help him practice his speech by getting him to sing along. When your baby manages to ask a question make sure to answer him and also reward him for asking. Positive reinforcement is a great way to show your child that you are proud of him and also will encourage him to speak up.
