First Words: Better Baby Babble

by: Summer Hunt, ELS

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First Words: Better Baby Babble

You teach your babies lots of things, including her first words. But moms don’t speak as clearly to their little ones as they do to adults.

This is no surprise, but what researchers supported by the European Research Council have discovered is that in fact perhaps infants are even better than adults at parsing particular sounds even when they’re not as distinct as the real words. Perhaps it’s because you’re effusive with your emotions as you chatter away with baby, they say.

What’s not clear to researchers is whether moms should speak more clearly to enhance learning. Reading aloud is great way to introduce new words and emotions while practicing effective enunciation. Start early and encourage a love of language and communication—and take a breaky-wakey every now-and-then-y from the baby babble, okey dokey?

ALSO READ: Read Aloud to Baby and Understanding Baby Babble

From Milk to Cookies

Breast milk isn’t just liquid nutrition—it also helps to create a healthy intestinal environment for the transition to solid foods. A new study at the University of North Carolina found that breastfed babies have more of the bacteria that are beneficial for digestion; authors also suggested that non-exclusively breastfed babies could potentially suffer more stomach aches and colic.

FURTHER READING:  Start Talking With Baby Through Sign Language and Deciphering Baby Talk: What is Your Baby Saying?

“This study provides yet more support for recommendations by the World Health Organization to breastfeed exclusively during the first 6 months of life,” said Amanda Thompson, PhD, the study’s first author. “Including formula in an infant’s diet does change the gut bacteria even if you are also breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding seems to really smooth out the transition to solid foods.”

Do also check out our diaper section for everything you may need to know about Mindful Diapering including Diaper Rash Care Guide —- How Mindful Diapering Enhances Baby’s Development —- Diapering That Nurtures Your Baby and Prevent Diaper Rash  plus much more.

Build Strong Bonds to Suppress Shyness

Babies with a close bond to their parents may be less likely to develop anxiety as teens, including shyness, say researchers from Canada’s University of Waterloo. Watching children in a variety of situations beginning from 4 months, again as toddlers, and finally at 14 to 17 years old, researchers aid children stressed in unfamiliar environments early on were more likely to be socially anxious teenagers, especially boys. Start that strong bond with baby early: Begin breastfeeding at birth, hold baby skin-to-skin frequently, and lavish your little one with warm, physical contact as he grows up.

We have a range of articles for your Baby’s Milestones:

Potty Training 101

Baby’s Milestones 4-8 Months

Baby’s Milestones 0-4 Months

Baby’s First Steps

How To Make Your Baby Smarter

Babies Learn Language In Womb

Crawling Night School

Understanding Milestones

Get Baby Laughing

Tips On Dealing With Baby’s Teething

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AUTHOR

Summer Hunt, ELS