The importance of communicating with your baby

Babies love to feel close to you and understood. They enjoy cuddles, eye contact, and familiar voices. They are curious and want to interact from an early age. 

Talking to your baby and engaging with them will benefit your baby's language and social development.

Stay curious about what your baby thinks and feels and they will show you what they need.

Ways to communicate with your baby

Use the following guidance to communicate with your baby.

  • Look into your baby’s eyes.
  • Use lots of voice. Copy their sounds, make a new sound and pause to see how they respond.
  • Make different faces and watch how they respond.
  • Use emotion in your voice and face to change the rhythm of your voice.
  • Change how fast or slowly you talk and watch how they react.
  • Try different voice pitches and watch their response.
  • Read them stories, sing them lullabies or nursery rhymes.
  • Use gestures. Shake your head for no, nod your head for yes, clap, wave, blow kisses.

Talk to your baby

Tell them:

  • how you feel today
  • what you are looking forward to
  • what is difficult about your day today
  • how they are doing today
  • what you have learned about them
  • how you support them
  • about family, friends, and pets
  • things you notice in their behaviour
  • things you look forward to once they get home
  • funny things that happened recently.

If you make a note of these interactions with your baby, you will have a journal of memories to enjoy as your baby develops and grows.

Contact information

Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit

Telephone:

020 8934 2802