Talk, talk and talk some more. The effect of talking to your baby—chatting, explaining, asking, echoing, rhyming and so on—is enormous and lifelong.

A classic study of 42 varied families showed that the most important aspect of children’s language experience is its quantity. The amount of day-to-day talking that parents did with their babies and toddlers was closely tied with the children’s vocabularies and IQ test scores at age 3 and beyond.

Surrounding your child with live human conversation—as opposed to TV, radio or videos—now and as she grows is among the most lasting, valuable gifts you can give her.

A recent study also showed that a 2-way conversation with infants and toddlers is 6 times more effective than just talking or reading to them.

Waiting for your child’s responses when talking or reading aloud not only gives him the chance to practice, it also helps you tailor your speech to your child and offer positive feedback or gentle corrections.

This message is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have about your health or medical condition, your breastfeeding issues and your infant's health. Never disregard, avoid or delay contacting a doctor or other qualified professional because of something you have read in our emails, webpages or other electronic communications.

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