How to communicate with your baby

Learn to listen

'Communication is about teaching your baby to listen,' says Attenborough.

Listening helps social and educational development. When you talk to baby it is important that you leave a pause for them to reply, even if it's through a smile or a gurgle. These are baby's first attempts at words. Learning to listen helps teach the art of two-way conversation.

'Leave pauses for reply. These early babbles are the response and are really a pre-cursor for conversation. Their facial muscles will soon develop to form a smile (5-6 weeks), he or she will then be able to move their mouth to imitate your mouth,' explains Attenborough.

'The hardest thing for any parent to give the child is verbal space, even if it's space to do some gurgling. We have the innate ability to talk but have to learn how to do it.

'It's not just about developing the art of conversation; teaching baby to listen sharpens their hearing skills. They can learn to read if they can distinguish sounds.'

Singing to baby

If you are rusty on your nursery rhymes, it's time to get a CD and brush up on your Twinkle, Twinkle and Bye-Bye Baby. 'It doesn't matter what you sing as long as it is gentle and calm. It's your voice, so any song will do,' says Attenborough.

The baby voice

Parents of any language almost automatically start talking in a higher-pitched, 'baby voice' to infants. 'It makes thing easier for babies to take things on board. It's all about the tone and short light phrases, but don't make up silly names or talk nonsense.'

Body language

Clapping actions to a nursery rhyme and hand gestures are all part of communicating and can help baby remember things. 'They form part of memory, stimulating the neural pathways,' explains Attenborough.

Some experts believe that all babies have their own universal body language. 'There are many movements which appear to be universal, suggesting we are born with them, such as a look of surprise. On top of those is a series of learned expressions which can be different from culture to culture,' says Dr Peter Bull, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of York.

Toys and props

Toys are an important way of helping babies think 'outside themselves' and, as a parent, you are your own child's favourite playmate.

'Toys help them to extend their range. Books are a fabulous resource from early on and they give you something to talk about. It's never boring to read the same book, especially when it has a funny or happy ending to anticipate,' says Liz Attenborough.

Touch

'Attachment to the primary carer is so important and touch is a vital part of the 'security blanket'. Speech and language therapists say baby massage is a wonderful way to encourage communication, for example.'

Baby cues

Babies speak their own language, but any new parent will be able to respond to a particular cry, whether its tiredness, fear or hunger. Crying is one of the main ways in which a baby communicates.

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