Hearing their first words: how did you encourage language?

Development & Milestones
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1

It’s incredible watching our little ones develop, isn’t it? Our daughter is 14 months now, and while she’s been babbling up a storm for months and understanding a lot of what we say, we’re really starting to see those first clear words emerge. It’s mostly ‘mama,’ ‘dada,’ and a pretty consistent ‘uh-oh’ when something drops, which always gets a laugh.

We’ve been trying to be really intentional with narrating what we’re doing throughout the day – ‘I’m making coffee,’ ‘Here’s your cup,’ ‘Let’s go outside.’ We also point to things and name them, and read a ton of books, pointing to pictures as we go. Sometimes I feel like I’m talking to myself, but then she’ll surprise me by trying to imitate a sound or word, and it’s a huge win!

It’s such a fascinating stage, and I’m curious about what strategies other parents found really effective for encouraging those first words.

  • What specific things did you do to help your baby develop their language skills?
  • Did you use any signing?
  • What were your baby’s first few words, and how did they come about?
2

Modeling and repetition are gold. Try to wait a beat after you say a word to give her a chance to imitate, even just a sound.

3

Oh, this topic is so timely! My little guy is 16 months, and we’re right there with you, seeing those first words slowly, steadily emerging. It really is incredible, isn’t it? And yes, I completely relate to feeling like you’re talking to yourself sometimes! But then that little imitation makes it all worth it. We do so much of what you mentioned – constant narration about what we’re doing, pointing to everything and naming it, and reading a truly ridiculous number of books. I guess it’s just so much repetition, huh? For us, ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ were definitely the earliest. Then ‘ball’ became a big one, probably because we play with one almost constantly. And I can’t forget ‘no,’ which he’s got down pat, loud and clear, haha!

We actually tried a bit of signing, mostly for ‘more’ and ‘all done.’ I found it really helpful for reducing frustration before he could say the words, which was a lifesaver some days. But we weren’t super consistent with it after a while. I’m curious, for those who really committed to signing, did you find it actually sped up verbal words, or just helped bridge the gap for communication?

And building on the simple tips someone mentioned about modeling and repetition – I sometimes wonder if it’s better to really emphasize one word at a time, or just keep up the natural flow of conversation. What did you all find most effective for those super early words? I feel like I’m still figuring out the best balance.

4

Absolutely. Adding a clear gesture or a consistent sound with the word during that wait helps too. They often pick up those visual cues first.

5

Oh, this is such a lovely stage to be in, isn’t it? It sounds like you’re both doing wonderfully, building such a strong foundation for your little ones.

That feeling of ‘talking to yourself’ is SO relatable, and honestly, it’s exactly what they need! Every single word you’re narrating, every book you read, it’s all data for their amazing little brains to process. They’re absorbing so much more than we realize, even if they’re not spitting it back out right away. It’s like filling their language ‘bank’ – eventually, it starts overflowing with words!

Regarding signing, that’s a fantastic observation, Curious Parent. We used ‘more’ and ‘all done’ consistently with our first too, and I found it invaluable for reducing those pre-verbal frustrations. For us, it definitely felt more like a wonderful bridge for communication and helping them express needs before their mouths quite caught up. I wouldn’t say it necessarily ‘sped up’ their verbal words, but it made that period before clear speech so much smoother for everyone involved. And honestly, reducing frustration is a huge win in itself!

As for emphasizing one word vs. natural flow – I always leaned towards natural, rich conversation, but with gentle emphasis on key words when they were relevant. So, instead of just repeating “ball, ball, ball,” it would be “Look, a ball!” or “Roll the ball!” or “Where’s the ball?” That way, they’re not just hearing the word in isolation, but understanding its meaning and context within a sentence. Our brains learn best when things are connected and meaningful, and it’s the same for little ones. The repetition comes naturally through daily life.

You’re absolutely nailing it already with the narration and books. Keep having those conversations, even if they feel one-sided sometimes. The connection and consistent exposure are what truly matter right now. Every child’s verbal explosion looks a little different, but the consistent love and language you’re giving them is the best encouragement of all.

6

Good point about emphasizing words within natural conversation. They learn better from context. Instead of just ‘ball,’ try ‘Big ball!’ or ‘Roll ball!’.

7

Yes, absolutely to the visual cues! It’s so true how much those gestures and consistent sounds help ‘click’ things into place for them. I always think of it as building a really strong foundation for their understanding. Before they can reliably say ‘ball,’ they can point to it, or even make a sound and a gesture. That whole process of connecting a concept (the ball) to a sound (‘ball’) and a visual (the actual ball, or a picture of it, or even a gesture for rolling) is what’s really happening. It’s not just about getting them to say the word faster, but about deepening their comprehension, which then naturally leads to expression down the line. All those different ways we communicate with them – words, gestures, even just our expressions – they’re all feeding into that amazing brain development. It’s a truly beautiful dance to watch.

8

Spot on about connecting concepts. Keep it simple: show the apple, say ‘apple,’ wait. That pause is powerful.