Not talking to LO enough???

mrsmourning0907

I've always been a quite person and I feel as though Im not talking to my 5 week old enough. Im surprised he even recongized my voice after delivery. Its hard for me to think of things to say to someone that doesnt talk back. Any suggestions???

Linz-E

Sing him songs, read him books. Every morning when DD gets up we open the shades say good morning neighbors, trees, etc. and I describe the weather to her> Ill tell her the plan for the day, tell her what Im doing during bath, getting dressed etc. We walk around the house and I tell her what things are, who the people in pictures are.

audgleigh

Every morning I tell DD the date and the day..I go through the days of the week...if we have plans I'll say "On Tuesday we're doing this". I sing the ABC's in english and spanish....and like pp said I explain what I'm doing when I'm bathing her and dressing her and I tell her what things are in the house.  I might count to her...I just do whatever....if it sounds a little educational that's good too...I know right now she isn't much of a conversationalist, someday she will be...until then it is numbers, abc's and days of the week!

mishu917

LOL I tell DD everything including asking her why she isn't sleeping. Talking to her has become a norm for me and I even do it in public without realizing... like yesterday, I was telling her how cold it was as we were getting into the car and this girl walking by was just staring lol. On the flip side, she responds many times with her goos and ga-gas and smiles lots of times as though she understands lol Just tell her anything, sometimes I make up stories that don't make any sense just to keep the conversation going! They don't understand right now but they definitely develop an appreciation for language. She also has an iPod with a dock in her room and we play it during diaper changes and when I run out of things to say, and I sing along with it while she "dances" lol.

TBLilyRose

I agree with PPs. Just talk about about anything...describe what you're doing as you do it, even if it's just getting dressed or washing the dishes.

mrsmourning0907

Thanks ladies, I love all your ideas!!! I will start reading and explaining everything as we go through out our day!!! Thanks again!!!

RedZee

Linz-E:

Sing him songs, read him books. Every morning when DD gets up we open the shades say good morning neighbors, trees, etc. and I describe the weather to her> Ill tell her the plan for the day, tell her what Im doing during bath, getting dressed etc. We walk around the house and I tell her what things are, who the people in pictures are.

I do all this too. But, don't stress yourself out. As long as LO hears you speaking - on the phone, to your H, whatever - he/she will develop language. Babies just need to hear language somewhere. Only in the cases where infants were locked in closets and did not hear anyone were there problems with those kids developing language (among many other serious problems). I am quite sure you don't fall into that category. There are benefits to speaking and encouraging the coos, but it doesn't change the course of language development.