Right from birth, your baby is ready to play and talk with you!  This is true long before your baby is able to say any words.  Babies “talk” with small movements, by looking, and later by smiling and making sounds.

Many parents wonder when they will hear the “first word” and what it will be.  There is a lot for a baby to learn to do first, though – click here to see what you can expect in the first year

Babies develop according to their own timetable, and you can help by playing and talking.

Most parents sometimes wonder what to do, or worry if they are doing it right.  This page has some ideas to help. For a quick guide, have a look at this poster. For more ideas, please try one of the links below:

• Talking to your baby

• Using an interesting voice

• Finding a quiet time to talk

• Talking face to face

• Sing and play music!

• Ideas for playing and having fun together

• Tablets, TVs and Phones – making the most of them

• Safe use of dummies