Tips for new moms
Red flags for a speech or language delay include:
No babbling by 9 months.
No first words by 15 months.
No consistent words by 18 months.
No word combinations by 24 months.
Slowed or stagnant speech development.
Problems understanding your child's speech at 24 months of age; strangers having problems understanding your child's speech by 36 months of age.
Not showing an interest in communicating.
Parents are an important part of helping kids who have speech or language problems.
Focus on communication. Talk with your baby, sing, and encourage imitation of sounds and gestures.
Read to your child. Start reading when your child is a baby. Look for age-appropriate soft or board books or picture books that encourage kids to look while you name the pictures.
Use everyday situations. To build on your child's speech and language, talk your way through the day. Name foods at the grocery store, explain what you're doing as you cook a meal or clean a room, and point out objects around the house. Keep things simple, but avoid "baby talk."
Here are a few ways to encourage speech development at home:
Show more interest in what they are saying rather than how they are saying it
Praise your child when they tell you something.
Speak face-to-face with your child so they can watch how your face, mouth, lips, and tongue move when you speak
Encourage and support your child to speak for themselves during outings e.g. when making a purchase, saying thank you to adults, buying a movie ticket, or asking for help.
Support your child to have daily conversations with a variety of different people
Read many different types of books and have conversations about the characters, plot, or message. Ask different types of questions such as ‘where’, ‘who’, ‘what’, and ‘why’.
Use singing and nursery rhymes to encourage imitation of sounds
Encourage your child to ask questions when they don’t understand.