What are your views on baby talk?

[bada]

I was just reading another thread where someone stated they disagree with the use of baby talk using examples of pussy cat and birdie. I never really thought about it before, but we use those words all the time, even before DD was born. I never thought I used a lot of baby talk, but I guess subconsciously I do...
How important do you think it is to avoid using baby talk?

[princess niamh]

I have used it with both my kids and will use it with this one.

My 4 year old calls us antagonistic and speaks like an adult!!!
So I am not woried about it at all.

[KatiesMum]

I guess each child and circumstance are different.

Some kids will pick up on the 'baby talk' parts and never leave them behind ..... others will use it simply to help them develop and move on as they get a bigger and more complex vocabulary.

We did use baby talk a bit ... just subconciously kinda happened, but as she developed more and more it wasnt necessary as she could understand and say the right words.

Now at nearly 3 she speaks very clearly, and with complex words and sentences.

Each to their own I guess.

[HappyLittleChappy]

I think regardless of whether you use "baby talk" or not, your child will eventually say these words properly. I'm sure parents who say these words to their children, still call them by their proper name when speaking to other adults. Children pick up on these things more than we realise.

I remember there being a huge debate over whether to "goo and gaa" at babies. I'm talking babies from birth to before talking.

[Seacretsquirrel]

Im my humble opinion pussy cat, birdy, belly/tummy (right down to using willy or front bottom instead of penis and vagina) is no problem (We use both the "babytalk" versions and the proper names in our house and DD knows that a pussy cat is a "Cat" and a doggy is a "Dog" however if DD uses words that sound like but aren't quite the real word (DD used Dogm for do for ages - and dadm for Daddy too) we just repeated it back to her using the propper word "thats right it is a dog/doggy etc).
In fact she was saying "Ridey" instead of "Riley" and my mum said oh thats "Ridey" and she corrected her and said "No Ri Dey) but the next day she was saying the "L" properly so it goes to show the speed at which kids process things.
I personally wouldn't stress too much about the "baby talk" in that form however if all you use with your toddler is the coochie coo and repeating "their" words for things all the time I am of the opinion that they will find it hard to learn the "right" words.:ecomcity:

[our little treasures]

I think baby talk to your toddlers is fine as long as you don't drag it out for longer than is necessary.


We use baby talk as they got older we started replacing the baby words used. There was no confusion, children are not stupid and they often know more than one word for the one meaning. :yes:

[sockstealingpoltergeist]

I had read in my child and family class that there is a reason that people want to talk baby talk to babies. This is because the sounds made are more appealing to babies and easier for them (the babies) to make therefore helping them to talk earlier. I don't have a problem with it.

My son can talk really well, he has had a dummy and I've talked some baby talk his way.:eek:

[JabberJaw]

We use it, i have no problem with it.

Just things like - birdy, pussy cat/kitty, moo cow etc.

We dont so things like ' oh what a keuwte widdle bubby, aren't you widdle " IYKWIM!

But we call dummies - nungers and my oldest daughter is nicknamed La-La because DD2 couldn't say Scarlett so it has stuck. (that is how a dummy became named a nunger too!)

My kids have no problem with speech and know that a puss puss is a cat!

[mum2bubba]

I guess each child and circumstance are different.

Some kids will pick up on the 'baby talk' parts and never leave them behind ..... others will use it simply to help them develop and move on as they get a bigger and more complex vocabulary.

We did use baby talk a bit ... just subconciously kinda happened, but as she developed more and more it wasnt necessary as she could understand and say the right words.

Now at nearly 3 she speaks very clearly, and with complex words and sentences.

Each to their own I guess.

I agree although Hayley (4 years) is in speech theropy. I don't think its because we 'baby talked' with her though. It wasn't as though we did it all the time or anything just a few things. I'm not sure if her speech impedement (sp) is related to baby talk or not. She DOES talk in sentences and is getting alot better but she is hard to understand at times.

[studyingECS]

I don't only because I work with a number of children and I am not sure if there parents use certain baby talk words with them or not. It's easier to just use the original word and if I get a blank stare or no response from the child I usually know that's not the word they know.

[lizzymcfizzy]

We use it, i have no problem with it.

Just things like - birdy, pussy cat/kitty, moo cow etc.

We dont so things like ' oh what a keuwte widdle bubby, aren't you widdle " IYKWIM!

But we call dummies - nungers and my oldest daughter is nicknamed La-La because DD2 couldn't say Scarlett so it has stuck. (that is how a dummy became named a nunger too!)



LOL!!!! nungers. thats a classic. Ours get call NUMS instead of Dummies.

I agree on not saying oh what a keuwte widdle bubby, aren't you widdle kind of thing but we use lots of baby talk words like "sleepybyes" and "woof woof" for dog. But she can say dog.

I think so long as they are similar to the original word its ok. Like studyingECS said - a very valid point - how can the kid understand you if you are saying "time for sleep" and she's been told "sleepylala cwuddles time" or something ridiculous.

Within reason I think babies enjoy it as much as the parents but I respect people who don't want it spoken to their kids.

[~Temet Nosce~]

[quote=misskelz77;3593836]We use it, i have no problem with it.

Just things like - birdy, pussy cat/kitty, moo cow etc.

We dont so things like ' oh what a keuwte widdle bubby, aren't you widdle " IYKWIM!

But we call dummies - nungers and my oldest daughter is nicknamed La-La because DD2 couldn't say Scarlett so it has stuck. (that is how a dummy became named a nunger too!)
QUOTE]


LOL!!!! nungers. thats a classic. Ours get call NUMS instead of Dummies.

I agree on not saying oh what a keuwte widdle bubby, aren't you widdle kind of thing but we use lots of baby talk words like "sleepybyes" and "woof woof" for dog. But she can say dog.

I think so long as they are similar to the original word its ok. Like studyingECS said - a very valid point - how can the kid understand you if you are saying "time for sleep" and she's been told "sleepylala cwuddles time" or something ridiculous.

Within reason I think babies enjoy it as much as the parents but I respect people who don't want it spoken to their kids.
:laughing: simular to ours, dd's dummy is called her NOM :p she gets to bed and goes "nom? nom? nom nom" :laughing:

anyway I talk to my dd like a normal person, always have, not goo goo gagaga etc.
However I use lots of words like doggie, kitty, moocow, birdie etc. and I don't really care, if anyone honestly thinks there is a problem with using those words they have too much time on their hands. there is nothing wrong with it. My dd can already string sentances with at least 4 words together.. and she can count to 6.

[Leisa21]

:wave:Baby talker her! And guess what at 5 months he could babble Mummum and bubbub. By 10 months he could say upwards of 20 words, on of them being Tractor. He's now 15 months and can pretty much repeat anything we tell him. He talks in sentences and I talk baby talk and he manages to still talk normal. I say look Aidan is a broom, broom car. He points and says 'car'. So now not only can he say the word but I say what does the car say and he says broom broom. Same goes with dogs, cats, cows, birdies:p and fishies lol.

I have nothing against it, DS is living proof that you can still use easier versions of a word and they manage to pick up what you mean. The only one I hate is when Mum instead of saying open she says to him opee up. I don't know why but it p!sses me off lol. Aidan says uh uh Nana open:D. I love it lol.

[jaq]

I had never really thought about it until I was at playgroup and someone laughed at me for calling one of the toys a "hippopotamus". It had never occurred to me to say hippo (or rhino, or pussy, or woof-woof) - I always used adult language, because I am an adult.

Annika has always used adult language as a result, and was using "hippopotamus" AND "rhinoceros" in sentences by 18 months old ... so I don't think it retarded her speech any.

That said, I think the problem is often with expectations. Talk to your child however you like ... the important thing is to talk to them, and never expect that they CAN'T say certain words until you've given them the chance to learn them!

[Bron]

We just use normal words with DS, but an expressive, tuneful tone of voice, particularly when he was younger. I get a bit annoyed when a family member says "do you want a byedies" (which apparently means sleep). He looks at her strangely and we say "Do you want a sleep Hamish" then he understands.

I don't see the point in using words that aren't words, but chucking pussy in front of cat or moo in front of cow doesn't really phase me.

He is a brilliant talker. He's 22 months and says things like "Mum, where's my elephant book?" or "Hamish's pyjamas go round and round in mum's washing machine" or "Dad goes to work to fix teeth. Mum sings songs at work. Hamish work in bunnings.":D

Interestingly, he's such a parrot that he picks up informal words and uses them correctly. Removing some food from his mouth that he decided he didn't like, he passed it to me and said "This one's dodgy mum". At a home open recently, he looked around a room and said "This house is poxy". He was right, it was a shocker. :p

[lizzymcfizzy]

I have nothing against it, DS is living proof that you can still use easier versions of a word and they manage to pick up what you mean. The only one I hate is Mum lol instead of saying open she says opee up. I don't know why but it p!sses me off lol. Aidan says uh uh Nana open:D. I love it lol.



lol I get called mumum :D I've always wished she'd say mummy but now its grown on me I like it.

[MrsMiggins]

I think it's fine. Better than fine - as others have said, it serves a purpose. Personally I fail to see the problem. By the time they're old enough to be going to school, they usually realise the difference themselves. I sincerely doubt there are too many 15 year olds walking around unable to speak properly, or who don't know that a "puppy doggie" is a dog!

IMO there are more important things to focus on.

[Leisa21]

lol I get called mumum :D I've always wished she'd say mummy but now its grown on me I like it.
hehe same! DS would say Mum Mum. So I'd say Mummy. I got lazy and I'd say or poor Mumma or Mumma has to get this. Now he picked up on his own Mumma and I love it:cloud9:. There is nothing better then hearing those little footsteps coming over yelling Mumma, Mumma. I love it!