What are your views on baby talk?

**bada** · 23-03-2009 09:25

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** · 23-03-2009 09:28

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** · 23-03-2009 09:30

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** · 23-03-2009 09:39

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** · 23-03-2009 09:40

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.

**our little treasures** · 23-03-2009 09:42

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.

**sockstealingpoltergeist** · 23-03-2009 09:43

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.

**JabberJaw** · 23-03-2009 09:48

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** · 23-03-2009 10:05

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 23-03-2009 10:11

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.