"Hellooo, my darling... Are you a sleepy little baby? Yes, you are... What’s that? Ooo, look at the cute little doggie!”

When most of us speak to babies (or even pets), we almost automatically use a funny sort of language: elongating vowels, speaking in a high-pitched voice, and exaggerating random words. This strange speech that we’re pretty much all universally fluent in is what’s known as baby talk or even ‘parentese’.

Now, because you do it naturally, it’s likely never crossed your mind whether it’s all that good for your baby’s speech development to use baby talk. But is it? Does parentese help my baby learn the rhythms, patterns, and vocabulary of their native tongue? Or would it be better to speak to them as I would an adult?

Let’s explore the differing viewpoints and see if we can come to a happy conclusion.

What are the supposed disadvantages of using baby talk?

Some parents believe that using baby talk with infants dismisses how intelligent they are and could actually teach them infantile speech patterns that are difficult to unlearn as they get older. Instead, speaking in an ‘adult’ tone provides them with a much better model of language use.

Why is it that so many of us use baby talk and do so naturally?

The research on baby talk shows that it helps your baby pick up the patterns of their native language. When you speak to your baby using a melodic, high-pitched voice with elongated words, they’re much more likely to pay attention and listen, giving them a better chance of learning the vocabulary and grammar associated with language.

With two really quite conflicting views, which is the correct answer?

Fortunately, there’s really no ambiguity here. Across all different languages and cultures, baby talk is known to aid a child’s acquisition of vocabulary, vocalisation, and spoken word recognition, as well as their attention and responsiveness to speech. And you only need to look at a baby’s face to know how much they prefer it!

Now, while most people adopt ‘parentese’ quite naturally, if you find it a little awkward, take a look at our pointers to help you get the hang of this funny way of talking.

If a child doesn’t respond to ‘parentese’ then research demonstrates this could indicate that they are having difficulty with an aspect of communication, which should be investigated. Talk to your GP, a paediatrician, or a paediatric speech and language therapist if you think this might be the case.

How do I use baby talk with my baby?

Use a slightly higher pitch. Using a higher voice will help to grab their attention and instill them with confidence, as it’s similar to their own voice. Your baby might also enjoy listening to you use all the octaves of your voice. Going from low to high and high to low is sure to make them smile and giggle.

Use elongated vowels. If you’re struggling with this one, we find that singing your speech will teach you to naturally elongate certain words. What’s more, your baby will love hearing you sing to them, even if you don’t consider yourself a singer. You can also make use of such nonsense words as “ooo” and “ahhh”.

Exaggerate different words. Start by exaggerating long and funny words, and you’ll soon find that you’re doing it without even thinking.

Read to them. Reading a book and putting on different character voices is a good way to get into baby talk.

You don’t need to make up baby babble. Don’t confuse baby talk with “goo goo ga ga”. There’s no need to make funny noises if you don’t want to, but you’ll likely get a lot of enjoyment from imitating your baby.

Should I use baby talk?

As part of Unii’s Baby Speech Journey, we ask whether parents should use baby talk.