Category: Teach Your Baby

One of the most exciting milestones your baby will hit is saying their first word!

Learn all about how to teach your baby to talk and make sure to grab the printable checklist I have made to help you keep track of what your child is saying within this post!

(This post contains affiliate links. To read our full disclosure policy click here.)

How to Teach Baby to Talk

There are a few different stages when we look at how babies learn language.

The first skills needed to talk is to learn how to watch, listen, and imitate.

When you have a brand new baby you can start teaching your baby to talk by just simply just talking to them.

Babies need to hear words many times in order to learn the sounds and repeat them.

Narrating what you do throughout the day or talking to them during play time are great ways to encourage language development from the very beginning.

Singing is also a great way to expose young babies to new words and sounds.

The repetitive nature of singing also helps little ones learn these words and sounds quickly.

Reading to your child not only develops cognitive skills but it also encourages the skills you need to talk.

Your infant will hear many words while you read to them.

Does your baby want you you to read the same book over and over again?

This is good news because it helps them learn through repetition.

Crying is Your Baby’s First Way to Communicate

No one enjoys hearing a baby cry but it is such an essential skill because it is the first way your baby is able to communicate.

Is your baby hungry?

Tired?

Need a diaper change?

A cry indicates to parents that the baby needs something and is a very effective way for the baby to communicate.

When do babies start cooing?

Your baby will start cooing sometime after they are at least 2 months old.

Cooing sounds a bit different then babbling and is made up of mostly vowel sounds.

Cooing is a way for your baby to start playing with language a bit by making different sounds and seeing how their caregiver responds.

Have fun with this stage by acknowledging your baby when they coo so that they know you are listening.

You can even try to imitate their sounds to play a little game.

Baby Non-Verbal Communication

Being aware of your baby’s non-verbal communication is important because they use that frequently to get messages to you before they can talk.

What does non-verbal communication look like in a baby?

It can be facial expressions, body movement, pointing, or gestures.

Your baby’s face gives you tons of clues on how they are feeling and what they may be needing.

You can tell they are full by that silly content smile they get after a feeding.

As your infant gains control of their arms and hands they will start to use pointing as an indication for what they want or need.

You may also teach them a few baby signs in order to give them a way to communicate before their actual words come in.

Baby first Words List: Which words should you teach first?

When you think about what words to teach your baby first you will want to think about words that will be powerful and have meaning to them.

Many times a baby’s first word is either “mom” or “dad” or some variation of that.

One of the reasons this is such a popular choice for a baby’s first word is because being able to say their caregiver’s name is a crucial skill.

This is another way to get your attention that isn’t crying!

Here are a few more examples of words you may want to target as your baby starts to talk:

• More
• All Done
• Eat
• Drink
• Hi
• Bye
• Yes
• No
• Up

You can grab a printable baby’s first-word list HERE that you can hang on your fridge for ideas and for you to track progress.

Keeping Your Own Baby Talk Words List

One of my favorite strategies for parents that are working on growing their little one’s vocabulary is to keep a list of what they are saying.

This is a great way for you to monitor and keep track of your child’s progress.

It can also give you ideas on what words to focus on as your little one gets older.

For example, you will notice that many of the words your child starts out saying are nouns.

As your they get older you will want to make sure that they learn a variety of different word types including descriptive and action words as well.

You can download my printable baby word list here and check off the words as they gain them.

When do babies speak in sentences?

Your little one will start combining words into two word phrases or sentences usually sometime between 20-24 months.

You can encourage this skill by simply adding on to what your child says.

For example, if they say “ball”, you can say “blue ball.”

This allows them to hear a new word as well as how to combine two together.

Frequently Asked Questions

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When do babies start clapping?

Simple Steps to Teaching a Baby to Roll

One of the cutest things that your baby will do is clap their hands!

Clapping does require a lot of skills from your baby including fine motor coordination and strength along with the ability to imitate.

Here is what will be covered in this article:

• Baby Skills That Come Before Clapping
• When do babies clap?
• Baby Skills That Come After Clapping
• Baby not clapping…should I be concerned?
• How to Teach Your Baby to Clap
• Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Clapping

(This post contains affiliate links. To read our full disclosure policy click here.)

Baby Skills That Come Before Clapping

There are a few skills that will happen before your baby claps as they gain strength and coordination.

Her are some examples of skills that come before clapping:

• Reaching for toys
• Grasping objects
• Banging toys on table
• Transferring object from one had to another
• Keeping hands in an open position most of the time

When do babies clap?

Babies will usually start clapping sometime between 6-12 months old.

Keep in mind that all babies develop at their own rate so they will not hit their milestones all at the same time.

If ever have concerns about your baby’s development make sure to discuss them with your pediatrician or give early intervention a call to schedule a screening or evaluation.

Baby Skills That Come After Clapping

There are many skills that come after your baby has started clapping.

A few of those may include:

• Pointing with index finger
• Banging objects together
• Building a block tower of 2 blocks
• Putting objects into a container

Keep in mind that all babies are different and their milestones may look different then another baby that you know.

Baby Not Clapping at 12 Months…Should I be concerned?

Clapping is just one skill out of many that your baby will get.

If you have concerns about any milestones you should contact your pediatrician or early intervention to see what steps you should take.

How to Teach Baby to Clap

One of the first ways you can teach your baby to clap is by modeling it.

Babies need to see how we do things in order to imitate them.

You can model clapping in a variety of different ways throughout your day and during play time.

Model Clapping for Your Baby

Babies are watching us consistently and they are picking up on what we are doing.

Modeling clapping for your baby is one of the most effective ways to teach them this skill.

You can start early by clapping for them to show excitement or as part of a song.

Clapping Games and Songs for Babies

One of my favorite ways to encourage clapping in infants is by singing songs and fingerplays.

This is an activity that builds language, cognitive, social, and fine motor skills.

Babies are also very motivated to do what they see you doing so it works well!

Here are a few of my favorite fingerplays that will work well in teaching your baby to watch you and then imitate.

• If Your Happy and You Know It
• Zoom Zoom Zoom We’re Going to The Moon
• Open Shut Them
• Pat-a-Cake
• Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee

You can even make up a song all on your by being creative…your baby will love it now matter what.

Another great things about singing to your baby is you can embed this into any daily routine such as diaper changes to promote learning.

The repetitive nature of songs also makes them easier for babies to learn.

Build Strength and Coordination Through Play

Babies learn through play because they are curious and they find it motivating.

Play allows allows them to problem solve and get lots of practice with new skills because it is very repetitive.

Play activities that will encourage clapping include ones that promote the skills needed to imitate and gain control with fine motor development.

For example, showing your child how to bang toys together or on a table will encourage them to imitate and uses the same muscles needed for clapping.

Blocks like these are a great toy to try this out with.

You will want to make sure they are small enough so that your baby can grab them but not too small because you don’t want them to be able to put them in their mouth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Clapping

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The Quick Guide to Teaching Your Baby to Roll Over

Rolling over is an exciting milestone because it is one of the first ways that your baby becomes mobile.

Once they learn to roll they will be able to get from point A to point B all on their own.

Here are some of the topics we will be covering in this post.

• When do babies roll from tummy to back?
• When do babies roll from back to side?
• When do babies roll from back to tummy?
• Baby not rolling…Should I be concerned?
• Baby Activities to Prepare for Rolling Over
• How to Encourage Your Baby to Roll
• Baby Proofing Before Your Baby Starts to Roll
• Frequently Asked Questions about Teaching Baby to Roll

(This post contains affiliate links. To read our full disclosure policy click here.)

When do babies roll over from tummy to back?

Babies usually start to roll from tummy to back sometime between 2-5 months.

When your baby rolls off of their tummy they will need to have the strength to hold up their head and push off of one arm to then flip over.

Rolling to tummy to back usually comes first…but not always.

Every child is different and come may actually roll back to belly first (like my daughter did!)

When do babies roll from back to side

Rolling back to side usually comes bit later then rolling tummy to back.

Your little one may try making this move sometime between 4-6 months.

They will need to have strong core muscles and be able to lift their head up and have their body follow them over to the side.

When do babies roll over from back to tummy?

Babies typically roll back to tummy sometime between 5-8 months.

This skill works the muscles throughout the whole body and requires lots of coordination.

You can encourage them to do this by taking a toy and slowly moving it across their line of vision while they are on their back.

They will try to reach at it and slowly push up on their side which will then lead to them flipping over.

Baby not rolling over at 6 months…Should I be concerned?

If you have concerns about any aspect of your child’s development you should always reach out to your pediatrician or call early intervention for a free screening or evaluation.

It is important to look at development as a whole, not just one milestone.

Baby Activities to Prepare for Rolling Over

There are many ways that you can help your baby get the skills needed to roll over from day one.

Here are a few ways that you can start activating their muscles and providing motivation through play and daily routines.

Let Your Baby Have Lots of Floortime

Letting your baby have lots of time on the floor to play is one of the BEST ways that you can encourage the skills needed to roll.

By moving freely on the floor your baby is allowed to actually feel their body and push off in different directions.

Lay out your child’s favorite toys to provide motivation for them to move.

Unbreakable mirrors (like this) are a great option as they are very motivating to babies.

Limit Time in Baby Seats

You will want to limit the time your baby has in seats or swings.

The reason for this is because it restricts their movements.

Too much time in baby equipment like seats and swings makes it so your baby isn’t able to explore different positions and ways of moving your body.

Click here to read more about the recommendations for using seats and swings with babies.

Make Tummy Time Part of Your Daily Routine

Tummy time helps prepare your baby for rolling because it strengthens the muscles in your baby’s body including arms, abdominal, back, neck and many others.

If your baby does not like tummy time then introduce it in short frequent bursts throughout the day.

Always watch their cues and do not force them if they are not liking it.

Get down on the floor with your baby and engage with them while they are on their tummy by singing to them or reading a book.

Encouraging Your Baby to Roll from Tummy to Back

Encourage your baby to roll tummy to back by first laying them down on their stomachs.

If they will allow you, gently show them the motion of rolling so that they can see what it feels like.

Always pay attention to your baby’s cues, and if they are fighting it then take a break and do something else or allow them to change to a different position.

You can also try taking a toy that they are interested in or find motivating and slowly move it from in front of them to behind them so that they try to push off with their arms to flip themselves over.

Encouraging Your Baby to Roll from Back to Tummy

You can start this process the same way you did when your were teaching your baby to roll from front to back.

Lay them on their back and gently show them how to engage their core and roll from back to front.

You can also take a toy that is motivating to your baby and bring it across their field of vision and leave it just out of reach.

You may need to help your baby get to the toy at first.

Make sure to let them play with the toy that they wanted for a few minutes so that they feel rewarded before having them try again.

Baby Proof Before Your Baby Starts to Roll

Baby proofing before you have your baby is the best idea, because as they meet new milestones this can sometimes mean new safety issues can come up.

NEVER leave your baby unattended on a changing table, bed, or other piece of furniture even if you don’t think they can roll.

Rolling sometimes happens spontaneously and falls can be injure your baby or even be deadly.

Rolling is also a way for your baby to get from point A to point B so it is important to keep any area that your baby plays in safe.

Keep the area picked up and make sure there is nothing your little one could get into that could cause them harm.

Frequently Asked Questions about Teaching Baby to Roll Over

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