Try It!

Try using parentese with your baby during play time with a favorite toy. Be sure to tune in to your baby and talk about what they’re doing using your best sing-song voice. You can even stretch out the vowel sounds. You could say, “You looooove your giraffe!”

In a high-pitched voice, you could say, “Squeak, squeak.” Then, point to your ear and say, “Ooohhh! I heard that! I think it was your squeaky giraffe. Giraffe! Wheere aaare youuu?” Next, in a low voice, you could say, “Here I am. Here’s your giraffe.”

You could say, “Your giraffe goes hop, hop, hop, and he can lay dooooown.”

You could quietly say, “Shhhh, your giraffe is sleeping.”

You could say, "Oh, you want your giraffe. You’re reaching your little arms. Reeeeach!” Pause and wait for your baby to take the next turn.