Georgia
Your baby is here! Finally! Pure bliss! But then suddenly they start to scream or cry. This can go on for one, two or even three months. You, as parents, may be asking yourselves why. You’ve changed their diaper, put them down for a nap, fed them, and maybe even provided them with additional baby food or infant formula. And yet, they are still unsettled. The first communicative exchanges with your baby can be challenging, but soon you will notice differences in their cries. Over time, the first syllables will follow, then the first words, and at some point, you will suddenly find yourself talking to your little darling and wondering where the time has gone.
Every child develops at their own pace. This is also true of language development. Still, linguistic development tends to go through certain phases and stages depending on age. As parents, you can support your child’s language development in each phase:
| Period | What happens? | What can I do? |
|---|---|---|
| Up to approx. 4 months | Babbling phase 1: Your baby makes their first sounds: they cry, make smacking sounds or gurgle. | Give your baby your full attention. Listen to them and discover the different nuances in the sounds. Talk to them and begin reading bedtime stories and books during the day. |
| Up to approx. 12 months | Babbling phase 2: Your baby will begin to imitate sounds for the first time and strings together syllables with the same sounds. Dadadada, babababa … | Look at your child when speaking and speak clearly. Laugh a lot and continue reading aloud. |
| From 12 months | Phase of single-word sentences: “Mama” and “Dada” are often the first words and are based on the fact that syllables with the same sound are joined together. Increasingly, your child will be able to repeat words. | Toddlers will start to associate things with words. Encourage them by, for example, pointing and saying “Dada” or “Mama.” Show your child picture books and clearly say the names of the individual objects pictured and point to them. |
| From 18 months | Your toddler will ask their first questions and can form their first short sentences (consisting of up to three words). | Talk to your toddler in full sentences. Try not to use baby talk. Praise your child and encourage them to speak, without using technology. |
| From 24 months | Your toddler will be speaking more fluently, but the grammar in the sentences is not always correct. Nevertheless, your child is talking more and more and is becoming more intelligible. | Correct your child’s grammar, but do not be critical. Be supportive. Have your first “conversations” with the little, inquisitive, growing mind. |
| From 36 months | “Why?” might become your child’s favorite word. They will begin to better understand grammar and syntax, and their vocabulary will continue growing. | If possible, always find an answer to “why?” Allow yourself to be inspired to discover your child’s questions together and involve them in the search for the answer. Also ask your child, “why?” They will be able to explain more often why they do certain things. |
| From 60 months | Linguistic development is reaching a peak. Vocabulary, however, continues to grow. | Keep talking, reading and engaging with your child, rather than just talking for practical reasons. Discuss with them deliberately, for example by having a quiet conversation after school asking about their day. |
When it comes to the first months and years of your child’s life, it is common to feel insecure. There are so many new things to learn or experience, even if your new baby isn’t your first. Whether it's breastfeeding, finding the right complementary infant formula or food, or tracking the development of your baby – the fact is, everything is constantly changing. What is important is that you as a parent remain curious and present.
Bilingual education fosters creativity and social skills. It also enhances cognitive flexibility. And yet it is a challenge – oftentimes less for the child, but more so for the parents. After all, language development is about letting your child follow their own path. If you’re raising a child in a multilingual family or community, keep in mind the following points:
At Pharmalys Laboratories, we have many working parents on our team, which is why it is important to us not only to help you support your children’s development with high-quality baby food and infant formula, but also to talk to you about the things that matter in the first years of a child’s life. Let’s talk about it, and let’s talk to our children.
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