Newborn Language: “Parentese”, Baby Sign & Multilingual Families - S1 E4

Is “baby talk” really the best way to talk to your newborn to help them develop their language skills? Can “baby sign” help babies communicate sooner? And if your family speaks multiple languages, how can you help your baby understand and learn them? 

In this episode of The Baby Fact Check, new dad Greg Foot is joined by trusted experts to fact check some of the most common pieces of social media parenting advice around newborn language:

• “Babies don’t understand language yet, so there’s no need to talk to them.”
• “Speak to your baby as you would an adult so they don’t learn bad speech habits.”
• “Just speak to your baby in one language so you don’t delay or confuse them.”

With help from Professor Sarah Lloyd-Fox (University of Cambridge) and Dr Elizabeth Kirk (Anglia Ruskin University), Greg explores when language learning really begins, the truth about baby sign language, and why parents do not need to be naturals at speaking “parentese” to make a real difference.

If you’ve seen a piece of parenting advice you’d like us to fact check, email us on [email protected]

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The Baby Fact Check is a Science Media Studio production.
Series Producer: Greg Foot
Content Producer: Graihagh Jackson
Video Producer: Adrienn Rusz
Audio Mix: Jonnie Howard
Recorded at: The Raspberry Pi Foundation, with help from Daria Hupov & Peter Simison
Special thanks: Teddy’s mummy, Katrin!