Page 51 - Mother & Baby - UK (March 2020)

Make
up lullabies
‘Singing any lullaby or nursery rhyme is a
wonderful way to build up your baby’s understanding
of words and language,’ says Annie. ‘But if you can adapt
existing lullabies, or make up your own, you can add in words
thatyourbabyhearsalotanyway.’Thesefamiliarwordsact
Use a asananchor–helpingtosecureyourbaby’sunderstanding
parent-facing ofthesoundsyou’remaking.Forinstance:
Woof,woof,woof,saysourdogJack,
stroller
Chasingleavesaroundthetrack.
Babies love looking at faces – and of all faces, your face Hejustlikestobarkandrun
is the one your baby loves best. ‘When you’re out and Andgivealicktoeveryone…
about, have your baby facing you,’ says Annie. ‘She can hear Woof,woof,woof,saysourdogJack,
you and watch your mouth as you talk. Plus, you will be able to Chasingleavesaroundthetrack.
see what she’s aware of. If she jumps when a car horn beeps,
you can respond to that and say, “That’s a car horn. Beep
beep!” That gives words to her experience, which is an
important part of helping her to understand the
world. She needs to understand before she
can communicate with gestures or words.’

‘I talk non-stop to my
two – about everything!
What clothes I’m putting on
them; what we’re doing; what I’m
writing on the shoping list. My
oldest has a wide vocabulary and my
youngest is already babbling away!’
Samantha Shea, 34, from
Bedford, is mum to Artemis,
four-and-a-half months,
and Olivia, four

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