Development: 2-3 mths: sounds & words

A little person is emerging. Although conversation is a long way off, your baby's communication skills are developing fast. He knows how to play games with you, listens to your voice and responds to attention and praise.

Your baby listens intently to your voice and will gradually learn to differentiate between words. All babies respond to praise and attention with pleasure! Other noises also become fascinating - build on this interest with songs, nursery rhymes and easy-to-hold, noisy toys like squeaky rattles.

Mirror, mirror...

In the second and third month, mothers and babies enter into a kind of conversational duet. When face to face and close to each other, mother and baby take turns in a 'conversation', each unconsciously mirroring the other's movements.

If you hold your face close, your baby watches very intently, moving his mouth and pursing his lips as you speak. His arms and legs will move energetically and it looks as if he is struggling to tell you something!

What's that you're saying?

At such times, parents will often say things like, 'That's such a good story you're telling me!' Your positive response encourages your baby to expressions of delight in your talk and he gurgles and chuckles.

As he grows, he'll add simple sounds like 'aah' and 'ooh' to his 'conversation'. Psychologists refer to this baby babble as 'pre-speech', and believe it's the first important step in learning to talk.

Related articles:

• Development 2-3 Mths: Look & Learn
• Support Organisations: Parenting Support