Nursery World - A parent's guide tousing parentese

From before your baby was born, he was listening to your voice in the womb and getting comfort from its sound and rhythms. It is important to go on talking to your baby using parentese language. Apart from comforting him and reassuring him that you love him, it will enable him to find out how language works from what you say and how you say it. Should I use baby words like 'gee gee' for 'horse' to my child, aged one?

Should I use baby words like 'gee gee' for 'horse' to my child, aged one?

In earlier generations it was quite usual for people to talk to babies substituting soft baby words like 'gee gee' for horse and 'woof woof' for dog. It was warm and friendly and this was how they thought babies and young children learned language. We now know more about parentese and realise that it is a waste of time to teach young children these words, as they are only temporary and soon children will have to learn the real, adult word if they are to communicate with the outside world.

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