How do you respond to babbling?

[farmerswifey]

My DD (14 months) has been babbling away happily for a while now, but recently the babbles have become more like unintelligible sentences which certainly seem to mean something to DD. They are a string of different sounds which end with her looking at me as if waiting for response.

My question is, how do you reply? What do you say? I want to encourage her to talk, but as I have no idea what she is saying, I usually end up saying, "really? That's nice darling"

Do you just guess? and will I do more harm than good if I guess completely wrong.

You're not going to do any harm. Any response will do.

I used to say 'really? that's fascinating! do go on!!' And similar things.

Usually stuff like, "I totally agree" or "Well that is interesting", mostly to amuse myself really.

I just chat away to mine, as if I understand her completely. I say, "Really? Is that right?" and "Well, that's very interesting." Things like that. It seems to keep her happy.

Whatever I find funny! It's the small things when you're at home with toddlers.... "I never knew that" and " the actress said WHAT to the bishop??!!" And "I THINK the Higgs-bosun particle is actually invisible isn't it?" Etc etc. Just talk back at them.

You can also sometimes answer back in the same babble, repeating the sounds she made, it's a trick I learned in one of my trainings - it makes toddlers believe that you understand what they are saying to you. And take turn in talking - to demonstrate the pattern of speech and discussion.

I just try and talk about the things she seems to be looking at.

I used to say "really! And then what happened?". Or just a response based on the context.

It's really fascinating to see their language develop. My son used to ask me to pass him something, but it was just babble with the general intonation of "can I have that please?"

Thanks everyone. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be saying something specific, babbling back or just saying whatever popped into my head - it seems like all are just fine.

mine only says baba and mama and gaga/dada so far, so we just say 'is it?' with great interest...or I make the same noise back and he looks well chuffed

Respond to the expression rather than the words is another way

so a sad, defeated look gets a sympathy one from me, or a laughing rejoicing look gets a smile and a cuddle,

etc etc (whatever is said)