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Parenting

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Original poster

Talking to my baby in public - surely i'm not the only one?

75 replies

matana · 11/04/2011 14:01

Inspired by the 'how much time do you spend 1 to 1 with your child' thread.

Every visit to the supermarket, or other shops or anywhere else for that matter, i talk to my 5 month old DS. In fact, i talk to him pretty much all the time. But i am always very surprised how few of the other mothers do the same in public. When i started doing it i felt a bit, well, daft. But now i just don't care and it's become a bit of a habit.

Do you talk to your baby in public and, if so, why do i feel like i'm the only one?

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mylovelymonster · 11/04/2011 14:05

I did. And I walked them along the street in their pram singing to them/telling them stories. They love hearing your voice. I am not bonkers. Came across more smiles than funny looks, but as you say didn't come across many mums doing a similar thing.

fluffyanimal · 11/04/2011 14:06

I did/do. But then I also talk to myself out loud in public so I'm clearly bonkers.

BelleDameSansMerci · 11/04/2011 14:08

I pretty much gave DD a running commentary and asked her opinion on just about everything every time we went to the supermarket from the time she was born.

I think it's odd that people don't talk to their babies.

Of course, I've made a rod for my own back because now (at 3.5) she gives me a running commentary on everything!

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MadamDeathstare · 11/04/2011 14:09

This reply has been deleted

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gourd · 11/04/2011 14:39

I've noticed that not many people seem to talk to their babies, except to say "Shhhh!" which is pointless, as they dont know what that means and usually they are crying for a reason. Talking and singing quietly to her and playing peek a boo with a flannel etc, especially on long bus journeys, is what stops my baby from crying and annoying the other passengers, so despite me feeling a bit silly, I'm sure they are all glad I do it!

headfairy · 11/04/2011 14:40

I talk to both of mine continuously. I've even been known to wander the aisles of a supermaket chatting away to a sleeping baby

noodle69 · 11/04/2011 14:49

I talk to my child as a baby constantly and now she is 3. As well as most other children I see out when they arent standing with their parents. I cant help it as its a habit as I work with children. I catch myself doing it all the time and think stop it you nutter. My daughter also gives a running commentary on everything and she blatantly got that from me like mother, like daughter!

Everyone I know constantly talks to babies though.

georgie22 · 11/04/2011 14:55

I'm guilty too! I talk to my dd, who's nearly 6 months old, all the time. I do the running commentary thing too around the supermarket and ask her opinion on things! Glad it's not just me!!

CorrieQueen · 11/04/2011 19:55

Surely everyone does it don't they??!Or they should anyway, how else are these babies going to learn how to talk if they aren't exposed to a range of different sounds/ words and phrases? I am suprised you don't see more people doing it, most people I know with babies talk constantly. I did with my ds, mainly as when he was restriced in a trolley seat or pushchair etc he got bored easy and cried as soon as I stopped talking to him but I should ass, as others have said, he NEVER stops talking and gives a running commentary on everything. He's 3 and half and I even get a 10 minute monologue of him doing a poo on the toilet!

GwendolineMaryLacey · 11/04/2011 20:01

I kept up a running commentary on everything from when dd was born. Bloody good job because I can't get a word in edgewise now!

LovelyDaffs · 11/04/2011 20:03

I did, now I quietly snigger when I hear other people doing it - it does sound rather smug you know.

IAmTheCookieMonster · 11/04/2011 20:04

I do it too and I don't care what people think

Guacamole · 11/04/2011 20:06

I do, all the time... Poor thing I'm forever asking him questions and for his opinion, he's only 1!

TeddyMcardle · 11/04/2011 20:07

I don't do it enough, find it very difficult. Feel shit about it and will do it more. He's one and hasn't got any words yet so I should be talking to him non stop but I find talking to adults hard and am fairly quiet so it doesn't come naturally.
Feel really shit about it, it's my fault he's behind and I'm really failing him on this.

Mutt · 11/04/2011 20:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bibbitybobbityhat · 11/04/2011 20:11

I used to give it a bit of a rest when I was out and about with my babies. I just didn't have any interest in keeping up a running commentary every single waking moment of the day! I also had them in forward facing pushchairs. As sahm and main carer they got to look at me and interact with me for a minimum 16 hours of the day. I used to think they'd occasionally like to look at something else and be quiet and not subjected to constant chit chat. They were both verbal early.

pointythings · 11/04/2011 20:12

I talked to both of mine non-stop when they were little, complaints about floppy broccoli (look, it goes boing, boing, I don't think we'll be buying this one...) were hilarious. There is research suggesting that children whose mums do this will be better and earlier talkers so we're not bonkers. Agree with the 'can't get a word in edgewise now' brigade though, mine are 8 and 10 and they argue like politicians.

therealmrsbeckham · 11/04/2011 20:14

I chat away to my 5 month old DS2 all the time at home and when out and about as i've always done with DD and DS1 also. I don't care if it sounds mad or smug I love chatting with my DC's

therealmrsbeckham · 11/04/2011 20:16

Pointythings - I totally agree DD and DS1 were both early talkers and they've never shut up since!

Flisspaps · 11/04/2011 20:16

I never shut up. Yap yap yap. I'd be surprised if she ever gets the chance to actually talk back, she's probably been able to talk for ages but can't get a word in

BongoWinslow · 11/04/2011 20:20

I do it constantly. I also make stupid faces and talk complete nonsense at him. Cracks him up, makes me laugh. If I get funny looks, I wouldn't know as we're too absorbed in one another

RhinestoneCowgirl · 11/04/2011 20:29

Babies are people - I've always talked to them. With DS (first) I talked a lot because I didn't have anyone else to talk to... with DD it had just become a habit. And I find that on bus journeys etc, talking to them and engaging with them helps them not have the screaming ab dabs and piss off the other passengers.

I don't care what other think TBH.

TabithaTwitchet · 11/04/2011 20:30

I used to talk to DD non stop out and about when she was a baby.

Don't do what I did embarassingly frequently which is to still give the running commentary and enthusiastic exclamations when you don't actually have your baby with you. Exclaiming (or worse, singing) things like "Right, time to find the Bananas!" or "ooh look here comes a big BUS!" when you are out on your own will earn you lots of funny looks.

stillbroody · 11/04/2011 20:33

If you've ever seen people with those alien golf carts xplory pushchairs, they all seem to be nattering on to their kids. DSIL is one of them :o

therealmrsbeckham · 11/04/2011 20:35

That made me laugh Tabitha. I can remember being out with DP on a rare occassion without DC in tow getting all excited and pointing out 'the big yellow digger' to him

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