Do I talk to my baby too much?

[Ahbhee]

Baby is 11 weeks and I've just lost my voice , don't think I'm ill otherwise. wondering if it is because I'm constantly talking to her in varied pitches especially a sing song high pitch most of the time. I've heard talking is so vitally important for their development and if I can't now talk to her am I going to stunt her language development!!? It feels very dramatic in my sleep deprived state of mind and I'm freaking out that I don't want her to think I'm not responding to her! Any one experienced this at all?

Well I think that it's important for babies and toddlers to learn that silence is also good. :)

If you don't talk to her for a week or so, she'll be fine! There's no need to speak all the time. I say this as someone who did talk a lot to their babies...both of which spoke early and fluently...like you I described things as I saw them or as they happened.

But there's no need to do it all the time.

Your baby will be fine.
It's important that people talk to them but not necessarily constantly!
You can interact with eye contact and cuddles. Cut yourself some slack and get well soon

She'll be fine. 😊 I used to talk to DD non stop. Everyone used to comment on how well she spoke when she was a toddler, but she never stops talking now. Ever! So as Ajas said, it's good for them to learn that silence is good too. 😁

Think you're panicking unnecessarily

I used to speak to mine all the time, although not in a sing-song voice, just normally. I do remember going shopping, pushing the trolley around the supermarket nattering on about what I was buying and going to cook etc. Getting a few looks from people! ???? then realised I had left DS at home with DH.
There will be no problem if you don't speak for a little while.

I don't think you can talk to your Kids too much! Like you said it helps with development. I have always talked to my kids, sung songs, talk them through what I'm doing. Their old enough now to tell me to be quiet, but I think it's helped with their development, but they don't stop talking my ears off now.

As long as you give her cuddles and stuff I’m sure it’s fine.

😊 I don't think you can talk to your baby too much.

I used to chat about all sorts of stuff with mine when they were tiny...shopping list, plot of films, which wine to buy, opinion of items in art gallery/museum etc etc

They are now 3 and 4 and I barely get a word in 😩

I've heard it's good to leave a pause at the end of what you're saying to allow them to 'process' what you've said and to help learn turn taking in conversation, so your having a slightly one sided conversation instead of a constant stream of speech.

Actually our speech therapist said you can talk to much. As pp said it is the interaction that is important and giving them time to process and respond is vital. So little pauses are great and when you can’t talk lots of eye contact, and responsive noises will be fine.

Sorry, but PFB, yes?

You'll look back on this one day and laugh. Especially when you're desperate for your toddler/preschooler to BLOODY SHUT UP for two minutes.

I had the opposite problem, I'm not a big talker so didn't talk much to my first child, I mean of course I chatted to him but just the basic reading, cooing, peekaboo whatever
When he got to 2.5 I realised he wasn't saying many words.. babbling a lot but nonsense. It then all clicked that he needed to learn it from me! (Duh!) So I then started narrating everything I and he was doing and it worked! I found it exhausting but got used to it.

So I think you're doing the right thing generally but maybe balance with some quiet times, and you don't want her to learn that people chat all day long.

Thanks everyone. My voice came back a bit this evening so was able to make up a little bit for the lack of talking in the day all be it quite monotone and not the usual sing songy voice she's used to. I'm not usually a bit talker either CookPass so I'm trying to make a concerted effort to make sure she doesn't become the shy hermit I am! Have a feeling that it's because I'm so quiet usually, the increased yapping to baby has overworked my vocal chords and that's why it's gone!

I remember a lady stopping me in the supermarket to tell me how lovely it was that I was chatting to my baby all the way round. I swear he hasn't stopped talking since he could ! Not drawn breath for 7 long years! I often wonder if she knew what I was letting myself in for! Seriously, Talk away. It's nice! It's healthy. Xx

Aw. You can’t talk too much. Ops good for them! But I am also sure your baby won’t suffer any ill effects while you recover from your sore throat. You are clearly an attentive parent, whether or not you can speak right now.

Ops = it’s