The Benefits of Talking to Your Newborn

Talking to your newborn may seem awkward at first, but the benefits are endless. “Speaking to your child as early as the newborn stage helps establish the foundation of their receptive language skills,” said Fae Dopwell, M.D., a board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician and medical director at Pediatrix® Developmental Medicine of Dallas. “As your child gets older, they will develop better listening skills, which will guide them in following directions and determining next steps,” explained Dr. Dopwell. She added that studies show early and frequent exposure to the spoken word through conversation or reading promotes language development and has a positive association with a child’s later reading skills. Easy ways to talk to your baby include reading a book. “Talk about what you see in the picture and feel free to create your own story or elaborate,” said Dr. Dopwell.

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