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From 6 months onwards, your baby will start trying solids and having sit down meals alongside their milk feed.
This time is a brilliant new opportunity for you to chat with them and help them learn new words.
Whether you're using a puree, trying finger foods or a combination of both, chatting together through snack time is a simple and easy way to boost your baby's language learning.
Watch the video below to see how you can make the most of mealtimes.
Before giving your baby finger food snacks, remember to boil or steam veg sticks so they are soft enough to avoid choking.
Why should you talk to your baby at snack time?
- Talking at snack time helps your baby hear lots of new words.
- Responding to your baby's interest helps them pick up new words quicker.
- Repeating these words often helps them link the object with the word.
- Spending this one-on-one time together helps you to bond.
Tips for talking during mealtimes with your baby
When you chat during snack time, it's great to let your baby lead and respond to their choices and what they're interested in.
Babies and young children find it very hard to switch their attention to something new.
So by following your baby's lead and talking about things they're already paying attention to, you're really helping them to soak up as much information as possible.
Keep your language simple, but don't be afraid to mix it up.
You can describe what is happening or ask questions and wait for a response.
These different ways of talking teach baby different things. One helps them hear full, descriptive sentences, while the other teaches them about conversational speech.
Being a parent can be really hectic, so it can be difficult to find time to interact with your child one-to-one.
That's why mealtimes are such a good opportunity for chat and play.
Weaning and mealtime tips around Tiny Happy People
- We've got loads of tips about how to include your baby in family mealtimes.
- Find out about the science of mealtimes and weaning for babies.
- Want to know about what your baby can eat and when?
- Check out our cheap and easy weaning recipes from Miguel Barclay.
