Attention and listening:

• Can recognise the difference between a human voice and other sounds.
• Show recognition of their parents voices and may turn towards them.
• May be soothed by their parents voice.

Play and interaction:

• Interested eye gaze, shows a preference for looking at faces.
• May attempt to copy facial expressions.
• Communicates reflexively.

Speech sounds:

• Reflective vocalisations: cry, fuss.

Promoting Interaction:

• Talking to baby as often as possible will help them to feel safe. They will be comforted by their parent’s voice.
• Responding to newborn cries will reward their communication and build connections in the brain.
• Babies will communicate more when they are face to face with an adult.
• Vary use of facial expressions and gestures to encourage your baby to imitate you.
• Play with sounds and copy your baby’s sounds with back and forth interactions
• Using a sing-song intonation/interesting voice, called ‘parentese’ will help babies tune in and listen to their parent’s voice.

Opportunities:

• Singing - babies love the regular beat, rhythm and tune of music. Free rhymes and songs are available on the bookbug app.
• Talking to baby during routine activities such as changing, bathing, household activities helps them learn what is happening and stay calmer.
• Reading every day, starting from birth, it’s never too early to start. There are free books in the baby box and bookbug bags.

Environment:

• Finding a quiet time each day to play and talk with baby, avoiding background noise where possible so babies find it easier to listen.

• A babies communication environment can influence their development. This can include physical environment e.g. number of books and toys available, the experiences they take part in and how their parents interact and play with them.
• The more parents interact and talk to their babies, the better their language and communication skills are likely to develop. This also helps with emotional regulation and attachment.

Which factors are associated with better and poorer SLC outcomes? | Early Speech, Language and Communication Development: Which Factors are Associated with Better or Poorer Outcomes? | Resources | Education Scotland.

Health visitors and family nurses play a key role in promoting early language development and in the prevention and early identification of speech, language and communication needs. Below are some suggested ways of supporting families:

• Promote positive interaction skills by role modelling talking, listening, playing and reading with baby.
• Consider other family members who might be able to help – grandparents, older siblings – and give them key messages around talking, singing, reading and interacting.
• Parents with mental health issues, including postnatal depression and postnatal post-traumatic stress, may need more support and encouragement to talk with their babies and use a tuneful voice – but encouragement to try this even a little can be a great help.
• Parents with communication support needs may require additional support in communicating and interacting with baby. Ensure you are aware of individuals communication preferences.
• Signposting: Attending local Bookbug sessions, infant massage or other community resources can support the attachment and communication process and can be a great source of support for families. Bookbug Sessions in libraries and community venues are a great way for families to spend quality time together and meet other families. They also help to build children’s social skills and support their speech and language development.
• Parents have access to developmental guidelines relating to early communication skills through the Red book, Ready Steady Baby, Ready Steady Toddler and Parent Club.

For professionals

• Parent Club website is the host for the Chatting Together messages for bumps to babies, and toddlers to young children and has accompanying videos to share with families.
• Chatting Together Messages | National Early Language and Communication (NELC) Project
• Bookbug for the Home training: Fully funded training available for midwives and health visitors who are working closely with families and would like to use stories songs and rhymes on a one-to-one basis to support families.
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: If children are Looked After when they are born or are care-experienced at any point between birth and 5 years, they will be eligible for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Professionals can make families/carers aware or ensure that children are signed up through their local social work department.
• The Scottish model of infant participation: Key Messages for Best Practice: 2 - Voice of the Infant: best practice guidelines and infant pledge - gov.scot.

For parents

• Parent Club website is the host for the Chatting Together messages for bumps to babies, and toddlers to young children and has accompanying videos to share with families.
• Chatting Together Messages | National Early Language and Communication (NELC) Project
• CBeebies Parenting  Activities for babies, toddlers and children.
• You can also find books and resources in the baby bookbug bag and many recordings of popular songs and rhymes on the free Bookbug app.
• Solihull free resources for parents (using code TARTAN) inourplace | Solihull Approach – Scotland | inourplace.
• Understanding your baby.
• Understanding your preterm or sick baby in hospital.
• Understanding your preterm or sick baby now you're home.