Gentle Voice Play With Baby

A soft blanket for baby to lie on

A quiet room with minimal distractions

Lay your baby on their back on a soft blanket in a quiet room so they can focus on your voice.

Lean close — about 12 inches from baby's face — and say their name in a warm, sing-song tone.

Wait 5-10 seconds for any response: a wiggle, a coo, a look. This pause is the magic — it teaches them conversation has turns.

Try a high-pitched voice and say something simple like "Hiiii baby!" Watch how their expression changes.

Switch to a low, rumbly voice and say "Helloooo" slowly. Notice if they respond differently.

Copy any sounds your baby makes back to them — if they coo, you coo. If they gurgle, you gurgle.

Add gentle facial expressions with each voice change — wide eyes for surprise, big smile for happy tones.

End the session when baby turns away or gets fussy — that's their way of saying "I need a break."

Parentese (that exaggerated, sing-song voice we naturally use with babies) isn't silly — research shows it actually helps babies learn language faster because it slows down speech and emphasizes vowel sounds.

Try this during diaper changes or after a feed when baby is alert and calm. Those "quiet alert" windows are golden for learning.

Don't worry if baby doesn't coo back right away. Even just looking at your face is a response. They're absorbing everything.

If you have older kids, let them try too. Babies often respond enthusiastically to children's higher-pitched voices.