How can I support my baby's speech development at home?
Applies to age: 0–12 months
In short
Talk to your child and play together. Up to 6 months, talk to your child up close, face to face, and sing, and at 6–12 months name the things you can see and look at books together.
What is normal
Some claims: international norm
- A child's mental development is supported through play together, conversations and learning new skills.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
O rozwój psychiczny dziecka dba się poprzez wspólną zabawę, rozmowy, naukę nowych umiejętności.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- After birth, it is worth continuing to talk to your child in a calm tone.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
nadal mówić spokojnym tonem
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- At 0–6 months, talk to your child while holding them close and looking at them.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Hold your baby close and look at them as you talk to them.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- At 0–6 months, tell your child what you are doing during feeding, diaper changes and bath time.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Chat about what you're doing as you feed, change and bathe them.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- At 0–6 months, sing to your child; this helps them tune in to the rhythm of language.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Sing to your baby – this helps them tune in to the rhythm of language.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- At 0–6 months, repeat the sounds your child makes; this teaches them to listen and to take turns in a conversation.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Repeat the sounds your baby makes back to them – this teaches your baby lessons about listening and taking turns in a conversation.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- At 6–12 months, name and point to things you can both see.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Name and point to things you can both see, for example, "Look, a cat".
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- At 6–12 months, look at books with your child; you do not have to read the text, it is enough to talk about what you can see.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Start looking at books with your baby – you do not have to read the words on the page, just talk about what you can see.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- At 6–12 months, play games such as peek-a-boo; they teach your child to take turns, to pay attention and to listen.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Play games like "peek-a-boo" and "round and round the garden".
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- At 6–12 months, it is worth offering a pacifier only for sleep, because it is hard to learn to talk with a pacifier in the mouth.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Only offer a dummy when it's time for sleep.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
See a doctor
- If your child is developing differently from their peers, it is worth discussing with a specialist what worries you, and making use of the advice of a midwife, a nurse or a pediatrician.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Warto jednak skonsultować ze specjalistą to, co Cię zaniepokoiło i korzystać z rad położnej, pielęgniarki czy pediatry.
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.