by iVillage Staff Writer

Anxiously awaiting the word "mama" or "dada"? If you're interested in getting your baby to talk to you, you may want to take a closer look at how you're talking to your baby. What you say and how you say it greatly affects the way your child develops an understanding of language. Want to find out whether you're helping your baby learn to talk? Take this quick ten-question quiz!

  1. I talk to my baby:
    • In "parentese," or slow speech containing short words and sentences with exaggerated vowels
    • Like I talk to adults, so she'll learn to speak that way
  1. When I'm doing something like changing my child's diaper or taking off her shoes, I:
    • Babble about whatever comes to mind, or don't talk at all
    • Talk about the action while I'm doing it

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