Your baby is just beginning to understand many simple words and phrases, so it's more important than ever to keep up a conversation. Give your chatterbox a head start on good speech patterns by repeating words back using adult language. If your baby asks for a "bah-bah," for example, gently reinforce the correct pronunciation by asking, "Do you want a bottle?" At this stage of the game, it's best to try to avoid the tendency to use baby talk – it's fun, but hearing the right words is better for your baby's development.
Though it may sometimes feel silly, having conversations with your baby is a great way to encourage his or her language skills. When your baby rattles off a sentence of gibberish, respond with "Oh, really? How interesting." He or she will probably smile and keep chattering away.
Soon you may notice some words or gestures you actually understand, as well as other forms of communication, such as pointing and grunting. It's important to name the objects your baby points at – or point out objects of your own – to help him or her learn the names of things.
Give your baby a play-by-play description of what you're doing – whether you're dicing onions for dinner or folding the laundry. As you put your baby in the stroller, say, "There you go, into your blue stroller. Now, let's buckle you in and get you comfortable. Okay, we're off to the park."
You can also sing nursery rhymes, demonstrate actions that go with words (saying "bye-bye" and waving, for instance), and play games, such as ring-around-the-rosy, so he or she learns to identify key words and phrases.
Your baby will soon start to make the connections. Before long, he or she will be clapping when you do and may begin to say "mama" when looking at Mom and "dada" when Dad comes into the room (though at this point he or she is still more likely to use the two words indiscriminately).