It will be quite a while before he or she says that first word, but that doesn't mean your baby isn't starting to recognize the purpose of language. All those funny sounds your baby makes, from gurgles to coos, are early attempts to communicate. And the more responsive you are, the more encouraged your baby will be to carry on his or her end of the "conversation."
Appropriate for: Newborn to 4 months
Skills developed: Readiness for speech, auditory
What you'll need: Nothing but your imagination and voice
Make your baby's natural attempts at call-and-response into a game. Start by helping your baby figure out all the fun sounds to make with his or her mouth. Wait for your baby to make a characteristic baby noise, such as ahh, then repeat it back.
Once you've done that a few times, show your baby some of the things you can do: Make an exaggerated smacking kiss, pop your finger out of the side of your mouth, or make a b-b-b noise by blowing air out of your mouth while wiggling your finger on your lips. At this age, it's unlikely that your baby will make a similar type of sound back – but he or she will certainly be surprised and entertained by watching you!