Encourage Baby's Language Development: 9-12 Months

Encourage Her to Babble

Respond to your baby's nonsense syllables. Participate in conversations with her, allowing her time to talk before you respond to what she said. Talk to her just like you would talk to a dear friend. Tell her about your day, show her photographs in a magazine, and ask her questions.

• When Do Babies Start to Talk?

Sing For Her

Sing your favorite songs to your baby. She may even dance while you sing.

• Baby Talk: A Month-by-Month Timeline

Show Her Colorful Pictures

Point our pictures in books and magazines and describe them. "That's a blue bird" or "This is a cow." Ask your baby questions you think she knows how to answer: "Where is the yellow duck?"

• Decoding Baby's Funny Little Noises and Sounds

Signs Your Baby Is Learning to Talk (8-12 months)

The last few months of your baby's first year are an exciting time for language development. Here are seven signs your cutie is learning how to talk.

Take Her Shopping

Describe what you are buying when you go shopping. "This is a red apple, and we will eat it for lunch." These sentences make a connection between the object and words, and they also make a connection between different parts of her life (store versus home).

Name Her Body Parts

Name the parts of your baby's body when you are changing her diaper, bathing her, or simply snuggling. Ask her to point to the parts you've named. "Where is your tummy?"

• 9 Ways to Help Your Child's Language Development

Name People and Objects

Name objects in your baby's environment, like people (Mama, Daddy, Uncle Max), animals (dog, cat, pigeon), and objects (chair, book, car).

More Activities for 6-9 Month Babies

Get more ideas from Raising Your Child: The Complete Illustrated Guide to help with your baby's development.

• Activities to Boost Physical Development
• Activities to Enhance Cognitive Development
• Activities for Emotional & Social Development

50 Simple Ways to Make Your Baby Smarter

Infant-development experts believe that the first years of a child's life are a prime time for learning, but sometimes it may be hard to think of new ways to stimulate your baby. Let these fun -- and scientific -- activities will inspire you.