Talking to Babies Under 24 Months: Tips for Language Growth
Before 24 months, language grows less through teaching and more through warm back-and-forth conversation about the same moments you see and feel together.
When you talk to a baby under 24 months, how you talk matters more than how much you talk. Babies at this age are learning language while also making sense of the world, so the way mom speaks and engages has a big impact on development. Here are seven ways moms can talk with their baby to support language development, organized as questions.
What kinds of sentences should I use?
Long sentences are hard for babies to follow. When you speak in short, clear phrases and repeat the same words, your baby naturally learns to link words together.
For example, you might go from “Ball!” to “Ball's rolling~” to “Ball's rolling again!”, building up a little at a time.
You don't have to look far for things to talk about, either. For a baby under 24 months, what's right in front of them is their whole world, so it helps to put what they're seeing, touching, and feeling into words right away. Saying things like “The water's warm, huh?”, “There goes a puppy!”, or “You're eating, yum yum!” connects language with experience, and that's when understanding really grows.
Mom translates what baby can't yet say
Even before they can talk, babies are already expressing a lot. When they reach out, say “You want more!” When they cry, say “You were sleepy and upset~” Put your baby's actions into words. All this translating adds up and later grows into your baby's ability to express themselves.
Feelings are something babies need to learn, too. When you put your baby's feelings into words, like “You were upset,” “You're happy!” or “That startled you and you cried,” their ability to regulate emotions develops much better.
Asking questions or describing: which helps more?
Before 24 months, describing helps a baby's language development more than asking questions.
Repeat their words back, and take turns slowly
When your baby says “Nummy!” instead of correcting them with “That's a snack,” respond with something like “Yes, nummy! Let's eat a snack~” and naturally build on what they said.
What matters more than videos or fast-paced stimulation is back-and-forth with a real person: interaction. Baby makes a sound, mom responds, and baby responds again. These short exchanges are at the heart of language development.
Wrapping up
Before 24 months, language is less about teaching and more about experiencing and sharing together. Instead of trying to say perfect sentences, look at the same things as your baby, feel the same moments, and talk to them warmly. Those warm conversations with mom are the best language lessons a baby can have.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-07 This article provides general information. Your child's developmental status and treatment plan are determined through consultation and assessment.