Running out of things to say!

4months in with my first baby and as a SAHM we spend about 10hours a day awake together. I know talking to her is important for her development but maybe I’m taking it too seriously? Like should I really be talking to her at every waking second? Because I am running out of things to say sometimes 😂 If I’m doing something I tell her about what I’m doing, if we are on a walk I talk about what we are seeing or what we are going to do when we get home, we read several books every day, sing songs, give her compliments, tell her I’m “ma ma” and “ma ma loves Eloise” over and over but sometimes I’m just carrying her around with nothing to say so today I just started going through the alphabet and naming 5 things that started with each letter and went through it 3 times in a row lol. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending all this time with her and I want to soak in every stage and not rush time but at the same time, I can’t wait until she can talk back.

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I sing a lot. Repetition is best. They start to remember and pick up. You’re doing great. Even when you are not talking they are observing. That’s okay also

I still just narrate whatever I’m doing with my son even now that he’s older. I started doing it when he was really young because I didn’t know what else to do.

As a speech therapist, it sounds like you're doing great! Remember, giving yourself time to observe what she is interested in and what she is trying to indicate to you is also important. You can definitely imitate any sounds she makes and occasionally add in a different sound combination of your own. Some quiet is totally fine. Everyone, including babies and toddlers, needs processing time. Also, as she does start to actually talk, she needs some silence/gaps in what you are saying to make attempts to say things. You can start practicing these gaps by pausing and looking expectant when you ask her a question before you fill in an answer for her.

I understand! My daughter is almost 8months. I do the same thing lol. The other day I just started naming as many animals as I could think of and then telling her a little bit about each one. I also read to her a lot and I’ve also started letting Alexa tell her stories cause sometimes I’m just talked out. But also she “talks” a lot too so sometimes I’ll just let her babble on and on lol

When I have my son glued to my hip ill be telling him ooo look this is the inside of the frigid and I'm putting x away

It doesn't have to be a 'conversation' if you are doing something just talk about what your doing and why etc. careful though I always chatted to my daughter and now she's a chatterbox 🤣🤣

Honestly I think that’s more than enough. They pick up even when you are talking on the phone etc. I don’t think it has to be constant.

Also went through this and made me realise children do really need a village! Because even when you are not doing those things other people in the background can. Rather than one person provide for all the needs.
But life, I get it

Sounds like you’re doing everything I did since my daughter was born! She’s 18 months now and according to her pediatrician is very advanced in her speech so just keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll be having conversations before a year and a half like we were!

I spoke my kids heads off when they were newborns i would repeat a lot stuff aswell and their speech is amazing now. It seems silly sometimes but its gpod for them and theylove it

You’re over thinking it - you’re talking to her loads!

You don't need to fill every second with words, learning to be comfortable with silence is good too! Try not to stress about it

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