Your baby may still only babble, but don't underestimate how much he understands when you talk to him. Babies pick up on the meaning of words — and tone of voice — faster than they learn to produce words. Around this time, your baby may even respond to simple requests or words of discipline such as a warning "No" or a strong "Unh-unh!"
Talk to your baby often, including saying his name. Tell him about what you're doing, where you're going, and the names of the foods he eats. When you're out and about, point out words and pictures whenever you come across them — billboards, posters, signs — and name them for your baby. You needn't chatter every waking minute — just be aware that he's a sponge when it comes to language. So you should converse with him as you would with any companion. Try to taper off the baby talk so your child hears as many real words as possible during the day
