It’s confusing for them — they’re learning both the cutesie inaccurate word, as well as having to learn the accurate word. This, says Daly, is motivating for the baby: “Babies light up when you copy them. One study that summarised much of the research found parentese encourages more conversational turns between parents and babies, leading to stronger language development outcomes. Parentese is simplified, not silly;Letting your voice be expressive holds baby’s attention — no need to exaggerate it;Follow baby’s focus. For babies, parentese is comfort, connection, and learning all wrapped in one.”

Source: Irish Examiner February 24, 2026 02:00 UTC