It’s natural — and driven by love and the joy of motherhood — for a mother to eagerly await her baby’s first sounds. She may rejoice at hearing the earliest cooing sounds, known as "babbling", which babies often make when they feel happy and comfortable. So, it’s also natural for parents to feel anxious if their baby is not speaking as early as peers. This often leads them to search for solutions and apply different tips and techniques to help speed up speech development.
Certain signs must be present to determine if a child is truly experiencing speech delay. There are also known causes of delayed speech, as well as effective actions that can accelerate it.
In an exclusive interview with Nadormagazine, speech and language therapist Dr. Laila Massoud outlines 5 important steps to help your child begin speaking quickly and without difficulties — from facial massages to learning names of toy animals:
1. Facial Massage for Your Baby to Speak Faster
Start by gently massaging your baby’s facial muscles from birth. Don’t skip this step out of fear that your newborn is too fragile — it’s actually important for early speech development. Speech is not just a communication skill; it's also an indicator of healthy brain function, hearing, and the upper respiratory system. Massaging facial muscles supports this development.
Use your fingertips to gently massage your baby’s cheeks, jaw, and mouth area. You may consult a pediatrician to learn the correct technique, and it’s recommended to work with a speech therapist to assess your child’s needs and guide you through proper and safe methods. This massage improves flexibility in speech-related muscles, boosts blood circulation, and stimulates the nerves involved in the complex process of speaking.
2. Read to Your Baby and Limit Screen Time
Many parents leave their child in front of a screen — whether TV, tablet, or phone — as a distraction or to soothe crying. However, early exposure to screens is harmful to speech development.
Research shows that frequent screen time damages brain cells and disrupts the formation of the neural networks that support communication and language. This can lead to delayed speech, and increase the risk of developmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, and attention problems.
Children learn best through interaction, not passive repetition of images. Real-time communication with a parent — talking, singing, and playing — especially during the first year of life, strengthens brain development and encourages early speech as a natural form of connecting with the world.
3. Teach Your Child Names Using Toy Figures
Use safe plastic or rubber toys in the shape of animals to introduce your child to words. Even from a young age, scatter colorful, eye-catching toys around your baby. Choose educational and stimulating toys, and begin naming each one: "This is a giraffe," "This is a chicken."
Your child will begin to absorb this vocabulary and eventually repeat the words. They’ll likely also develop a favorite toy they carry around and react emotionally if it’s missing — a sign of strong early associations and learning.
4. Early Medical Screening to Ensure Healthy Speech Development
An early physical check-up is crucial for detecting any issues related to hearing or speech organs.
For instance, tongue-tie — a condition where a thin membrane restricts the tongue’s movement — can significantly delay speech. It must be diagnosed and treated by a professional; do not attempt to correct it yourself.
Hearing screenings are essential, especially for newborns, since undiagnosed hearing loss is a leading cause of delayed speech. Studies show that 2–3 in every 1,000 newborns are born with significant hearing loss.
Because hearing and speech are strongly linked, detecting and addressing problems early on enables prompt medical or therapeutic intervention, which greatly supports the child’s language and social development. A neurologist can rule out issues affecting brain function, ensuring that the child has the capacity for healthy academic and emotional development in the future.
5. Take Your Baby Outside Early to Stimulate Speech
Some traditional customs advise against taking a newborn outside before the mother’s postpartum period ends (often 40 days). However, early exposure to the outside world is crucial.
Allowing your baby to see new faces, hear new voices, and observe interactions helps build communication bridges and boosts their curiosity to mimic speech. Babies learn best when they are part of a social environment where words are used meaningfully.
For example, saying “This is your aunt” will eventually help the baby understand family roles. Saying “This is a car, don’t cross the road” teaches both vocabulary and safety awareness. Repeating such phrases builds comprehension and expressive language skills, both key for early talking.
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