Overview Crying, smiling and making eye contact are all ways that your infant communicates with you. Even though your baby can't talk to you yet, she is curious about the world around her. You can help her to learn about language as well as the rest of her world by talking to her. Importance Talking to your infant is important because he learns about language and communication by listening to you. A study conducted at Brown University demonstrated that babies first learn their own names, and then they learn to recognize words used in conjunction with their names. Talking to your baby and using his name frequently can help him learn about language, which in turn will help him learn to speak. This is vital for early language development, according to Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, author of "Einstein Never Used Flashcards." How to talk When you talk to your baby, look into her eyes and put your face close enough to hers that she can clearly see you. A distance of 8 to 10 inches away is ideal, according to the BBC Health. Talk to your baby about what you are doing. For example, tell her what you are doing when you change her diaper or as you bathe her. What you say is less important than the act of talking, so don't feel pressure to carry on an interesting conversation. When your baby starts talking As he gets older and can coo or say simple words in response, wait for him to respond after you talk. This will teach him about taking turns in a conversation. Talk about what he is doing. For example, if he extends his arms to be picked up, say "up" to him. If he drops his ball, for example, say "Oops, you dropped the ball." This may seem simple or obvious to you, but it helps him pair particular words or sequences of words with his actions. When to consult your pediatrician When assessing your child's language development, look at two kinds of vocabulary. Receptive vocabulary consists of the words she can understand. Expressive vocabulary consists of the words she can say. Many children only have a handful of words or statements that they can say before age two. This is normal as long as their receptive vocabulary is more extensive. In other words, if she can understand and react to what you are saying, she is probably fine. If your child's expressive vocabulary doesn't increase to about 200 or 300 words by age 3, contact your pediatrician for assessment.