is all this vocalization normal?

I was actually going to call the pediatrician, but thought I would ask around here first.

Suddenly, the baby has become very vocal. Lots of grunting and sighing and squeaking. She seems perfectly content, (though she is a bit congested, I have been putting those saline drops in her little nose.) and her bowel movements are totally normal. She doesn't seem to be grunting to 'get something out' - doesn't need to burp...I can't figure it out - it's just a lot of sound coming from her! When she's awake only.

Anybody have any opinion on that? Could she be sick and I just don't know it?

She's trying to communicate! Sean's been babbling since before 3 months. I do remember him squeaking early on. I squeaked right back. Who knows what was said - I just hope I didn't promise him anything!

Now he's 6 1/2 months and he babbles every. waking. moment. It's great!!

Just wait till you babble at her and she babbles back.

It is so great! We have full on convo's with Damien and he squeals with delight!!!

It is so awesome!!!

just from the psychology/developmental perspective this is very good...


there are so many phonemes (the smallest phonetic unit in a language that is capable of conveying a meaning) that we do not use as English speakers...(I think we have 40...but there 200)...so babies test them all out (up to about 9 months)...when you hear a sound that you recognize...just for example 'th' you might 'reward' her by talking to her...since that is an English sound...but you may not if she rolls her 'r' a Spanish sound...so she will stop rolling her 'r's and concentrate on the sounds that you give her attention for...


this the first part of language and this is why babies/kids that learn 2 languages at this time have a much easier time...ie I cannot roll my 'r's for the life of me...but DH who was raised speaking Spanish/English has no problem...


so if you can be conscious of it...reward her with many sounds...and it may give her an edge in foreign languages...

HOW CUTE, Sofia is just learning to babble, and trying to talk to her mommy !!!

Erica- what you said (although I didnt 'get it' all sounds very interesting about babies learning 2 langauges.

Id love more of your feedback and knowledgeable advice

Im trying to teach JA ITalian. I speak it to him as often as possible (although its HARD to keep to it as the ONLY Language I speak to him-should I TRY REALLY HARD to ONLY speak to him in Italian?)
At what age do they really understand that its 2 different languages? I remember being totally amazed when my niece would say a word and then its translation, she was maybe 2 or 3. She'd say 'Luna...moon...macchina...car' and I Was just like
and its also quite amazing how they know/catch on to who who they can speak to in ITalian and who doesnt speak the language and they turn back to English for them. Amazes me
I know my thoughts and questions seem all scattered, I guess I just want to know if im headed in the right direction with how im speaking to JA. I ask him questions in ITalian, speak to him in Italian and certain words and phrases I say in both languages so he knows its the same thing. He also listens to ITalian music (mostly-kiddie-geared songs) and even some Armenian (johns family, but john doesnt speak it). Is there anything else I can do or shouldnt do to promote his Italian speaking?
YOu can just head me over to a good website if my thoughts are too confusing for you, I know I just babbled in a million directions.


Thanks

you caught me anna!!!

I only taught intro to psych...so that is the extent of my knowledge...but I am searching the internet for some info for you....

we are planning to teach our children Spanish, like you are doing...so it will give me a head start...

dont worry about it! I'll do a search!

I do love your informative responses all the time!

here you go anna...

http://babiestoday.com/resources/articles/bilingualbaby.htm

http://www.zompist.com/whylang.html
this one I found an interesting concept:
A child is likely to end up as a fluent speaker of a language only if there are significant people in her life who speak it: a nanny who only speaks Spanish, a relative who doesn't speak English, etc. Once a child discovers that his parents understand English perfectly well, he's likely to give up on the home language, even in the face of strong disapproval from the parents

it makes a lot of sense...since DH was only spoken to in Spanish...and his nanny only knows Spanish...to this day she can barely piece together a sentence in English...(but is working hard to do it so that we can speak)...BUT DH's cousin who is much younger...is very nervous of her Spanish...b/c by the time she was born most of the family was very good in English...


http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content3/second.language.p.k12.2.html
just a bit from this one...but they do reference the newsweek article...wonder if I can find that one

here it is:
Begley, S. 'Your Child's Brain.' Newsweek, 1996.


hope these help...I also searched the ERIC (educational publications) database...but I couldn't find any full text versions of articles...

oh thanks!!! IM so excited !!!
I used the ERIC database for several papers for school. great website.

thanks for those links and that info!

Its so true that kids will give up speaking a language if they know they can get away with it

my fsil is a spanish teacher and she is teacher her 16 month young daugther

spanish and english and since she was born and understands them both very well she is starting italian now as well

like yabbo stated the young age is the best time for a child to learn.

good lcuk

anna...i think you went through similar things as (my) John did...he prefers English...but his nanny forced him to speak Spanish (b/c she didn't know English) and his mom and aunt only speak Spanish...and have just switched over now that I am in the picture


but our kids will pick up that John prefers English...but you can only do what you can only do...John doesn't want to speak only Spanish...b/c he feels like he can express himself in English better...and therefore bond with the kids better


but I think you are on the right track

She's talking to Mommy!! How fun!! Talk right back to her!!

yay! those vocalizations sound perfectly normal and indicate that she's learning social and communicative skills. that's so exciting! especially to me--i'm a speech language pathologist so i love this stuff. let me know if you have any questions.

erica--i'm impressed by your knowledge of phonemes! you described it perfectly. i never learned any of that in any of my psych classes. i think it is so fascinating the way children learn language.

Bilingualism isn't my specialty, but i was taught that up until a certain age (can't remember the cutoff, but i'd say somewhere between 3-5) typically developing children have an equal capacity to learn more than one language. True bilingualism, where a person is equally proficient in 2 languages is rare. There is usually a more dominant language. I think to promote bilingualism, the child should be equally exposed to both languages. If one language is less favored, it may not develop to the same degree. Here's a little statement I found about bilingualism from ASHA (the association that certifies speech pathologists). http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/Bilingual-Children.htm
I work with a certified bilingual speech therapist and I'm sure she has some great references about teaching your child a 2nd language. I can ask her if you'd like.

Anna ... FYI ... St. Brigid's parish has a wonderful program in Italian for children as young as 18 months. I know Maria & I will certainly attend!

Hi Anna

When I was writing my thesis I came across a lot of info on this.

It is best to be consistent and start young. From what I read you shouldn't be switching back and forth from Italian to English. John should speak to JA in one language and you in italian. There is something in the hearing that matures after the age of 12 and makes it more difficult for children to hear the certain intonations of a language. It is easier to hear all the true sounds of the language before this age. They will also absorb the words much easier with less language crossing confusion. That is why a lot of people remember the Spanish words they learned on Sesame Street but have a hard time remembering the words they learned in school 10 years ago.

As far as the language confusion that I spoke of: When I started taking Italian, I had already been studying Spanish for many years so I remember all Italian words in a connection to a Spanish word. If I need to say something in Italian I would have to think in English, then Spanish and then fix the non Italian words. But JA will not experience this because both Italian and English will be his natural languages because you are starting so young with him!!!!

So I have babbled enough off topic.

If you want to teach your children another language, one of you should speak to the child in only that language the other parent in English. This is the easiest way for them to become bi-lingual They are like little sponges and pick up 2 languages so easily.

we were out to dinner with someone last night...and I don't know how it came up (but the guy brought it up) that children raised in a house that doesn't speak English cannot assimiliate as well into society....


WTF??!! (maybe it was the sake...b/c this guy is really smart - not in social sciences I guess though) I had to laugh b/c I was spitting out the info that Lisa had posted...and DH chuckled too...b/c his first language is not English (he only learned from Seseme St - right before he entered Kindergarten) and no one would ever know that English is not his first language...and he is assimilated more than most Americans...