A diaper change can feel like a task to get through, but it’s also a chance for connection and early language development. Research shows that infants pay closer attention to parentese, the warm, sing-song way caregivers often talk to babies, and that hearing more of it is linked to more babbling and stronger language skills later on. Parentese uses real words with a higher pitch, stretched-out vowels, and expressive faces. 

It’s easy to model in an infant visit, and families can start right away.

• Show it. As you begin the exam, use a warm, melodic voice: “Let’s look at those little feeeet!” Then pause and wait for the baby to respond with a look, a coo, or a smile.
• Name it. “Did you see how she watched my face? That sing-song voice catches her attention and helps build her language.”
• Make it practical. Suggest narrating everyday routines: “While you change or dress him, just talk about what you’re doing. When he coos back, pause and answer him. That back-and-forth is how conversation starts.”

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You might tell parents: “You don’t need anything special. Simply talking to your baby while you care for them is already helping them connect and learn.”