First words

What’s happening

First words are usually approximations, not perfect pronunciation — 'ba' for bottle, 'dut' for duck — and what counts is that they use the sound consistently for the same thing, not that it sounds exactly right.

How to support it

• Name things as you go, read daily, and respond to their attempts — quality back-and-forth talk matters more than any toy or screen.
• Accept the approximation and say the real word back warmly ('dut — yes, duck!') rather than asking them to repeat it correctly.
• Gestures count too — pointing, waving, and reaching to show you something are all part of the same communication skill.