I never did this with my little guy! It drives me crazy. I would talk to the parents because it can affect speech later in life. I had in my graduating class who's mother used baby talk around all of her kids just because the youngest was always a baby. This girl ended up talking like a baby her whole life. It bothers me every time I talk to her because she sounds so ridiculous talking like that all the time. Its just like its normal to her.

Wow, what a way to screw up a child. I wonder if they resorted to this because she wasn't responding to normal talk at home either. Well, I say tough love her a bit. Keep talking to her normal and let her fuss for a few minutes before giving in to the nonsense. Maybe it won't take long for her to catch on. I haven't talked this way to my 6 month old yet, maybe just a bit high-pitched, but still normal words.

Also, as a mother, I would be truly grateful if my caregiver was to express such a concern to me. Then maybe they will try to address the behavior at home as well. If you can think of a gentle way to bring this up to the parents I certainly would. Like just say the problems YOU'RE having with the child. Don't mention anything about how the parents talk to her. Good luck. How annoying

I have never used baby talk with my son. I was never interested in having a son ask for some "wawa" as a two year old, when he's thirsty. I'm pretty sure there are studies that show how bad baby talk is for speech development. Babies can only learn what they hear, so if parents are talking incorrectly, their children aren't even going to know there is another way (the correct way) to say a certain word until they start school and the teacher has to correct them. But by then, it's going to take a lot of work; whereas if the parents had just talked to their child like a human, there would be no problem.

The parents might get offended, but they need to know what they're setting their daughter up for. And, of course, don't even attempt baby talk with her, even if she'll listen better. I'm sure, eventually, if she hears it enough, she'll start responding to the way you talk. She just doesn't understand your language, yet.

thanks for all the replies ladies! I should specify that I do not talk to her in baby talk, she spends a lot of time cry at my house. on top of the baby speak, she is the only child, and she's basically allowed to do whatever she wants. I have watched her grab a fistful of her mother's hair and pull so hard her mother's eyes watered and her mom just laughed about it. I guess I'm going to have to try and find a tactful way to bring it up. thanks again ladies!

Well you're not caring for my child, but let me just give you a general Thanks! because I know it must not be easy having to deal with us parents sometimes.

haha thanks. I have had to deal with them with other aspects already, and I know they tend to get defensive, but they havent removed her from my care yet so I must be doing something right! I just recently brought up the fact that at 10 months she should be ready to try something other than pureed vegetables and fruit. so they bought her some puffs and stuck them in the babes food bag, not saying anything about it, and the baby loves them! lol hes a first time dad, but she's not a first time mom, I've just never met her other daughter. I wonder how she talks? Jk :)

I have the exact opposite problem with my daycare provider. She is young and has two young kids herself (2 and 8 months) and she lets the kids do whatever they want. There are days my son comes home exhausted and crabby because she doesn't lay him down for a nap unless he wants one (and he never really wants a nap!). She never tells him no, so when I do it at home he just looks at me like he's not about to listen to what I have to say and I end up dealing with a fit because he's not used to hearing no. Before he went to daycare, he knew to stop when I say no, he never threw tantrums like this, and he took a nap at the same time every day because I made him. She also lets him have his bottle quite often which I have asked her not to do because he is 11 months old and we are weaning him off so he's done with bottles by 1 year. At home, he doesn't get a bottle except for right before bed, but at daycare all he has to do is throw his cup and he gets a bottle.

As a daycare provider yourself, is there any way I can talk to her about this without making her upset? I've known her forever and she really is such a nice person, but sometimes I think she needs to stop being so nice with the kids.

do you pack him a bottle? Or does she use one of her own? does she know that means? If she doesn't, or even if she does, I would just bring it up, but not in a you- accusatory manner, that you're so proud of how your little one is doing in not taking the bottle all day long. if that doesn't do it then blunt is best :)

Hahaha talk texting....its meant to say that does she know he only has one at bed?

Thanks! No, I don't pack a bottle, we brought a bottle over there when he first started daycare 2 months ago and the bottle just stays there. I bring formula, but he is still on formula, even in his cup. And yes I have told her he's doing great weaning off the bottle so he's only allowed one before bed to relax him to sleep. I think she just doesn't like him crying, and he does get upset sometimes if he really wants his bottle, so she gives in far too easily just to keep him happy.

I will do what I can to talk to her, and hopefully she listens to me this time. I feel bad asking her to stop because I know how stubborn he can be sometimes, even yelling if he doesn't get his way, but I also know that if you just make him do it he will stop crying and just do it.

Jolene, I would be careful talking to the parents because they are likely to take it as being judged for their parenting. If you address it with mom & dad I would do as someone else suggested and approach it as "I'm struggling with......" As a caregiver, I would definitely not give in and talk baby talk to her, but maybe soften your tone & say things in a more sing-song voice but using words correctly. In my house we talk to our little ones a lot and on occassion I think baby talk comes out, like when we Are cuddling and say things like "look at your widdle chubby bubby toesy woesies" giggle giggle kissy kissy...... it's done in such a way that it's not a normal way of talk. My son is almost two and talks wonderfully, but he does say "cuppy" for cup & "uppy" for up. I don't correct him but I use the correct words like "Do you want your cup" and over time that will reinforce the proper label for the object.
Court, I am not judging your parenting chiice but your baby's need to suck from a bottle is a normal thing and the calendar birthday doesn't change that. When I had my oldest I was told the same thing, that he should be off the bottle at 12months. He had been using a cup for juice & water so it wasn't a big deal but after I had my second I realized that 12 month mark doesn't make them too old as long as they do know how to take a cup. Our babies seem so big at 12 months compared to where they were at 6 months but when you see the difference at 18months you realize a 12 month old is still a baby who may need to suck on a bottle or a boob and it's perfectly natural.

Ill be tactful :). I was thinking cort, maybe say you are retiring the bottle and ask for yours? My daughter was bottle weaned by her choice at six months and my mil was always trying to bottle feed her, made me so mad lol.
I wont broach it as if it were someone elses idea, however I took courses while working towards my foster parent certification on how to talk to a child without accusation. I may just have to employ some tactics :)

That would be a great idea actually and I will probably do that tomorrow when I bring him to daycare in the morning.

hopefulJenn, he really doesn't need the bottle, he drinks out of a cup perfectly fine at home. I think he just knows that he can get his way at daycare so he wants it, knowing he will get it. I actually just stopped giving him a bottle with his morning cereal too because he doesn't need it. He didn't even argue the first morning I did it (today) because he is just fine with a cup. I wouldn't take him off if I thought it was too early, and my doctor even said if he needs it until 18 months he can have it, but I don't believe he does need it because he's so okay with not having it. Sucking on a bottle really hasn't done anything for him since he was 6 months old, it does't even calm him anymore. He just wants what he wants and knows his daycare provider will give it to him.

Thanks for the tip though! I do realize you aren't judging me and I do know that he doesn't absolutely have to be off his bottle. I just know that he IS ready and it IS time and I wish my daycare provider would cooperate instead of giving him his way. He's much naughtier at daycare than at home, you see.