We've always talked to our son, and were rewarded just before his second birthday when the owner of the nursery that he goes to told us that he had a wider vocabulary than some of the pre-school children there. Before he was able to talk, I'd talk to him whenever I was with him, changing his nappy, etc. I'd talk about whatever came to mind (my wife sometimes comments that she once heard me telling him all about three-phase electricity). The subject of the conversation doesn't matter - the point is to let your child hear you talking, and in so doing, encourage them to talk. Also see the .