Mom Talk with Rebecca from Babbling Babies
In a few sentences (we know you don’t have much time!) tell us about yourself and your little ones…
I’m a paediatric speech-language pathologist (SLP) and I live in midtown Toronto with my husband and two young-ish sons (ages 5 ½ and 4) who are the best of friends. Throughout my career I have always worked with preschoolers and their parents. As an SLP, my absolute passions are working with toddlers who are considered “late talkers” (i.e., not saying as much as they understand) and with preschoolers who have motor speech planning delays (i.e., have difficulties sequencing speech sounds together to form clear words and sentences). I also have my passion project, Babbling Babies, an interactive play and language program for babies who are 6-12 months of age
Tell us all about Babbling Babies and your Speech Practice:
Pre-motherhood, I worked for over a decade in the publicly funded preschool speech and language program in downtown Toronto. I had back-to-back maternity leaves with my two kids as they’re only 19 months apart. After my second maternity leave I moved in to part-time private practice as a sole proprietor as the goal was to spend time with my kids and have complete control of my schedule while still doing what I loved. When I wasn’t seeing clients I was working on creating Babbling Babies. It took 6 months of program-planning and a group of nine supportive and enthusiastic moms who attended my very first program in my friend’s living room in the Fall of 2017. Since then I have had two other amazing SLP Moms, Lauren Margel and Amanda Baker, join me in facilitating the program, along with the support of some amazing student volunteers. While I still consider Babbling Babies very small, our program has expanded across Toronto. Since COVID, we have gone online which has been a very new and interesting experience that required a lot less planning time (we got the program up and running in four weeks’ time). I always wanted to provide an online offering and COVID forced my hand on that one!
Faves
What is one thing you couldn’t live without as a mom?
(your ultimate must-have!)
My husband (I recognize this is cliché and he’s not a “thing”). He was the one who pushed and supported me to leave my secure and safe public sector job and make the leap in to private practice after my two maternity leaves. I wouldn’t be able to juggle running my own business and getting more time with my kids if I didn’t have him in the mix.
If I had to choose a thing it’s my 7-seater SUV, the ultimate child-lugger and speech therapy toy hauler.
What are your child’s current faves?
(if it suddenly disappeared tomorrow - there would for sure be tears!)
Oldest son: Harry Potter LEGO
Youngest son: trains and “ketchup on cornflakes” book
What are three things that you take everywhere with you …
(think diaper bag essentials - besides diapers!)
I’ve been out of the diaper stage for a while. Once that stage ended, I loved that I could leave the house with just the bare essentials. You can typically find me with my car keys and phone tucked in to my pockets and nothing else. I love Apple Pay on my phone. If I’m out the whole day with my kids I add my wallet and an Epipen for my youngest in a small purse.
Since the start of COVID I’ve converted to a jumbo shopper bag, bigger than my old diaper bag. It’s washable and filled with all the pandemic essentials: Lysol canister, paper towel, face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, snacks, sunscreen, hats, and water bottles.
What are your top three favourite toys?
(this will be a tough one - we’ve seen your toy closet!)
If I had to narrow it down, these are the ultimate crowd pleasers across the age ranges:
For babies = Fat Brain Toy Spin Again Stacker
For toddlers = Melissa and Doug Ice Cream Station
For preschoolers = Battat Critter Clinic
Book Club
What is your favourite children’s book?
(a childhood fave or a post children discovery)
This one is impossible to answer. I have 100s of children’s books in my arsenal. I have favourites depending on what communication goals I am working on in therapy! In our Babbling Babies program we focus an entire session on our favourite books and “how to read to baby” to promote communication skills. There are over 20 books shared in that session alone and that’s just for 6-12 months of age. Right now we are doing a summer book series on our Instagram where we feature children’s books with inclusion and diversity that can also target specific speech and language goals! Hop on over to our instagram for specifics.
What are your child’s favourite books?
(bet you can recite from memory!)
It changes every few weeks for my kiddos but these would be the biggest hits. My kiddos are so lucky that there’s a children’s library in their basement (#momperks).
Baby Years = “Curious George Pat-a-Cake” by H.A. Rey, “Where’s Spot” by Eric Hill, “Brown Bear” by Eric Carle, and “Wheels on the Bus” by Paul Zelinsky
Toddlerhood = “Dear Zoo” by Rod Campbell , “5 Little Monkeys Series” by Eileen Christelow, “Where’s the Green Sheep?” By Mem Fox, “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Preschool Life = “The Big Road Race” by Stan and Jan Berenstain, “The Missing Donut” by Judith Henderson, “The Same but Different Too” by Karl Newson
What should we look for to encourage speech and communication in books?
(any reading tips?)
Look for your child’s interest and follow their lead. You do not have to read word-for-word in the under 2 set. I find that’s really liberating for parents to hear! Once parents let go of the words on the page and stop the testing questions (e.g., “what’s that?”, “Is that a…?”), parents find this magical moment where their kiddo is finally allowed to lead the “story” and communicate! Most parents will find their toddler will stay longer during book reading (and therefore learn more vocabulary), take a greater interest in the book content (e.g., pointing out what they like, flipping to the pages they enjoy), and become an active participant during book reading which is so important for language building. Use books that have an interactive component (e.g., pop up pages, lift the flaps, body actions, songs) to help your toddler lead during story time.
Mini Style
What are your favourite places to shop for your babes?
Currently: Roots
Past: Whistle and Flute (when they were younger tots)
What children’s clothing brand do you wish they made in your size?
(because let’s face it, we’ve all once thought “I wish this came in my size!”)
Zara! One of my clients in our baby program taught me a trick: shop in the kids’ section at Zara and choose the largest size. I’ve gotten some great tops and shoes.
Mom Talk
What advice would you tell your pregnant self?
(if only you knew then..)
There is so much choice as a mom today and even more information overload of what others think is the best or the only option. Listen to your gut, follow it, and ignore the desire and pressure for “the best”. There are no bad decisions or choices if you do what’s best for your family. The perfect “thing” for another family may be imperfect for yours!
As a working mom, how do you find “balance” between work and motherhood?
(really is there such a thing?)
My “balance” is task delegation and outsourcing (and not feeling guilty about it). I take on what I’m really good at and pass on things that I’m average at or can’t do at all. If there’s a set number of hours in my day before I’m with my kids again; I want to be spending this time doing things I love and/or can do a wonderful job at. I’ve been focusing on “work smarter not harder” in all facets of my home and working life.
Who is your momspiration?
(it can be more than just one because there are so many superstars out there!)
Chana Magder Ross. She is the “Mom G.O.A.T.” in the allied health world in Toronto. She is also one of my earliest supporters and has passed on such a wealth of information to me.
What has been your pandemic saviour?
(we need all the sanity tips!)
McDonald’s Drive Thru
My kids’ bikes and traffic-less street that we live on
Follow Rebecca on Instagram: @babblingbabiesprogram and visit her website: www.babblingbabies.ca
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