Baby Vocabulary

A baby is a very young child. A baby in the first four weeks after birth is called a neonate. A recently born child is called a newborn child.  If a baby is still drinking milk from its mother, we call it a suckling. A child who is just learning to walk is called a toddler.

Bottle (n)

a plastic container with a tent at the top, used to give milk or a drink to a baby

• The baby finished the whole bottle at once.

Bottle-feed (v)

to feed a baby with a bottle

• She decided to bottle-feed her baby.

Bouncing (adj)

energetically healthy

• She has a bouncing baby boy.

Breastfeed (v)

Synonym: to suckle

to feed a baby from a mother’s breast

• She is breastfeeding twins.

Carrycot (n)

a small bed with handles that is designed to carry a baby while travelling

• The baby was sleeping in the carrycot.

Cot

American English: crib

a baby bed with the sides that is too high to climb

• The baby is lying in the cot.

Cradle (n)

a small bed that moves from side to side when pushed gently

• Rock gently the baby to sleep in its cradle.

Crawl (v)

to move slowly on the hands and knees

• My baby is learning to crawl.

Dummy (n)

American English: pacifier

a small plastic, rubber or silicone object given to a baby to suck or bite on

• My baby does not sleep without the pacifier.

Lullaby (n)

Synonym: cradle-song

a relaxing song that is sung to make children calm or go to sleep

• My grandmother knows many old lullabies.

Nappy (n)

American English: diaper

cloth or synthetic material that is placed the between baby’s legs to catch its waste

• She had never changed a nappy before.

Playpen (n)

an enclosed structure with wooden bars in which babies can play safely

• She left her baby in the playpen.

Pram (n)

American English: baby carriage

a small vehicle with four wheels that is used for moving a baby around while it is lying down

Romper suit (n)

a piece of clothing that covers a baby’s body. A piece of clothing worn by a baby at night is called sleepsuit.

• a little boy wearing romper suit

Pushchair (n)

Synonym: buggy

American English: stroller

a small vehicle with four wheels that looks like a chair and used for moving a baby around

Teethe (v)

to grow teeth

• My baby is still teething.

Toddle (v)

to move unsteadily with short steps

Walker (n)

a frame with small wheels that allows a baby to move around a room

Bib (n)

a piece of cloth that covers a baby’s chest to keep clothes clean while feeding

Rattle (n)

a baby’s toy that makes a sound when it is shaken