Bilingual

My boyfriend and I will be having our first baby in about 3 months.  His first language is Spanish and mine is English.  We really want to raise our baby boy knowing both languages.  We are planning on my boyfriend only speaking spanish to our baby and me only speaking english.  We have heard that is the best way to do it.  But some people and books we have read say that we shouldnt do it that way or we should wait until the baby is a couple months.  We wanted to start right away so the baby is used to it.  I was just seeing if any of you guys raised a child knowing two languages and how you did it.  Also, I was reading a post about tanning lotion and did you guys who used the tanning lotion put it on your face too?  Just wondering because I really need to get some color to me before I start wearing capris!!  

[Me2mommy2b]

There is a huge debate going on regarding bilingualism and when it should be introduced to the child.  I am personally trilingual and my husband is a bilingual.  We speak to our DD in our main language (not english) and we'll introduce English later on.  Since your b/f speaks spanish and you don't, it's not a problem for him to speak spanish and for you to speak english only.  Babies pick up languages at a very early age.  Some would say that speaking a lot of languages will delay expressive language, I would strongly disagree.  Almost all countries in Europe speak more than one language and they do fine.  Plus, I work with plenty of students who are bilingual (i'm a speech pathologist) and they're fluent in both languages.  Good luck!

[mami2karina]

Do what you want to do.  I am bilingual and my husband is Mexican.  Before we seperated I only spoke to her in Spanish, but now she's exposed more to English because I live with my family.  It's hard because I'm the only one that speaks Spansih around her.  She understands a lot, but she refuses to speak it for some reason.  I took her to Mexico City in September last year and my ex-husband's family doesn't speak any English, she did just fine around them and understood what they were telling her in Spanish.  It's ultimately your decision, but it's a good idea to start from birth.

[petanka]

I am trilingual myself and I have raised my DD#1 by speaking to her only in my native language.(Czech) From day one she only heard Czech from me and English from my DH. She picked up English when she finally went to private daycare at 18 months and she had no problem. The problem we had was that her daycare teacher could not understand her at the beginning until she learned English. My DD#1 is now 8 years old and is bilingual and is in all "gifted students classes" at her school and has no learning problem one so ever, but has been excellent student since day one. I will say we did have few stages (around 3 years and 5 years) when she did not want me to talk to her in Czech at all and kept telling me that "mommy knows English," but I did not give in! I now have 12 weeks old DD#2 and am speaking to her strictly in Czech again. I feel, I own it to my parents who do not speak English and are able to communicate with my child thanks to me not being "lazy" because I tell you, it is not always easy to talk to your kid in your native language and it can create problems. Luckily, by now my DH learned all the day to day phrases and knows what I am talking about, but many times he is left out of the dinner conversation due to us speaking in Czech. Also, it is the least I can do for my daughters! Good luck and do not give up!

[first_time_mommy]

It's funny, I am doing the same thing to my DS.  He is only a month old but I am speaking to him in my native language already.  I speak English fluently but I want to teach my son my language.  My husband only speaks English, and all of the magazines I've read about bilingualism said to start at an early stage-- one parent should only speak one language, the other one language also.

[Elicam]

My first language is English my DH is Italian, we live in Italy, so me and DH tend to speak to him in English (though he speaks a lot of Italian), as everyone else will be speaking to him in Italian. He will be two weeks tomorrow so not sure what effect this will have on him.

My nieces have learnt both Italian and English very well by doing it this way (my brothers first language English and their Mrs are Italian), so if it worked for them, don'

[Gohawks]

Thanks everyone for all your input!  I think we are going to start our baby boy right from birth knowing two different languages. It seemed to work for you guys

[anxiousmomtobe?]

I live in Canada a bilingual country.  Many friends of ours are francophones and their kids were spoken to in both languages from day one.  From 2 on they converse freely in each language.

We chose to put our daughter in late (grade7) immersion.  She is now in grade 10 and will converse in French whenever given the opportunity.  I think knowing a second language is a wonderful gift to give your child.

[shell317]

I'm really glad this subject was introduce, because I'm in the same boat. My DH is German  and my sister(s) -in-laws still live in Germany.  I have been there on several occassions but only can pick up a few words (this is the hardest language to learn).  We are currently expecting our new baby in Nov.  I would like him to speak only German and I will speak only English.  I have a DD from a previous relationship who is 5.  She travels with us to Germany and she picks up the language fine and even plays with the children there she even watches the cartoons in German, but when we returns to the States she refuses to speak to my husband in German, but insist on speaking to me in German (smarty paints).  I'm hoping I can learn the day-to-day phrases and see what happens.  One sister-in-law speaks; French, Spanish, German, and English fluently, while the other only knows a few Engluish words.  My sister-in-law with limited amount of English will be spending the Christmas Holidays (2007), with us, so I'm hoping to lean more.

[vsentz]

....and that's why there is....SPANGLISH!!! lol

It's a great language! i speak it, my husband speaks it....and when we have our kid(s) they'll learn it too!!!! ;)

I am from Mexico City, and my husband is a PA country boy. He has learned a gooood bit of spanish and now he speaks it, he can keep a conversation with anyone of my family or friends and I am 100% bilingual.....
I know it's not the same, but since we don't have kids yet, i will say, we do that with our furr babes!!! we have tought our puppy tricks in spanish and english....she knows 'mano' (hand/paw) and will give you the paw, or if you say 'bu-byes' she goes and grabs her leash....(sorry about comparing, but it's close enough with kids!!!!) I talk to my doggie mostly in spanish and dh in english and i have to say she LISTENS to both!!! incredible huh?.....same thing with our kids, i will talk to them in my native language, since that is the language I feel...not the language i've learned (as a way of putting it....), you know what i mean?? for me, at least, is not the same to talk in a loving way in english than in spanish, since i was talked like that by my parents, i FEEL better and more comfy in my beloved spanish....not that i can't in english......but it just comes out easier.....(hope it makes sense....)
Same thing mama2karina said, I want my kids to understand grampa and gramma when they come (or we go visit).
I know a lady from Bolivia that married a marine (gringo to the bones), have 3 girls, they understand their mother to the T....and anyone that speaks spanish....but they have a HUGE accent when they speak it....and have a hard time sometimes saying the correct tenses......funny how that works....;)

My recommendation: talk to your baby in the language you feel more bonded with him/er....!!!! and let daddy do their thing too!....they'll learn both and their spanish class in highschool will be awesomely easy for them! ;)

[vsentz]

oops! for some reason the word babies got ***ed!!!!....sorry if it comes across as an obsenity......LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

................WTF!!!!!!!!

[CYW]

all i can say is it may take longer for the child to begin speaking later on..however it's best to introduce new languages before the age of 7 because they get it sooo easily.. there's something about their tongue and what not.. I'm french and english lol but mostly french and my bf is english and he speaks a little bit of french and he is learning so our baby as well will be bilingual