Why Do I Use Baby Talk With Pets? Experts Say Your Habit Has Its Perks
BY MARISA CASCIANO
EliteDaily.com
OCT
8, 2019
As I get older, I’m becoming more aware of my quirks, such as my
ability to fall asleep in the middle of a crowded room, and the fact that I
throw a hot popcorn bag in the sink instead of the trash.But when
it comes to my interactions with cute animals — ranging fromfully
grown dogs to tiny kittens — I take things to another level. I’ve gotten into
the habit of changing
my voice to a higher pitch when I speak to animals.
It didn’t occur to me until recently that some might consider this odd, but now
I kind of agree. Why do I use baby talk with pets?
I’m well aware I’m not the only one who does this, but when I
step away from the overwhelming joy I feel at the sight of a cute pet, I wonder
why I drastically change the tone of my voice to higher octaves when I talk to
cats, or introduce words like “doodle” and “nugget” into my
vocabulary when interacting with dogs.
The way I touch my finger to the top of a puppy’s wet nose and
say, “Boop!” or squeal when I rub my cat’s belly when she rolls over,
isn’t unique or overly concerning. But it is basically the same way a new mom
would play with her 4-month-old child, or react when that same child takes
their first steps. So, it was time to figure out why.
In an interview with Elite Daily, Courtney Glashow, LCSW, owner,
and psychotherapist at Anchor
Therapy in Hoboken, NJ, says baby talk is a
natural instinct that stems from wanting to connect with a pet on a deeper
level. She notes when you use this kind ofhigh-pitched and slow speech
to talk to actual babies, you’re acknowledging they can’t understand you yet,
but are able to react, hopefully in a positive way. As a result, you opt for
this kind of speech because “usually babies react well to it and some pets
may as well.”
Beverly B. Palmer, Ph.D., professor emeritus from the psychology
department at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and author of Love Demystified:
Strategies for a Successful Love Life, reveals baby
talk can even be effective when you want to discipline your pet. This kind of
speech can even come in handy when you want your furry friend to listen and
behave, in addition to showing them you enjoy their company.
LIKE
A HUMAN BABY, OUR PET NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED (NOT YELLED AT), IS DEPENDENT, AND
FULFILLS OUR NEED TO BE NEEDED, WHICH IS EQUATED WITH BEING LOVED.
In a study from the U.S. National Library of Medicine titled,
“Oxytocin enhances the appropriate use of human social cues by the domestic dog (Canis
familiaris) in an object choice task,” 62 pet dogs — 31 males, 31 females
— were given intranasal oxytocin (otherwise known as the “cuddle
hormone” or “love hormone”) or a saline control before a session
where they were supposed to respond to pointing or gazing cues. During those
sessions, the oxytocin improved the dog’s performance; they reacted more
positively when responding to human cues.
In layman’s terms, the “love hormone” made the dogs
feel more connected to their humans and willing to be disciplined. Palmer
suggests this means that, rather than using a stern voice when your pet isn’t
doing something they should, you can keep talking to your pet like you would a
baby and encourage them that way. In essence, your love goes a long way.
Based on their positive reactions in this study, it seems like
most domesticated canines appreciate the higher-pitched way of speaking you
(and I) have become so accustomed to using, because baby talkgives
them a sense of love and affection they rely on.”Like a human
baby, our pet needs to be protected (not yelled at), is dependent, and fulfills
our need to be needed, which is equated with being loved,” Palmer tells
Elite Daily via email.
Manhattan psychologist Dr. Joseph Cilona tells
Elite Daily “exaggerating pronunciation of vowels and consonants” and
using a higher pitch when you’re talking to an infantcan really
help you bond with them. He says when it comes to talking to your pet, you can
expect a similar effect and result, especially if you incorporate certain words
and phrases.
Like Palmer, Cilona points to research. He says in the study conducted by Alex Benjamin and Katie Slocombe titled, “Who’s a good boy?! Dogs prefer naturalistic dog-directed speech,” research revealed puppies are more responsive and attentive to speech when it was directed toward them. The authors in the study “argue that DDS may have a functional value in puppies, but not adult dogs.” This speech includes dog-friendly phrases like, “Good dog!” and “Treat?” and proved fur babies will be attracted to humans who are addressing them with these phrases and specific “acoustic properties,” like a higher pitch or tone, according to the study.
OUR
PETS ARE SMALLER THAN WE ARE, SO THEY REMIND US OF HOW WE TREAT OUR LITTLE
HUMANS.
However, even if your pup responds well to being called
“nugget” in a very high-pitched voice, you should be careful about
when and where you opt for baby talk. Glashow says you might not always be in
the right setting for it. You may find your habit creeping into other relationships
and interactions where it doesn’t fit.
“Our pets are smaller than we are, so they remind us of how
we treat our little humans,” Palmer says, and that’s definitely true for
me. In some way, when I look at a tiny kitten or fluffy golden retriever puppy,
my mind instantly goes to the same place as when I’m interacting with my
cousin’s adorable 2-year-old. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean my habit
is welcomed or in the right. According to Glashow, it may not be appropriate in
professional settings, like an office party with a pet present, or in scenarios
where others don’t have a pet or child and aren’t familiar with baby talk.
Ultimately, though, you can go about your usual business and embrace your baby talk, especially when you’re talking to your own pet.You can cuddle up with your bunny, German shepherd, Maine coon, or sweet rescue, and tell them they’re the greatest pet in the entire world in an incredibly high octave. You can reach the same falsetto notes while booping your puppy’s nose or reminding your new kitten they are so loved. I’ll be somewhere in the world doing the same thing, and not wondering why I do it anymore. This seemingly weird habit? Explained.
