Research suggests that children from birth to age 3—a period when language skills explode—should hear about 30,000 words a day. That's roughly 181/2 readings of The Cat in the Hat, say the makers of a device called LENA (Language Environment Analysis), which tallies the number of words spoken to a child. While LENA could be useful if you're curious about exactly how many words your child hears, the price tag is hefty ($400, lenababy.com). But there are many ways to ensure your baby's word intake: Chat about chores. Read your grocery list aloud and talk about ingredients while cooking. Ask your caregiver to do the same. Carry on conversations. Engage your baby in chitchat (even if he can't respond yet!) during shared times like baths, meals and playtime. Read books. Have your caregiver read at least a book a day to your child, and be sure to soothe him to sleep with a bedtime story.