The Learning Nest

How Bilingual Babies Learn Two Languages: From the Womb to First Words
How Bilingual Babies Learn Two Languages: From the Womb to First Words
Can babies learn two languages at once? Dr. Krista Byers-Heinlein explains bilingual language development from the womb through first words, exposure, language mixing and more. Read more...
Does Being Bilingual Confuse Babies? What the Research Shows
Does Being Bilingual Confuse Babies? What the Research Shows
Worried two languages will confuse your baby? Decades of research show the opposite — bilingual babies keep their languages separate from the very start. Here's how. Read more...
The Best Age to Start Spanish With Your Baby (You Haven't Missed It)
The Best Age to Start Spanish With Your Baby (You Haven't Missed It)
Babies are wired to learn language sounds from birth, with a special window around 6–12 months. But it's not a deadline. Here's when — and how — to start Spanish. Read more...
How Does a Child Become Bilingual? A Look at the Science, Birth to Six
How Does a Child Become Bilingual? A Look at the Science, Birth to Six
Children don't "pick up" two languages by accident — they move through a remarkably orderly sequence, much of it shared with kids learning just one language. Here's the arc from... Read more...
When Do Kids Roll Their R's in Spanish?
When Do Kids Roll Their R's in Spanish?
The trilled R — the rolled "rr" in words like carro and perro — is the last sound a child develops in Spanish, and it doesn't fully click into place... Read more...
Should You Stop Speaking Spanish If Your Child Has a Speech Delay? A Bilingual SLP Answers
Should You Stop Speaking Spanish If Your Child Has a Speech Delay? A Bilingual SLP Answers
A bilingual speech-language pathologist breaks down why "stop speaking Spanish" is still bad advice, what makes an SLP truly bilingual, and how to find the right support for your child. Read more...
Bilingual, Heritage, Receptive: A Glossary for Parents
Bilingual, Heritage, Receptive: A Glossary for Parents
You'll meet these words from your pediatrician, your child's speech therapist, and across this blog. Here's what each one actually means — minus the academic weight. Short version: "bilingual" does... Read more...
What Parents Raising Bilingual Kids Are Actually Struggling With
What Parents Raising Bilingual Kids Are Actually Struggling With
Insights from Reddit’s multilingual parenting community We spent time reading through comments in Reddit’s r/multilingualparenting community to better understand what parents are actually experiencing while raising bilingual kids. We reviewed dozens... Read more...
The Kitchen Table Is Where Culture Thrives: Baby Mealtime Essentials
The Kitchen Table Is Where Culture Thrives: Baby Mealtime Essentials
Where Language Begins Some of the most meaningful moments in family life happen around a kitchen table. Picture this: the hum of the kitchen, something warm being set down, and... Read more...
How to Raise a Bilingual Baby | Real-Life Tips from a Sociolinguist
How to Raise a Bilingual Baby | Real-Life Tips from a Sociolinguist
A practical, reassuring conversation with sociolinguist Dr.Taylor Smith-Benyahia, PhD on how to actually raise bilingual children in real life — from building simple language routines and choosing a bilingual approach... Read more...
Are you raising a bilingual baby the right way? A speech therapist explains
Are you raising a bilingual baby the right way? A speech therapist explains
Are you worried about confusing your baby by speaking two languages? In this episode of Bilingüe, I sit down with pediatric speech-language pathologist Joanne Cazeau to break down the biggest... Read more...
The Power of Play: A Childhood Speech Expert Weighs In
The Power of Play: A Childhood Speech Expert Weighs In
Play isn’t extra, it’s everything We often think of play as a bonus. A nice-to-have between naps, meals, and errands. But for babies, it’s the main event. Play is how... Read more...