2 Year Old and Spanish-English Confusion

I think both languages may be confusing her a bit now and her speach in either language may be delayed. But, I think she'll pick them both up soon enough and then she'll be fine. It's a little nerve racking because you want her speach to be equivalent to others her age, but I wouldn't worry too much. She'll be better off in the long run.

Hello,

I grew up in a completely German household...my sister and brother had to learn English in school and brought it home with them. That is how I learned English.
If you do some research, most studies find that children are blessed with the ability to learn any language and that its probably the best possible time to speak 2 or more languages at home. What may delay Olyvia now will only benefit her later.

Peace

Keep on speaking to her in both languages!!! She will be better off for it in the long run. The world is global and speaking more than just English is such a help. We have good friends where the mom is French and speaks to the children only in French and the dad speaks to them only in English. The children switch back and forth between the languages depending on which parent they are speaking to and have done so since they could speak.

hi, my daughter is in the process of learning (other then english) spanish, german (some dialect of it) AND italian...oh, and now w/ the new show on nick jr chinese! she can say a few words in each language, but speaks mostly english. a friend of mine is teaching her son english and russian and she said that he's speaking mostly russian because that's what's spoken mostly around him since birth, but has a few english words here and there. from my experience it's not really going to confuse them all that much because they are sponges and absorb just about everything that's around....they will most likely just pick up more on the 1 language that's spoken most around them. if your daughter hears more spanish, that is probably why she's not onto many 2-3 word sentences. and my daughter has a very wide vocabulary, but not until this week (she turned 2 3 weeks ago) did she start saying 2-3 word sentences a lot (but usually the same ones over and over again!) if you're really worried i would just talk to her dr about it and see if it's really a problem.

Raising a child bilingual is a wonderful thing! I have two bilingual boys (English and German). We currently live in Germany and the boys are perfectly comfortable in either language. When a child is first acquiring language, he/she needs to develop a "filing system" for each word and sound. Bilingual children will develop two separate systems simultaneously, thus language development will be somewhat later than the "average" child. Don't give up!!! Too many people do, and regret it later. My boys are now learning Dutch as well, and plan to add French soon. They are nine and fifteen.

Don't worry aboout it. Been bilingual is a great advantage. Give Olivia a little time and she will sort it all out. After all, we learn laguage by listening it and eventually we can speak it. My younger borhter heard at least four different languages till the age of four. Now he can speak and read and wirte four. She will love you for haviing given her the exposure to at least two different languages.
Good luck!

Hi M.,
Please continue to have Olyvia be spoken to in Spanish. It will only help her in the future. My sister and I were raised bi-lingually - German and Spanish - and it is great now. She will speak fine in a while. Maybe your husband should speak to her in Spanish only until she is more fluent. I speak German to my kids all the time and they will learn Spanish in Kindergarten as well. Keep it up! :-)
Good luck,
A.

Personally I think that your daughter will do fine. What a great opportunity to learn two languages. Spanish is becoming such a dominant language in America.

A funny story:
I worked with a women whose son only spoke Polish. My son, Bob, didn't get to see this other boy very often because I lived out in the country and this other women lived in the city. One day I went over to visit my friend and Bob and her son played with some trucks. The boy spoke Polish to Bob and Bob spoke English back and off they went playing. It was humorous to watch but I think they would have picked up a little Polish/English as time went on.

Since your husband speaks fluent Spanish maybe it might an opportune time for you and your child to learn Spanish. Example: You can learn the spanish word for fork and show the fork to your little one and say the word in Spanish and English, or your husband could teach you and your daughter at the same time.

Ex: Teaching your child about time.
Time to go take a bath.
Time to eat supper.
Time for bed.

Children are so smart. My dad did not know English when he went to school, only Canadian French and he went through a different struggle but did learn both. My dad also wanted us to learn both languages but did not take the time to teach us and probably wishes he had - time passes on quickly.

D.

All research shows that you can not go wrong with bi-lingual education early, it only makes your child smarter. Google it and see, it's well studied. Do not worry about confusing her. It is a true adavantage you are giving your daughter.

Make sure that your child learns one language well. Once your child has fully learned that language, she will easily learn a second language when exposed to it. Children who are raised in bilingual environments develop problems when the parents mix languages. Parents usually do this when they do not know a vocabulary word or verb conjugation. Children learn language through imitation. When the parents mix languages unpredictably and fail to establish consistency in a language, the child's language will be negatively affected.
Bilingualism is the topic of what parents should do when each parent speaks a different language. Research shows that it is better for each parent to speak to the child in their native language. Even very young children (3 years of age) can identify who speaks which language, and then respond to that person in the appropriate language. This skill of switching languages is called "code switching". Truly bilingual people are able to code switch effortlessly. Your child will be fortunate to have such skills! As for speech delay, there are mixed views on that, some say this is true and others say it is not. The brain has to work harder to interpret and use 2 languages, so it may take longer for children to start using either one or both of the languages they're learning. It's not unusual for a bilingual child to use just one language for a while so perhaps it seems like there is a delay in speech yet it is just a momentary lapse in which language your chilld might prefer or deciding which is the dominant language. My children spoke spanish with my parents all day, all week and when I'd get home from work they'd speak spanish, as would I. When my husband would come home, it would be a while before they'd warm up to speaking in english. Let her learn spanish, even more so because her father speaks it fluently. English will be automatic once she enters school. Give her the gift of a second language it will benefit her in the longrun.

A good friend mine has spoken spanish to her chilren, now ages 3 & 5, since they were born. She speaks english to their dad and of course to friends and out in public. They are both getting very well versed in both languages. I say let her learn. What a wonerful opportunity you have and best of all it is FREE! Maybe you'll learn something too. Good Luck.

I was the first child in a bilingual family, and was raised speaking both Spanish and English. My speech was also confused, and although it may have seemed as though my speech was delayed, my family can attest to the fact that I have more than made up for it. I am trying to do the same with my little one, though it is very difficult as my husband does not speak Spanish fluently. Keep with it. It will pay off big time when she can go back and forth between both languages. She will be chatting away before you know it.
I will also be taking the advice posted here - I'll keep with it too!

Hi Meg,

as I hear from many friends of mine it it very common that a bilingual kid will have some delay in speaking. Our girls are 14.5 months. I speak only Russian and my husband speaks English. Since I am home with them, they understand Russian more than English. However, we noticed that if we say the same thing (like, this is a red flower) in both languages, they will comprehend both comments. Every night we read stories to them in Russian or English. They feel very comfortable with both.
It will take some time for a kid to choose a language. The amount of information they have to process is enormous! So, give your little one more time and she will talk so much you won't be able to stop her!!! :)

O. (Amani and Surya, 14.5m)

You will see a delay in language development in the beginning. She may not learn english as quickly as other children her age. But don't give up! Within a short amount of time she will become adept at both languages. You have a great situation, and are really lucky to give your daughter this opportunity.

Trust me, you daughter is NOT confused! There are kids in Europe learning three and four languages at once, and they sort them all out just fine! Their minds are capable of so much more than we give them credit for! All of the research out there shows that bilingual children understand it all. It is not confusing to the, and in the long run, they will verbally be way better off than those who only speak one language. Being bilingual as a child actually helps them perform better in other areas two, because their mind learns from an early age how to do one very complicated task such as process and form language, in two very different ways. Her brain is learning twice as much and developing twice as much too! This is a GOOD thing! She will not be stuck in the rigid thinking that we were as kids in thinking that there is only one way to look at language. Children's brains are like little sponges - they soak of everything, and things that seem very difficult to us (like learning two languages at once) is a cakewalk to them.
I am bilingual (I learned Spanish in High School and went on the major in it in college) and speak a lot of spanish to my two girls. About your daughter not speaking a ton yet - do NOT worry. #1, children learning two languages often are a bit delayed on the production of language (because they are processing twice as much information!), but their understanding part is way ahead of the game, and when they do start talking a lot, their verbal lexicon just explodes. By the way, it is great that she is hearing spanish all day from one source, than english from you guys at night. This is the best way for her to be truly bilingual, to have the two languages be separate. #2, all kids are different. My older daughter didn't talk a lot till she got to be about two, and then she started talking a TON all at once. My younger daughter is almost two now, and, although she says about 60 words, doesn't speak very many sentences. They both have the same parents, same exposure to the same languages in the same amounts, and yet their language development varies, so don't sweat it too much about your daughter. You are giving her a wonderful opportunity in being raised bilingual (and in such a useful language!) rather than having to learn it as a young adult like the rest of us. She will be so grateful when she's older, so keep it up!

Keep doing what you are doing. If there is any confusion it will be short lived. Children do best learning languages early on. The earlier the better. When they are learning languages at such an early age the way it is processed in the brain is different than if an adult learns a new language, for the most part. When an adult learns a new language most times you are translating back and forth in your head from your first language. Children learn them independent of each other and become more fluent in each. Also, your mouth and tongue are much more able to learn languages earlier on. By elementary school the palate hardens and being able to make the different sounds without an 'accent' becomes more difficult, as well as teaching the tongue to move in different ways becomes more difficult later on.

When I was teaching elementary school in one particular school, many children entered into school only hearing their primary language until school. They did experience confusion at first but did catch on quickly. Another school I taught in, many had learned both by the time they entered kindergarten and were able to speak in both languages without any delays. Since your child is hearing both and communicating regularly with both she should be absolutely fine.

I am currently taking care of children at home and two of them have just turned two. One speaks much more than the other but wouldn't say either of them speak in long sentences or can carry on in depth conversations like adults. She sounds on target with them and from what I have researched they are both in the normal range for their age. One speaks many words, says a few 3 word sentences, and can repeat things you say. The other is starting to repeat what you say and says much less in terms of words compared to the first but is experiencing a jump for him.

I do take care of a little girl who hears English with me and Arabic at home. She seems to understand both without missing a beat. It will be interesting to see how she does later on and if she experiences any confusion. But if she does I'm quite sure it would be short lived.

From my experience you are doing the best thing for your child by having her learn two languages now before she is five. This is the best and most productive time to learn them. I hope this helps set your mind at ease.

Hi M.,

Great question!! As a bilingual person, a language researcher, and SAH mother of a 6 week old, I've gotta tell you that it is GREAT that Olyvia is being exposed to Spanish! The earlier the better, as the brain not only CAN handle it, but it is the IDEAL time to start with a second or even thrid language. The brain is amazing - it knows the difference in the languages and files it accordingly in the brain. I could write forever on this subject, but know that there is NO adverse affects - in fact its wonderful - the earlier the better. Even when she speaks, if she mixes the 2 languages, its a good sign - "code switching" is a sign of intelligence. Keep encouraging her, watch Dora and have your husband speak to hear in Spanish. I cannot emphasize how wonderful it is that she is getting a second language at an early age!! Please do not hesitate to write if you want to talk more about this subject!! ____@____.com

Meg,
Don’t worry! Very soon she’ll be able to switch languages effortlessly and use the correct one with the person she’s interacting with.
Does it delay speech? Yes, sometimes it does, but it’s nothing major. Many monolingual children have delays too.
Just think of the amazing bunch of gift you’re giving your daughter:
1 – You’re making her smarter in general because it’s now been proven that using 2 languages or more early in life multiplies the neurons in a child’s brain –do the research, there are plenty articles about it.
2 - She’s going to be better at Math and English
3 – She’s going to be more open-minded and accepting of other cultures and religions. She’ll feel like a “citizen of the World” and be less afraid of traveling to other countries when she grows up -and probably will be less afraid to mingle socially in new places anywhere.
4 – It will make learning other languages much easier for her.
5 – She’ll be able to communicate with your in-laws, help other kids at school, help lost tourists…
6 – She’ll have an easier time finding jobs...

And these are just some of the pros of Bilingualism. If you want more info to convince you that you’re doing the right thing check the following websites:

http://www.multilingualchildren.org/index.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/multilingualmunchkin/?yguid...
http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=message...#

About me: I’m originally from Spain, married to an American and we ‘re raising our son 3.5 y.o. bilingual. I started teaching him late -when he could already communicate in English- so now I’m doing double the work. He’s now at the stage were he’s mixing both languages when speaking to me…but I see progress every day and it’s extremely rewarding.

L.

PS: Let me know if you need more input. We live in Orange Co. NY by the way.

Hi Meg,

My dgtr is 22 months old. Her father and I speak English, but her babysitter speaks Spanish to her just like yours! My daughter can understand and speak both languages. She does speak English more than Spanish (as far as I can tell - quite possibly, I just don't understand the Spanish and think she's making up a word for all I know!!). I am also a speech pathologist (although work with adults). You are not confusing her necessarily.

At two she should have at least 50 words and it is normal for 2-3 word utterances to begin at this age (combined between both languages). Children who learn two languages at the same time often take longer to actually use the words they so easily understand. If it really seems that she isn't saying 2-3 word utterances (how far past 2 is she?) - it may be worth having her looked at by a speech therapist (sometimes you have to push your MD to refer you for an evaluation). It's not necessarily that the two languages caused a delay - but she may just have a little delay regardless.

Oh - is she saying more in Spanish than English and using 2-3 word utterances in Spanish - if that's the case - you don't have much to worry about - she's just using one language over another. If she's just turned 2 - and she's only beginning to use 2-3 word utterances (in either language) and she doesn't expand that in the next couple months - you may want to get an eval from a speech therapist then also just to check. You didn't do anything wrong by introducing both languages - I think it's great!

I love that my little girl speaks both and always encouraged her babysitter to speak to her in Spanish. Funny though - if she and I are counting and I try to count with her in Spanish - she says "NO mommy!" and I have to go to English - she knows which one I speak and only wants me to speak English.

Feel free to contact me if I can be of any help! Good luck!
Adios! :-)
M.

My daughter did not start speaking (other than 5 words) until she was 21 months old. Her dad speaks Italian to her and my son and she has been learning sign language since she was about 12 months old. I don't know how they do it, but eventually they sort out the different languages in their brains. My daughter seems to prefer English over Italian and will even "correct" my husband sometimes when he says something in Italian; she'll say it in English.

Your husband can speak to your daughter in Spanish and that will help you to learn the language also. I'm frequently asking my husband what he just said to the kids. I am able to understand much more Italian than I can speak.

If your daughter is able to understand what you are saying to her and she follows your directions, I wouldn't worry.

Hello M., do not worry about confusion. If your husband speaks Spanish and you speak English or both languages to Olyvia it is ok...Olyvia will not be confused. It is best that Olyvia learns spanish at a very young age, she has best of both worlds. This is the perfect age for her to learn her languages. Now that it is Spanish and English she will grow up not having difficulties learning a second language, instead she can choose a different language for example, French (to learn in High School or College) you are just helping her by opening her mind...
She will definitely appreciate it when she grows up and knows two languages. In fact, Olyvia will be more prone to understanding different languages and cultures.

just go on and speak both languages. this is anybody's opinion here in hong kong where is standard to have bilingual or even trilingual families.
your child will be speaking both languages fluently but perhaps she will start to speak a bit later than other children.
normal to feel frustrated about it. I have the same with my almost 2 yrs old child...we speak 3 languages at home but our doc and books I read advised me to go on and not giving up.

Language confusion is normal at that age so don't worry about it. Several people here have given some factual misinformation about language learning. I recommend the book The Bilingual Edge, it has good info on how to do it and what to expect, as well as accurate research.

It is very common for children who are spoken to in two languages to speak later...more to comprehend...you're not delaying her in a negative way....I would keep on going, you are giving her a gift, in today's world speaking more than one language is an advantage...goodluck!

Please do not remove this valuable resource from your child's life. Our children are much smarter and resilient than we as parents give them credit sometime. You are giving her a wonderful start. Some children that are bi-lingual may begin speaking a little later than a child that is trying to master only one language for obvious reasons. However, once they begin to speak fluently they will speak BOTH languages fluently and instinctively know when to use each. If you'd like to get some further comfort on your situation ask a couple of people that have children speaking only one language if they are all putting 3 word sentences together. I think you might find a mixed bag. Hang in there, this will turn out great for you and your family

I have two daughters, one 10 and one 5 and both bi-lingual. It was I decision my husband and I made before they were born.
I'm from Central America and didn't want to deny them the adventage of speaking two languages at home. Even my husband now speak spanish fluently!!!!
Don't be afraid of confusion. Kids figure it out before you even know it. Just forget about the so call "language development" It might seem to you that she's not on "top" according to "parenting books"... Just be apatient with her and you'll have a girl who will be translating sentences to you.....

Hi Meg,
My son is also bilingual and was delayed in speaking (compared with other children his age), so not to worry. He is also 2, but what you are doing for your daughter is best. It is normal for them to be confused, but she will soon learn to chat to her caretaker in Spanish and you and your husband in English. Good job!
S.

It is normal for bilingual children to have speech delays. It's not an indication of any kind of developmental problems, just that they are processing more. You're doing a great thing by teaching her both languages and you're certainly not doing any harm. She'll catch up in no time!

MOM

www.BYKI.COM

free website to learn spanish,

What you do is ,sit your daughter next to you, and then flip thru the web cards,

saying the names of the animals, in English and then in spanish,

point to them and say it in english and then flip the card and say it in spanish,

it was very helpful when i was trying to learn Russian for my in laws, and taught my boys words in both english and Russian with picture word association;

trust me, in a few days you'll both be fluent.

LOL

M

Hi,
I have two boys and they are bilingual. I speak Polish to them and my husband speaks English. I also have an ESL/ Bilingual Ed MS and I am an ESL teacher and research shows our brains are perfectly capable of handling two or more languages at the same time and, in fact, being monolingual is something rare in this world.Also, there is evidence that shows bilingual children have better test results and processing skills. So your daughter is getting a wonderful head start. And she is not getting confused or delayed. My son is 3 now and is fluent in both languages.As a matter of fact, he speks both languages better than many 4 and some 5 year olds.The only thing to remember is to be consistent.You should decide who speaks what language and never switch when speaking to Olivia. Then she may get confused (you should see my son's face when my husband tries to speak Polish - he even told him, in English of course, that he is not allowed to speak Polish:)
ANyway, if you would like to read the research or have any more questions, feel free to e-mail me.
You really are doing a great thing!
Good luck,
K.

YOur daughter is j ust fine. Please, please, please let her continue to learn to speak spanish. I wish that I had encouraged my son more. There is nothing wrong with there being a little delay it probably doesn't have anything to do with the second language especially since most bilingual babies are spoken to in two languages.

I doubt that she is at all confused. I would suggest that you also learn the language so that as your daughter progresses you will not be lost when she and your husband and others begin to have conversations.

I am often frustrated when others beging to speak spanish and I can't keep up because I didn't continue my studies. Don't worry she'll be fine. I only wish I had someone to teach my 4 year old. I have to order those muzzy dvd's for him.

Hi Meg,
I understand your situation. I have a nine year old daughter who is fully bilingual English/Spanish. The first few years are difficult, and there is mixing of languages. Children are very intelligent and they use whatever system is easier, so they might use the grammar of one language with the vocabulary of another, or they might use a word modified to either language. It is normal, and it is a great sign that their brains are making perfect connections. There might be the perception of delayed language, and to some extent it might be a true delay. But remember your child is learning TWO languages, so it will take a little longer. Children who are exposed to more than one language have an advantage for life! Keep your child exposed to both languages, and if your husband is fluent in Spanish have him talk to your child in Spanish. There is one crucial piece of advice. Be consistent! If you always speak to her in English, be the English person, and not the mixed person. Good luck!

Hi M.,
I am a Speech pathologist. Children can learn two languages simultaneously without getting confused. I work with a lot of children who are bilingual and they do very well. When your daughter be three? The few two to three word utterances - are they in spanish or english?
Does she respond to directions in both languages?
K.

Don't worry! I think it is a GREAT thing. I have several friends who one of them speaks only English to their child and the other speaks only their native tongue to their child. Their children were virtually speechless until about 2.5 to 3 years old and then BOOM!!!...by 3 or 3.5 they were TOTALLY bilingual, just spouting off in BOTH languages like pros!!! I was completely amazed!

I think children at such a young age just absorb and process and then as they hit those main talking years (2 to 4) they just spit out everything they have picked up. And it trully is amazing!!!

So, I would not worry about it...it might be difficult at first to see that she is a little behind in her speech...that's totally normal for bilingual learners, but I would continue to have the 2 languages spoken to her because one day soon she will be talking like you wouldn't believe!!

It will be interesting to hear the outcome....keep us all posted! :)

I have a little knowledge, as many of my customers are bi-lingual, [Discovery Toys makes a variety of products with instructions in 3 languages, www.toysofdiscovery.com ]. Children who are exposed to multiple languages tend to speak later. There is nothing to worry about...in fact, it is better for brain development to be learning two languages, and even better and easier at an early age. The Window of Opportunity to learn a second language with the native accent ends at age 9. (Sadly, in the U.S. this is when we begin teaching in the schools). This doesn't mean you can't learn another language, but you will not have the same accent as the natives. Often, the child will blend the two languages, and it does seem like they're confused, but in time, this will be sorted out, and voila! you'll have a bilingual little girl!

Hi Meg,

My children aren't bi-lingual but I have heard there is a fine line when it comes to teaching children more than one language. From my understanding, they learn best when they are young. I have heard of some schools offering another language in early grade school. On the other hand, I have also heard that introducing a second language TOO early CAN be confusing and cause delayed speech.

I would have to look back at my two older sons' calendars to see when they started talking in 2 word sentences because off the top of my head, I don't remember. My youngest son is going to be 9 months old though and he says "all done" regularly and with purpose and has said "hi daddy" a couple of times.

If you go to www.ask.com, you should be able to do a search on bi-lingual toddlers. Let me know if you have trouble and I can try to find it for you.

L.

http://APerfectMoment.MyArbonne.com

I grew up in a bilingual home. Actually I didn't learn english until I started preschool. I can't tell you what a gift it is to know two languages. I am trying now with my son who is one to speak one day in spanish and one in english. My mom said that although it seemed at first that the language growth was slow for my sister and I once we got going we were fluent in both. Keep at it it will be better for your daughter in the long run

I have heard that when children are taught two languages from a very young age, they can have slight language delays, but this should definitely correct itself and they will be able to speak both fluently. If you are really concerned though, speak with your doctor.

I have two bilingual children (my husband is German) and each approached it quite differently:

My big girl, now 11, had no trouble at all. Languages are her gift though, and she was speaking both perfectly by age 2 when she also started teaching herself to read. She could always switch between the two with no problem, and even translate from one into the other for anyone in need of assistence.

My little one, now 8, mixed the two together until she was 5. She started talking much later, make up her own words that combined elements of the two, and was always surprised that people could not understand her if she spoke German to the non-German speakers or English to those who couldn`t speak English. I am not sure she even realised they were different languages until something in her brain clicked around her fifth birthday.

But now all is well and I have noticed that they seem to be learning their third language, Spanish, must faster than their schoolmates. It is such an advantage to know 2 languages in this multi-cultural world. Having her learn it from a native speaker is great, and her brain will work it all out when she is ready. I don`t think you are doing her any harm at all. In fact, you are giving her a great start in life she will truly appreciate later. Just be patient.

I also just read above claims that it is important for each parent to stick to just one language. In our case, that was not at all true. We spoke speak both and the company around us determined which language was spoken at any given time. This hasn`t made a whit of difference.

Hi M.,
Kudos to Olivia! This age is so impressionable, and it's the time when they're sponges. They'll pick up everything. I'm bilingual (english/spanish) and so are my children. Their dominant language is english, but they will respond to questions in spanish. They have an advantage over their peers. Children are learning more than two languages at the same time in other countries. Put on spanish children's shows. They pick up on that too. I found out that my daughter in Pre-K would be learning French, and I welcomed that. You're in no way harming her, rather helping her. As she gets older, don't forget about the writing. When we were growing up, my mom made us write letters to family in Central America every week. I'm proud of my skills. You'll find many fluent spanish-speaking people don't write it too well. With technology, it won't be a problem at all for Olivia to get this practice. Just incorporate it as an extra into her daily assignments. Who knows what's in her horizon--a very satisfying job at the U.N., maybe?
Good luck.

Hi Meg!
DON'T STOP TEACHING HER SPANISH!!!!! You will regret it otherwise. My husband and I decided to only speak Spanish to our kids, let them learn English outside the home. Now our 7 yr old and 4 yr old are fully bilingual, though they do prefer English as that's what everyone else speaks. Sure, they seemed a bit delayed compared to some 2 yr olds but now they're way ahead of their peers in many ways - being bilingual is proven to make kids' brains develop more connections in many other ways. So keep it up and don't listen to what other people say and don't worry about any apparent delays. You are giving Olyvia a huge advantage! Email me if you have any questions: ____@____.com
S.

Hi M.,

My son has been listening to 3 languages since he was born -- his babysitter is Dominican and speaks only Spanish to him, his father speaks only English to him, and I speak to him in English and Italian. Also, I take him to "Italian for Toddlers" on the Upper West Side, and we read books in Italian, and I have the BBC DVD program, "Muzzy", in Italian. Research has shown that the more languages a child is exposed to at an early age actually enhances knowledge and learning in a child, and that the best time to introduce other languages is at these youngest ages, because beyond a certain age (I believe it is around 10) it becomes too difficult a task to learn other languages. Right now your daughter's mind is a sponge, absorbing everything she hears and learning it. I wouldn't worry about confusion, I don't think she is confused, the fact that she is talking is good, and each child develops communication skills differently.

To sum up, I think it is good she is hearing 2 languages as she grows, so stick with it unless a professional advises otherwise! Best of luck, or as the Italians say, "Buona fortuna", or more colloquially, "In bocca al lupo!"