What’s a better word for it?
Adults don’t need to alter their speech in any way whatsoever for children to properly learn a language. The bonding alone is what is what matters. As long as the speech resembles what people naturally say to each other for the context, it’s not necessary to speak in “toesie-woesies,” etc.
You can say, “Pick up your snot rag, kid” or “retrieve your sanity accessory,” if you want, and as long as it’s said in a nurturing way, the child will learn the language fine. The “toesies-woesies” are more to please the adult, than anything.
Sure, but I’m not talking about furthering the goal of language acquisition. I’m talking about finding joy in the manipulation of language as an aesthetic outlet, and strengthening phonemic skills that will aid in reading, such as changing the beginning sound (rhyming), or changing the vowels (like in the song about ooples and boonoonoos).
Certainly, when teaching a science lesson I use language like, “Look at this brightly colored male bird, and here is the camouflaged female. She has to stay on the nest incubating her eggs, so the camouflage helps keep her safe from predators.”
I would like a sanity accessory, because goodness knows, my sanity needs help. Where might I obtain one? 
With respect, I did hear - admittedly several years ago - that parents do alter their speech when speaking to children, and that they are remarkabley adept at using language and sentences structures just a little beyond the child’s currently capabilities.
This is not to be taken in anyway as supporting the ‘tootsie-wootsie’ speech pattern.
There’s no tootise wootsie in that!
I talked to my son in a singsong voice at times, but there was no shriekage involved.
But I like acting like I’m 8 every once in awhile.
- farts in your general direction.
Yes, what I said was too simplistic. Parents do change the enunciation of words at points where children are verging on approximate production. It’s a kind of scaffolding. But they don’t need to change the actual words or syntax the children are acquiring. So I misspoke to say it isn’t altered at all.
Still, it’s not clear that how essential this is to language acquisition, as we’re only now getting large amounts of data to know.
[QUOTE=xoferew]
.. I’m talking about finding joy in the manipulation of language as an aesthetic outlet…
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I’m not sure, but I imagine that playing with language for its own sake engages perhaps even higher levels of cognition, and so I’d say it’s extremely important, but I don’t think it’s a necessary component of normal language acquisition itself.
You can play with the nuances of language without sounding like you just inhaled some helium. Humor is its own dialect here in Casa de Citizen.
I despise both “veggies” and “congrats.” If you can’t offer me full congratulations, don’t offer me any at all.
They’re named because they’re closer to something like a boxer brief, not because men actually wear the same style.
Grats on your rant.
Feel the burn!
LMFAO!
Yes, but how do you feel about “congo rats”? That one annoys me.
I don’t like “grats” or “congrats” either, at least not in written form. My WoW guildies tease me sometimes because when I congratulate somebody on an accomplishment in-game, I always spell out the whole “Congratulations!” (I do say “grats” when speaking to them, though. I never say “congo rats.”)
I have less hatred for congo rats than I do for canyon squirrels.
I like conga rats, especially since someone linked a gif for them. What’s not to like? 
Okay, I’m a big ole’ dum-dum. What DO you call them instead?
Honestly, I’m a big old word crank and I hate most abbreviations. My mother sayd “docs” instead of “doctors” and it makes me want to scream.
Poopie.
That reminds me, I have known two grown women in my life who use the word “tinkle”. And not just when talking to small children (which is bad enough…why teach another generation this awful word?). WHY??? WHY!!!
Seriously?? You would actually find a different medical professional if you were instructed to pee in a cup. What the hell would you like them to say?? Please go urinate in this cup?? Wow, way to get worked up over something really stupid.