I dont like "ta" either. I usually say "thankyou" or "Claire, please let go". I get annoyed when I hear people say "taarrrrrrrr". Claire doesnt really respond to "ta" anyway.

I do sometimes say "birdy" and "horsey" etc, but not all the time. Sometimes it just slips out. I dont particularly like it as I would like for her to speak properly. That is really interesting though about how it makes it easier for a young child to hear the hard sound at the end of the word though.

I used to say "ni-ni" but I dont say that anymore. I just say "sleep time" or "time for sleep" or something similar.