Journal of Communication ISSN 0021-9916 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Word Learning in Very Young Children From Infant-Directed DVDs Marina Krcmar Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27106, USA This study examined if babies (6–24 months; n = 60) learn words from a DVD modeled on Baby Einstein. The study was novel in that it utilized an infant-directed DVD, but was edited to include low-frequency words (e.g., medallion) and it utilized the preferential looking method in the posttest so that very young babies could be tested. Results suggested that babies could learn the novel words in the live condition; however, they did not appear to learn them in the video condition. Furthermore, there was no age effect in the video condition. Finally, there was no relationship between visual attention to the video and learning from it. Thus, high attention did not necessarily result in learning. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2011.01561.x The last decade has seen a marked increase in the number and type of media that is produced for audiences who have not even yet learned to speak (Rideout & Hamel, 2006). Videos, DVDs, even entire television networks (e.g., Baby Einstein  , Brainy Baby  , and Sesame Beginnings  ; BabyFirst TV ), target children as young as 12 months. In addition, a multimillion-dollar industry selling computer games for children as young as 9 months also targets parents of these youngsters (e.g., Jumpstart Baby, Baby Wow). According to recent U.S. national survey studies, these products have enjoyed enormous popularity (Rideout & Hamel, 2006; Rideout, Vandewater, & Wartella, 2003). However, additional research is needed to test whether or not any learning benefit can be gained from exposure. For example, several recent studies (e.g., Linebarger & Walker, 2005) have sug- gested that well-designed programs with a coherent narrative structure that combine correct language use with engaging content may contribute to positive language out- comes for infants and toddlers. Other research (Schmidt, Rich, Rifas-Shiman, Oken, & Taveras, 2009) found no relationship between television exposure at 6, 12, and 24 months and language and motor skills at age 3. Still other research (Zimmerman, Christakis, & Meltzoff, 2007) has found a negative relationship between language development and the viewing of video programs targeting infants and toddlers. Corresponding author: Marina Krcmar; e-mail: krcmarm@wfu.edu 780 Journal of Communication 61 (2011) 780–794  2011 International Communication Association