Every parent hopes to hear their child’s first word. Babies learn to communicate through language by cooing and babbling, making short sounds, and eventually words and phrases.
Your baby’s first smile, as well as his first step, may excite you. But when you hear him speak, you’ll realize he’s developing a skill that only humans have. Your baby will eventually use words to communicate how he feels and what he desires.
Language milestones are achievements that mark different stages of language development. They are receptive (hearing and understanding) as well as expressive (speech). This means that, in addition to making sounds and words, your baby must also be able to hear and understand.
Every baby does not say the same thing at the same time. Language milestones are estimates of when most babies will do certain things.
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What is cooing?
Aside from crying, cooing is your baby’s first vocal milestone. Cooing is usually a vowel sound, like ahh, but it can also sound like gurgling noises.
These sounds could include monosyllables like “ah,” “ooo,” or “eee,” as well as disyllables like “ah-ah” or “ooh-ooh,” indicating that the baby is beginning to work on language development. These amusing noises serve an important purpose: cooing helps babies develop the muscles they’ll need later in life when they learn to talk.
A baby cooing is one of the most comforting sounds for a parent. While babies cry to announce their arrival in the world, cooing is their first language and communication cue. It is one of the first significant milestones they achieve in their first year. It’s no surprise that it’s soothing music for parents.
Your baby will “talk” to you using a variety of sounds, as well as smile at you and wait for your response, as well as respond to your smiles with his or her own. Your baby may even imitate your expressions.
When do babies start cooing?
Cooing usually begins between the ages of six and eight weeks. They also begin to respond to sounds, smile, and mimic your facial expressions at this age. As with all developmental milestones, some babies may take longer to begin cooing than others because each baby develops at his or her own pace. Consult your baby’s pediatrician if he or she does not coo by three months.
Between the first few weeks and the second month, your baby may begin vocalizing, progressing from random experimental sighs and coos to sounds that are actually directed at toys, pets, objects, and people. Most babies will have developed a personal repertoire of vowel sounds, cooing, and gurgling by the age of two months.
However, cooing, like all developmental milestones, varies from baby to baby. Don’t be concerned if your baby isn’t cooing at six weeks. Every baby develops on their own timetable.
Remember that some babies do not make the “ahhh” cooing sound; instead, they gurgle. However, if your baby is three months old and still not cooing, you can ease your mind by consulting with your baby’s pediatrician.
How does cooing help babies?
Baby’s coos may be music to our ears, but aside from melting our hearts, did you know that these sounds serve a different purpose?
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Skill development
If your baby starts cooing, it means he or she is learning to communicate. It is your baby’s attempt to communicate their needs. They will eventually be able to understand more complex sounds.
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Mouth exercise
Cooing uses various parts of the mouth. With their constant cooing and gurgling, babies begin to exercise their lips, palate, tongue, and jaw.
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Bonding
It contributes to the formation of a special bond between you and your child. When you make certain sounds and gestures, they begin to recognize them and attempt to mimic them.
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Understanding needs
Cooing is your baby’s way of communicating. They try to communicate their pain, happiness, hunger, and so on through this. It will give you firsthand experience with your baby’s reactions and will help you better read your baby’s cues.
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Language development
A child’s first language, aside from crying, is cooing. Cooing allows your infant to practice vocalizations and prepares them to learn a language.
How to encourage babies to start cooing
It’s infectious once you hear the first few coos, and you’ll want to hear more and more. The good news is that there are several ways to encourage your baby to coo and develop his or her language skills.
1. Talk to your baby
Talking to your baby, even in “baby talk,” is essential for language development. Speaking to your baby in high-pitched tones helps them learn to coo because the high-pitches and sing-song sounds highlight vowel sounds like ahhh and ohhh.
Although baby coos may not sound like a fully formed word to you, Michael H. Goldstein, an assistant professor of psychology at Cornell, says responding to your baby’s sounds encourages her and helps her learn new sounds and sound patterns.
Talking to your baby also provides an excellent opportunity for your baby to mimic you. According to a PLOS ONE study, babies and toddlers learn new skills simply by imitating an adult.
2. Speak clearly and often
It is essential to speak clearly and elaborate on what you see or do. Remember that babies understand words long before they can say them. Speaking clearly helps babies learn not only words but also important sound combinations. You can describe what you’re doing, and you shouldn’t be afraid to use “real” words.
3. Make eye contact and repeat sounds back
If your baby coos with ahhh or ohhhh sounds, repeat those sounds back to him or her. Make eye contact with your baby to help him focus on you. Repetition of the same sound teaches your baby to vocalize that sound.
4, Sing
Mums are aware that lullabies can help a baby or toddler fall asleep, but music can also encourage cooing. Music, according to the University of Washington Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences researchers, helps babies process the sounds they hear.
When do babies start cooing?: Reading will allow your baby to hear and learn new words. This will eventually help in his speech and language development
5. Read
Cuddling up with a book allows your baby to hear new sounds. And it’s never too early to start even if they don’t appear to be paying attention. Reading to a six-month-old baby has been linked to improved language development and increased vocabulary, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, even four years later.
In fact, the AAP recommends that parents begin reading a book to their children every day as soon as they are born!
6. Ask questions — and listen if he answers
Asking questions is a simple way to model conversational give-and-take while maintaining a friendly tone. Remember to pause long enough for your child to make a sound or sigh, and when she does, smile and make eye contact with her to show you’re listening. Your attention will encourage your child, and she will be excited to try making some new sounds of her own.
7. Get out of the house and explore the world around you
Exploring the world is not only enjoyable; it can also aid in the development of your baby’s language skills.
Point out the colors, objects, and noises around you. Tell your baby about your day wherever you go—the library, the grocery store, the post office. He learns more when he hears more.
Your interaction with your newborn is just another chance for your baby to hear sounds in your native language over and over. Also, keep in mind that repetition is essential!
READ MORE:
Baby not cooing: What should you do?
Babies learn to communicate at different rates, so there is a wide range of what is considered normal when it comes to making sounds.
Still, if your baby isn’t cooing or making sounds by the 4-month mark, don’t hesitate to consult your paediatrician. Other warning signs include if your baby:
- Doesn’t react to loud noises
- Doesn’t keep an eye on things as they move
- Doesn’t greet people with a smile
- Does not participate in the conversation by cooing or making other noises.
- No sounds or facial expressions are imitated.
If your child isn’t meeting her developmental milestones, seek advice from your pediatrician. This could be due to a hearing problem, but this is uncommon. If you are concerned, you should consult with your child’s doctor to rule it out.
Image source: iStock
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore