Early Developing Sounds

Cooing and Babbling
In the first few months of life, babies start communicating through a series of cooing and babbling sounds. Cooing allows babies to experiment with controlling their vocal cords and producing sounds.
Around four to six months of age, babies progress from cooing to babbling. Babbling involves the repetition of consonant-vowel combinations, such as "ba-ba" or "ma-ma." At this stage, babies may also start incorporating other sounds like "da-da" or "ga-ga." Babbling is an essential step towards speech development, as it helps babies practice controlling different speech muscles and learning about different sounds.
Exploring Sounds and Imitation
Between six to eight months of age, babies become more interested in exploring the world of sounds. They start paying attention to the noises around them, listening attentively, and trying to imitate various sounds they hear. Babies may mimic animal sounds like "meow" or "woof" or attempt to copy the sounds made by their caregivers.
During this stage, babies often experiment with pitch, volume, and intonation. They may produce high-pitched squeals, loud shrieks, or try to imitate basic musical rhythms. Encouraging these exploration behaviors helps babies develop their auditory and vocal skills, setting the foundation for later language acquisition.
Varied Sounds and First Words
Around eight to twelve months, babies begin displaying more varied sounds and random word-like utterances. They may use vocalizations to call attention or express their needs and desires. These sounds may not have conventional meanings yet, but they are the stepping stones towards forming their first words.
By observing babies' responses to different sounds and gestures, caregivers can decipher attempts at communication and respond accordingly. Repeating those sounds and providing simple verbal labels for objects and actions can gradually help babies connect meaning to their vocalizations.