Baby Talk: Understanding Your Baby

Even as an infant, your baby's sounds can tell you a lot about what's going on in his little world. Talking to your newborn can help you understand these early vocalizations. Wondering what "goo" and "gaa" mean?

This Stage-by-Stage Guide to Baby Talk Should Help Clear Up Confusion.

1 month

After spending around nine months in a peaceful environment, your baby might be surprised by all the new sounds and sensations. At 1-month-old your little one's crying, quick movements, and even baby shrieking can all mean he's experiencing something new. They can also help you understand when he's hungry or tired.

4 months

At this 4 months, your baby may begin imitating the noises he's been hearing since birth. Some babies start even earlier; baby talking at 3 months isn't uncommon. If you've been wondering when do babies start mimicking sounds , now's the time to watch for those first babbles. Listen for your baby to drop and raise the pitch of his voice when babbling, a sure sign that he's copying the inflection in your voice. Encourage this by talking slowly and carefully to him as much as possible.

6 to 8 months

At 6 months, your child may begin to crawl at this age. You might notice him pointing at his toys while simultaneously babbling, a prime example of early communication. Many parents ask, " what age do babies start talking ? " Some babies speak their first words at this stage, often "mama" or "dada."

12 to 18 months

Your baby will probably pick up a few more words over the next few months. He may also start mimicking conversation by babbling with pauses and "responding" to questions. Even though his vocabulary is still limited at this age, he understands a lot of what you say. Keep chatting to boost his language development.

18 to 24 months

Now that your child has mastered a good number of words, he'll start stringing them together to create simple sentences. As he progresses, you'll find it becomes easier to communicate, which will be a welcome milestone for both of you.

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Individual Milestones

As with all baby milestones, children develop language skills at their own pace. Your little one is unique and may need more or less time than others to start making sounds and gestures. Before you know it, your child will hit the chatty preschool stage, and peace and quiet will be a thing of the past!