Welcome to Newborn Tips, today we will talk about one of the first phases of a child’s communicative development, answering the question that many parents ask themselves, that is, when does babbling begin, how to recognize it, how to stimulate newborns in this crucial stage of their journey towards their first words and when to worry. Stay tuned to find out everything about it.
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What is babbling?
Those first “ba-ba” or “da-da” are an exciting moment for parents, but they are not just random sounds, but rather signs of an important progress in the newborn’s linguistic development.
Babbling is a stage in the newborn’s language learning journey, in which the little one begins to emit repetitive sounds such as “ba-ba“, “da-da” or “ma-ma“.
In reality, these sounds, which often seem random, are the result of the exploration of vocal abilities and coordination between the mouth, tongue and vocal cords.
How many types of babbling are there?
There are mainly two types of babbling, which represent distinct phases in the child’s linguistic development:
1) Canonical babbling: It appears around 6 months. The child produces repeated and well-defined syllables, such as “ba-ba“, “da-da” or “ma-ma“.
In fact, these sounds are regular and constitute the first combinations of consonants and vowels, a sign that the newborn is refining the control of his phonatory apparatus.
2) Varied babbling: It appears around 9 months. The child begins to combine different sounds, for example “ba-da“, “ma-ta” or “ga-ma“.
So this phase shows greater complexity and flexibility in the production of sounds, bringing the little one closer to the first words.
Difference between canonical and varied babbling
To return to the point, canonical babbling is characterized by simple and regular repetitions, while varied babbling introduces more complex combinations, representing a progress in the cognitive and linguistic development of the child.
Both phases are essential for preparing children for words and verbal communication.
Babbling phase
It usually appears between 4 and 6 months of life of the newborn and develops progressively over the following months. During this period, the baby begins to experiment with vocal sounds, exploring his vocal apparatus and interacting with the surrounding environment. Here is how it evolves:
Early babbling (4-6 months): The baby begins to make vowel-like sounds (“aah“, “ooh“) and, gradually, adds some isolated consonants.
Canonical babbling (6-9 months): The first repeated syllables appear, such as “ba-ba“, “da-da” or “ma-ma“. In this babbling phase, the sounds are more structured and the baby repeats them often, attracting the attention of those around him. In fact, they are often interpreted as initial attempts to speak, even if they do not yet have a specific meaning.
In addition, in this phase the baby exercises the muscles of the mouth, begins to modulate the sound and develop the basis for future verbal communication.
Varied babbling (9-12 months): The baby experiments with more complex sound sequences, combining consonants and vowels in different ways (“ba-da“, “ma-ta“). This stage of the journey is a prelude to the first real words of newborns.
Therefore, during the babbling phase, it is important to respond to the baby’s sounds to encourage communication and promote linguistic development.
How to recognize babbling?
Recognizing babbling in babies is quite simple, since it manifests itself through specific and repetitive sounds that the newborn emits spontaneously. Here’s how to identify it:
Main signs of babbling:
- Repetitive syllables: The baby begins to repeat sounds such as “ba-ba“, “da-da“, “ma-ma“, “pa-pa” or “ta-ta”.
- Melodic tone: The sounds emitted can have variations in intonation, as if the baby were “singing” or trying to imitate the language of adults.
- Coordinated movements: Often, the baby accompanies babbling with gestures, smiles or movements, trying to interact with those who listen to him.
- Reaction to stimuli: The newborn may increase babbling when he receives attention, such as smiles or words from the parents, showing that it is also a communicative act.
When to worry if your baby isn’t babbling?
If your baby doesn’t start babbling by 10 to 12 months, you may want to monitor the situation more closely.
However, it’s important to remember that every baby develops at a different rate.
Here are some situations where it may be helpful to consult a pediatrician or speech therapist:
No vocalizations or sounds: If your baby doesn’t make any sounds (such as gurgles or vocalizations) before 6 months.
No reaction to sounds: If your baby isn’t responding to noises or voices, you may want to check his or her hearing.
No imitation attempts: This is when your baby doesn’t try to imitate sounds or doesn’t seem interested in communicating with adults.
Other signs of developmental delays: If the delay in babbling is accompanied by other delays in motor or cognitive development.
Absence of nonverbal communication in babies: If they do not use gestures, such as pointing or waving, by 12 months.
Suddenly stops babbling after starting: without any apparent explanation.
How to help a baby who does not speak?
If a newborn does not speak, it is important to remember that the first months and years of life are a period in which language develops gradually.
Considering that in the first months, newborns do not speak but communicate through cries, vocalizations and gestures; however, if you notice that your baby does not make sounds or shows signs of delay in communication development, there are several ways to help him:
- Stimulate interaction
Talk to the baby frequently: Use a soft, clear and expressive tone of voice. Even if the baby does not respond verbally, listen and learn from the sounds he hears
Respond to his vocalizations: When the little one gurgles or makes sounds, respond as if it were a conversation. This reinforces two-way communication
Call your baby by name: This helps your baby recognize that sounds have meaning
- Play and sing
Sing songs: The melodies and rhythms capture your baby’s attention and encourage imitation
Use sound toys: Toys that make sounds or games that involve making noises, such as “clapping your hands,” can encourage imitation
- Read aloud
Read baby books with simple pictures and describe them slowly. This helps your baby connect the sounds to the pictures.
- Observe nonverbal communication in babies
Encourage gestures: If your baby isn’t talking, watch for signs like pointing or holding out their arms to make themselves understood
Show simple gestures, such as waving, to help your baby start communicating
- Limit screen time
Screens (TVs, tablets, smartphones) don’t provide the feedback or human interaction that is necessary for language development in babies.
For example, a video or app does not react to the baby’s vocalizations, smiles or encourages a response, which are essential elements for the development of communication.
- Consult a doctor if necessary
Check hearing: If the baby does not react to sounds, consult a pediatrician to rule out any hearing problems
Specialist evaluation: If there are no vocalizations, babbling or attempts to imitate sounds by 12 months, an evaluation with a speech therapist or a specialist in this field may be useful
Remember that each creature develops at its own pace. Some may start speaking later without any underlying problems.
In any case, if the pediatrician confirms that there are reasons for concern, early intervention with the support of a speech therapist may be necessary, in order to guarantee the newborn the necessary support to best enhance his communication skills.
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Newborn Tips, The Editorial Staff
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