Hearing “Ba, ba, ba” from your baby could mean many things, like bottle, sheep, or box. So how, as parents, do we carry on a conversation with someone who can’t speak more than one syllable at a time? You use your pitch and volume.
Your baby can tell if your tone is calm and soft, that you are safe and are there to soothe them. On the contrary, if they hear your voice get loud and impatient, your baby may cry, sensing danger and expressing their fear.
This is all language your baby can interpret from birth, along with producing cries and coos in the early months. But by month 4, your baby can do even more — they can babble. Let the fun “conversations” begin!
Serve and return
As your baby begins to babble, babble back. Repeat exactly what baby said to you back to them. This “conversation” shows your baby you are interested in what they are saying and encourages them to continue speaking. The more practice your baby gets through these “serve and return” ping-pong-like exchanges, the more their language will develop.
You can also start the conversation. If you’re on the floor and your baby lifts up a book to show you, look at the book and say, “book.” This shows your baby their interests matter to you. Simple, one- or two-syllable words like “cat, dog, go, hot, ball, walk,” and of course, “Mama” and “Dada,” are great words to introduce to your infant, too.
Language milestones
Milestones are the words and actions we expect to hear or see from children by a certain age. For example, 4-month-olds should be making cooing sounds like “oooh” or “aahh.” They can also typically make sounds back when you talk to them and turn their heads toward the sound of your voice. At 6 months, your baby should be able to:
- Take turns making sounds with you
- Stick out their tongue and “blow raspberries”
- Make squealing noises
Tracking your baby’s language, cognitive, social, and movement milestones in an app like the CDC’s Milestone Tracker app can make it easy to know whether your baby is developing appropriately. The app also includes tips on how to encourage your baby’s development and how to get help if they aren’t reaching milestones by the expected age.
Missing language milestones of babbling or imitating sounds between 6 and 7 months may be a sign of hearing loss or a speech problem. Talk with your child’s family doctor or pediatrician if you are not noticing these skills, especially if the child has had frequent ear infections.
For more information on children’s development, check out the parenting class, “How I Learn,” online or in-person at Sanford Children’s CHILD Services.
Learn more
- Baby sign language improves communication and bonding
- Your baby’s first smile brings out their social side
- Movement milestones in your baby’s first 6 months
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Posted In Children's, Family Medicine, Parenting
