In the initial weeks or months after a birth of a baby, every day is full of surprises and happiness for parents, because they can see their baby’s changes in development, such as the first time to laugh, speak, crawl, sit, stand, walk, etc. As for this article, it will reveal when do babies start cooing? Although the sound of cooing is not similar to speak, it still brings huge joy to the whole family to witness their baby’s significant growth day by day. So, when do babies start cooing for the first time? And what to do if babies don’t coo? If you are interested in these questions, please keep reading it.

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IN THIS ARTICLE

What is Cooing?

When do Babies Start Cooing for the first time?

Why do Babies Make Cooing?

How to Encourage Babes to Start Cooing?

What if Babies Don’t Coo?

Is it Normal for Babies Cooing in Sleep?

Is it Normal for Babies Cooing While Breastfeeding?  

What is Cooing for Babies?

A baby's cooing is usually a peaceful, soft, and repetitive sound that sounds like "ah," "oh," "uh," or "coo." These sounds are usually monosyllabic and have no specific meaning. Through cooing, babies begin to explore their own voices and interact socially with those around them. This sound is usually a sign of happiness and relaxation, and is also an important stage in language development, representing that babies begin to learn how to control their vocal organs, such as vocal cords, tongue, and lips. Specifically, a baby's cooing may have the following characteristics:

• Soft pitch: The sound is usually soft, not as sharp or loud as crying.
• Repetitiveness: Babies may make the same or similar sounds repeatedly, such as "uh uh uh" or "ooh ooh."
• Variety: As babies improve their ability to control their voices, they may try to make more kinds of sounds, including different pitches and volumes.
• Accompanied by movements: When babies coo, they often have changes in facial expressions, such as smiling, or slight movements of their arms and legs.

This sound usually indicates that the baby is in a positive emotional state, perhaps feeling comfortable, happy or curious. As for parents and caregivers, it is important for them to respond positively to their baby's cooing, which not only encourages babies to continue to develop their language skills, but also strengthens the close relationship between parents and children. By imitating the baby's sounds or responding with simple words, you can effectively promote the baby's social and emotional development. This is an important part of the baby's early social and language development.

When do Babies Start Cooing?

In the neonatal period, babies mainly express their needs through crying, such as hunger, tiredness, pain, etc. Their throats and vocal organs are still in the process of development, and their sounds are relatively simple, and they are not likely to make rhythmic or regular cooing sounds.

It is not until about two months that babies begin to make non-crying sounds, replacing with soft coos, such as "ah", "oh" or "uh". At about 3 months, most babies are able to make more continuous and varied cooing sounds during this period, sometimes accompanied by smiles and other facial expressions, showing a positive emotional state. By 4 months, the baby's pronunciation ability gradually improves, and can make more syllable sounds. The cooing sounds become more complex and regular.

It should be noted that babies may start cooing earlier or later, which may be affected by many factors, including the baby's physical health, birth weight and development level, sound stimulation in the family environment, etc.

Why do Babies Make Cooing?

1. Language development

When babies make cooing, they are actually exploring their own voices and vocalization abilities. Through these sounds, they learn how to control vocal organs such as vocal cords, tongues, and lips, which is the first step in language development. This exploratory behavior helps them lay the foundation for future speech development.

2. Express emotions

Cooing is usually a sound made by babies when they feel happy, comfortable, or curious. It is a positive way of expressing emotions, indicating that the baby is in a state of pleasure. Through cooing, babies can convey their emotions and establish emotional connections with those around them.

3. Try to communicate

Cooing is a way for babies to interact socially with their surroundings. Although these sounds do not yet have specific semantics, they are the initial attempts of babies to communicate with adults or other babies. When adults respond to babies' cooing sounds, babies feel the joy of interaction, which helps them learn how to communicate more complexly.

4. Get attention

Babies attract adults' attention by making cooing sounds. When adults respond to their sounds, babies feel cared for and loved, which enhances their sense of security and belonging. This interaction also helps to build a close relationship between parents and children.

5. Cognitive Development

In the process of making cooing sounds, babies begin to understand the feedback mechanism of sound. They may notice that their own sounds can cause reactions in others and begin to understand cause and effect. This cognitive development is very beneficial to the overall intellectual development of babies.

6. Self-Entertainment

Sometimes, babies will spontaneously make cooing sounds to entertain themselves because they are curious and excited about discovering their own sounds. This self-entertainment behavior helps babies' emotional development and the formation of self-awareness.

How to Encourage Babes to Start Cooing?

Encouraging your baby to coo not only promotes the baby's language development, but also enhances the interaction and emotional connection between parents and children. Here are some effective ways to help parents or caregivers encourage their babies to make cooing sounds:

1. Make eye contact with your baby

Eye contact is one of the most basic ways of social interaction. When your baby looks at you, keep eye contact with them, smile and talk to them in a gentle tone. This interactive method encourages your baby to make sounds, especially when babies feels that they are getting attention, they will be more motivated to "speak".

2. Respond to your baby's sounds

When your baby makes a cooing sound, he or she is eager to be responded to. Parents or caregivers can respond to the baby through imitation, laughter, and simple language, which not only encourages your baby to make more sounds, but also helps them understand the relationship between sound and response.

3. Talk to your baby

Even if your baby can't talk yet, you can still have a "conversation" with them. By talking to your baby, you can let them feel the rhythm and phonology of language, and also encourage them to try to imitate. You can talk to your baby with simple and clear sentences in a friendly and expressive tone. Also, you can use different tones and rhythms to attract your baby's attention.

4. Use pleasant voices and facial expressions

Babies especially like to hear gentle and pleasant voices. When parents talk to their babies in a loving and kind tone, babies are more likely to have positive emotions, which will stimulate them to make sounds. You can also add exaggerated facial expressions and tones when speaking to attract your baby's attention.

5. Create an interactive environment for your baby

Babies will observe and imitate their parents' behavior in daily life. You can create more opportunities for interaction through activities such as playing, singing, and telling stories with your baby, which will encourage your baby to make sounds. In this case, you can use finger toys, coloring books, plush toys, etc. to inspire your baby to make similar sounds.

6. Keep quiet and listen to your baby

Sometimes, your baby may just want to quietly observe and listen to the sounds around him. In this case, parents can choose to sit quietly beside their baby, give them space, let them make their own sounds, and don't rush to interrupt or respond. In this way, your baby will feel that his voice is respected and valued, and will make sounds more frequently.

7. Use music and songs

Music and rhythm can arouse your baby's interest and inspire them to imitate the tone and rhythm. You can attract them to make similar cooing sounds or tones by singing, humming, or playing music that your baby likes.

8. Be patient and appreciate your baby's vocalizations

Don't rush your baby to "learn" certain specific sounds or words. The baby's vocalization is a gradual process. Whenever the baby makes a cooing sound, give positive feedback (such as smile, encouragement, praise, etc.) and remain patient. Even if the baby has not yet made accurate syllables or words, maintaining an encouraging and appreciative attitude will make the baby more willing to try more vocalizations.

What if Babies Don’t Coo?

If your baby isn't cooing or making other normal sounds, parents might can’t wait to worry whether there is something wrong. In fact, babies behave differently at different stages of their development, especially when they make sounds and how often they make sounds.

As for this issue, it is important to first understand that there may be a variety of reasons why your baby isn't making sounds, some of which are normal and some of which may require attention. For example:

• Normal developmental progression
• Hearing problems
• Babes tend to be quiet
• Language delays

If your baby isn't making any sounds at all or isn't responding to sounds and people around him at 4 months old, especially if there are other signs of developmental delays (such as unfocused eyes, no smiles, little physical activity, etc.), it's recommended to see your doctor for a professional evaluation as soon as possible. Your doctor may recommend tests to rule out hearing problems, developmental delays, or other health issues.

Is it Normal for Babies Cooing in Sleep?

It is completely normal for babies to make cooing while sleeping, especially in the newborn and infant stages. This sound is usually made by babies during the light sleep stage or when they are dreaming, and is part of the baby's brain and body development. For more details, welcome to read the following part.

1. Physiological reasons

Babies have narrow airways and may make slight breathing sounds during sleep, which are sometimes mistaken for cooing. In addition, babies may have digestive system activities during sleep, such as gastrointestinal peristalsis, which sometimes produce cooing.

2. Sleep cycle

Babies may make various sounds during light sleep, including cooing, humming, or slight crying. This is because they are more likely to respond to external stimuli during this stage. At the same time, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is the stage where babies dream the most, and during this stage, babies may make various sounds, including cooing.

3. Emotional expression

Babies may make cooing when they feel comfortable and relaxed during sleep, which is similar to the pleasant sounds they make when they are awake. Babies may dream during REM sleep, and emotional reactions in dreams are sometimes expressed through sounds.

Although it is usually normal for babies to make cooing in sleep, it is recommended to consult a doctor if accompanied by the following conditions:

• Dyspnea: If your baby has obvious difficulty breathing, wheezing or shortness of breath during sleep, you should see a doctor immediately.
• Long-term abnormal sounds: If your baby continues to make particularly loud cooing sounds, cough, hoarseness or has repeated sound problems, and parents feel that something is wrong, it is best to take your baby to see a doctor to rule out some possible health problems.
• Other abnormal symptoms: If your baby is accompanied by fever, cough, vomiting or other abnormal symptoms, you should see a doctor in time.

Is it Normal for Babies Cooing While Breastfeeding?

It's normal for babies to make cooing noises while breastfeeding and usually nothing to worry about. Cooing, babbling, or other small noises are usually a reaction to breast milk or are related to some natural phenomenon during feeding. Here are some possible reasons:

• Normal sucking sounds
• Sounds when your baby swallows milk
• Sounds of the digestive system
• Sounds caused by air entering your baby's stomach
• Sounds associated with your baby's mouth movements
• Sounds made by your baby enjoying the comfort of breast milk
• Baby's reaction to different breast milk flow speed

Final Thought

Babies usually start cooing when they are around 2 months old. As we all know, each baby is unique. Some babies may come to this stage a little later. As a parent, you can talk to your baby more frequently or take more actions as we mentioned before to activate your baby to make sounds. During this process, you should keep a balance, don’t force your baby to do what they don’t want. Otherwise, you may regret for the contrary result. But if your baby doesn’t coo until he or she is 4 months old, you may need to see a pediatrician to eliminate health issues.