Having a baby, including the pregnancy and child care, is a tremendous adventure. Little ones are constantly learning and growing as their brains, bodies, and personalities develop. One of the signs of development is babbling. If you’ve ever been around a child who is a few months old, you’ve probably heard them making noises that sound almost like words. Here’s what babbling is and why it’s important.

A Guide to Babbling 

What Is Babbling?

Babies typically start to babble between four and seven months of age. Don’t worry too much if your child starts a little later than their peers; it’s not a competition, and your doctor will let you know if there’s anything to be concerned about. Babbling follows cooing; the vowel sounds your infant makes when they’re content or excited. It’s one of many steps in your little one’s development of language and communication skills. 

What Are the Stages? 

You can distinguish babbling from cooing as it involves consonants attached to vowels. Instead of just “ooo”s, “iiii”s and “ahhh”s your child will begin saying things like “a-ga,” “a-da,” “a-pa.” Eventually, they’ll mix up their strings of vowel-consonants with consonant-vowel-consonants in a sing-song rhythm, such as “da-da, da-da, da-da.” Next, they’ll say double consonants without knowledge of the meaning, which is when most children say their “first word.” These can be words like “pa-pa,” “da-da,” or “ma-ma.” Between eight and 18 months, they will make words or word-like sounds which may or may not have meaning to them. For instance, they may say “da” when referring to dad or “dog” to indicate a doll.

What Does It Mean?

Although babbling is mostly meaningless in terms of communication, it is a crucial part of brain and speech development. Your baby may make these sounds to imitate you and other people and because it feels nice to them. They’ll also babble to get feedback from you or a child care professional. For example, many kids who have started to say “ma-ma” or “pa-pa” will continue using these sounds because they receive a positive reaction when they do so, and because the person repeats it after them. Encouraging your child to explore their vocal functions is important in helping them discover their speech abilities and the benefits of communication. The more you talk with your child, the more likely they are to “talk” back. Keep in mind that even if your baby is deaf, they will still babble, but with their hands, if they’re exposed to sign language. 

If you’re a Cortlandt Manor, NY, resident in need of child care, turn to A Rising Star Children’s Center. With over 40 years of combined teaching experience, owners Gloria Foster-Vayda and Tom Vayda are child care experts with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for helping children improve their communication skills. Their children’s day care and early childhood learning center provide a rich, comfortable environment for kids to learn and grow. Call (914) 788-4582 to schedule a walk-through or visit their website to learn more about their programs and philosophy.