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Child language MediBilbao Salud

When Do Babies Start Babbling? Stages, What Is Normal and How to Help

Babbling is one of the most exciting milestones in a baby’s first year. Those strings of «ba-ba-ba» and «da-da-da» are not just cute: they are practice for speech, as babies learn to control their lips, tongue and voice and to play with the sounds of the language they hear around them. This guide explains, from a speech and language therapy point of view, when babbling usually starts, the stages it goes through, how parents can encourage it and when a lack of babbling should be checked.

Topic
Speech therapy
Updated
Reading time
5 minutes
Reviewed by
Dr. Itziar Gotxi Erezuma · Medical doctor (ENT) · Bizkaia Medical Association no. 484809757

Why babbling matters

Babbling is how babies practise the movements needed for speech. By repeating syllables, they coordinate breathing, voice, lips and tongue, and they start to match the sounds they produce to the sounds they hear. Babies who babble with a variety of consonants tend to start talking on time, and the sounds they babble often become the sounds in their first words. Babbling also draws adults into conversation, which gives babies more language input.

Stages from birth to first words

  • 0 to 2 months: crying, sighs and reflexive sounds; startles to loud noises.
  • 2 to 4 months: cooing and gurgling with vowel sounds; smiles at faces and voices.
  • 4 to 6 months: laughs, squeals, blows raspberries and plays with loud and soft, high and low sounds.
  • 6 to 10 months: canonical babbling with repeated consonant-vowel syllables such as «bababa», «dadada», «mamama».
  • 9 to 12 months: variegated babbling mixing syllables («badaga»), with the rhythm and intonation of speech, sometimes called jargon.
  • Around 12 months: first words, gestures such as pointing and waving, and understanding simple words like «no» and «bye-bye».

See also speech sound development chart.

Does «mama» or «dada» count as a first word?

Babies often say «mama» and «dada» during babbling from around 6 to 9 months, before they understand the meaning. It becomes a real word when the baby uses it consistently to refer to a parent, usually around 10 to 14 months.

What is normal?

  • There is a wide range: some babies babble at 5 months, others closer to 8 months.
  • Premature babies usually reach milestones according to their corrected age.
  • Babies may babble more at certain times and seem quieter when learning other skills, such as crawling or walking.
  • Bilingual babies babble on the same timeline.
  • Boys and girls follow similar patterns, with small differences.

How to encourage babbling

  • Talk to your baby throughout the day, describing what you are doing.
  • Copy their sounds and wait for them to reply, taking turns like a conversation.
  • Face to face: let your baby see your mouth and expressions.
  • Sing songs and nursery rhymes with actions.
  • Read together, pointing to pictures and naming them.
  • Use a sing-song voice, which babies find easier to attend to.
  • Limit dummies (pacifiers) during waking, playing times, so the mouth is free to make sounds.
  • Reduce background TV, which reduces conversation.

More ideas in speech therapy exercises.

The link between babbling and hearing

Babies with significant hearing loss may coo normally in the first months but often do not develop canonical babbling with consonants on time, because they cannot hear speech sounds well. Newborn hearing screening detects most permanent hearing loss, but hearing can change later, for example with glue ear after repeated colds. If your baby is not babbling, does not startle to loud sounds or does not turn to voices, ask for a hearing test.

When babbling is late

A baby who is babbling a little later than others but is otherwise interested in people, responds to sounds and uses gestures is often just on the later side of normal. However, a lack of babbling with consonants by 10 to 12 months is one of the early signs of possible speech, hearing or developmental difficulties and should be reviewed. Early checks give peace of mind or allow support to start early; see late talker and speech delay vs autism.

When to ask for a check

  • No cooing by 4 months or no laughing by 6 months.
  • No babbling with consonants by 10 months.
  • No gestures such as pointing or waving by 12 months.
  • Not responding to sounds or their name.
  • Stopping babbling or losing sounds and skills they had before.
  • Concerns about hearing at any age.

Key points to remember

  • Most babies coo from about 2 months and babble with consonants around 6 months.
  • Repeated syllables are usually present by 7 to 10 months.
  • Talking, copying sounds and turn-taking encourage babbling.
  • No consonant babbling by 10 to 12 months needs a hearing and development check.

Questions about babbling

These answers are general information and do not replace an examination or individual medical advice.

When do babies start babbling?

Most babies start babbling with consonant sounds around 6 months, with repeated syllables by 7 to 10 months.

What is the difference between cooing and babbling?

Cooing uses vowel-like sounds from about 2 months. Babbling adds consonants to make syllables like «ba» and «da».

Is it normal for a baby to stop babbling?

Babies may babble less while learning motor skills, but a clear loss of sounds or skills should be checked.

Can a dummy affect babbling?

Frequent dummy use during waking hours may reduce opportunities to babble. Limiting it during play helps.

Do deaf babies babble?

They may coo, but canonical babbling with consonants is often delayed, which is why hearing checks are important.

When should I worry if my baby is not babbling?

If there is no consonant babbling by 10 to 12 months, ask for a hearing test and developmental review.

Sources

  1. NIDCD (NIH) · Speech and language developmental milestones
  2. ASHA · Developmental milestones: birth to 5 years
  3. NHS · Help your baby learn to talk
  4. NHS · Newborn hearing screening

This guide is for general information and does not replace medical advice. How a problem is diagnosed and treated depends on your examination and medical history. If you think you have an emergency, contact your local emergency services.