In the early weeks and months of life, the constant (and often cute) baby sounds you hear can be a mystery. Are they happy, upset, uncomfortable, hungry, or just naturally noisy?
It can be hard to know early on if or what your baby is trying to communicate, but many baby sounds do in fact have meanings. Whether it’s crying, babbling or cooing in infants, your baby is likely trying to tell you something – and it's up to us to figure out what.
In this article, we’ll explore baby sounds and what they mean, including what does cooing mean. We will also touch on when do babies start to coo and other fun facts about newborn noises.
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What Is Cooing?
Cooing is one of the first sounds your baby will make beyond crying. it's also one of the first signs of language and communication development.
A baby coo usually consists of soft and simple vowel sounds like “ooh” and “aah,” which your baby will repeat often. Similar to how when do babies crawl lays the foundation for when a baby walks, cooing lays the foundation for them to eventually say words.
Newborn cooing is also an expression of contentment, so you may hear those baby coos when yours’ feels relaxed and happy. If you hear your baby cooing, respond to them by making eye contact, smiling, or even cooing back! Not only is this a great way to bond, but it helps them start to grasp the concepts of basic interaction and conversation.
What is cooing vs babbling?
While cooing and babbling are both stages of vocal development, they sound different and convey different things. Cooing starts first when a baby is younger, and lays the foundation for babbling, which is the next step in language development.
Some differences of cooing and babbling:
- Cooing: Baby cooing sounds are an early form of communication that involves simple vowel sounds like "ooh" and "aah." Cooing is generally a sound of contentment and doesn’t yet involve the complex sounds needed for speech.
- Babbling: Babbling is more advanced than baby cooing and starts after the newborn stage. It’s a sign that your baby is experimenting with sounds that will eventually become words and talking. You often hear “baba” or “dada” over and over if your baby is babbling.
What is the Meaning of Cooing?
When babies start to coo, it’s a sign they are starting to experiment with the sounds they can produce, which is a big step toward learning to speak.
Cooing is also a sign that your baby is developing control over their vocal cords as well as their lungs and the muscles involved in speech.
Beyond physical development, cooing also reflects your baby’s emotional comfort. Babies typically coo when they feel relaxed, happy, and content, so those soft sounds are a signal you’re doing something right!
Curious if cooing is related to when babies start dreaming?
When Do Babies Start Cooing?
Many parents wonder at what age do infants begin cooing. Since there is no one standard baby developmental milestones guide, the answer can vary.
Many babies start cooing between 6 and 8 weeks, around the time they also start smiling (a sign of social and cognitive development). However, this is just a range – you mean hear your baby cooing at 1-month-old, or not until closer to the end of the fourth trimester!
When to worry if baby is not cooing
If your baby isn’t cooing by 3-months-old, there’s no need for immediate concern. Speak to your pediatrician at your baby’s next check-up, as they are monitoring their development.
When it comes to language, every baby is different, so the answer to when do babies start babbling can also range, as can when you will hear your baby’s first real word.
How to Encourage Baby Sounds Like Cooing
You can encourage cooing in infants by interacting with them in ways that make them feel comfortable and engaged. Ways to encourage baby sounds like cooing include:
- Respond to Their Sounds: When your baby coos, respond by talking back, making eye contact, or smiling. Babies love interaction and will often coo more in response, and more diverse vocabulary can help with their language skills in the future.
- Use a Calm and Gentle Tone: You are more likely to hear baby coos when your infant feels relaxed, so speak softly to them and smile to create a more comforting atmosphere. Creating a calming consistent bedtime routine is one way to elicit coos!
- Imitate Their Sounds: When you mimic your baby’s cooing sounds, they start to learn about back-and-forth communication. Imitating your infant’s coos also shows them that they have your attention.
- Make Eye Contact: Babies are highly responsive to faces, so looking into their eyes while they coo encourages them to keep making sounds.
- Support Your Baby’s Sleep: Since baby cooing is related to your baby being happy and relaxed, it is also often related to how well your baby's sleep. Making sure your baby’s sleep space is the ideal room temperature, keep their sleep space dark, and starting to create a bedtime routine and implement the Eat, Play, Sleep schedule for babies can help.
If you’re looking to improve your baby’s sleep schedule or secure more infant coos, download the Smart Sleep Coach by PampersTM app and get a step-by-step plan for optimizing and perfecting everything around your baby’s evolving sleep needs, habits, and quality.
Is it Normal to Hear Baby Cooing in Sleep?
Newborns are noisy! Babies often make lots of sounds while asleep, including cooing, sighing, or even gentle grunts.
It is normal to hear your baby cooing in sleep as newborns spend a lot of time in the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, which is one of the baby sleep cycles where they are more likely to make sounds, such as cooing. The REM stage is also a reason why babies move so much in their sleep, why swaddling is often recommended early on.
It’s all part of your baby’s development. As they grow, their sleep patterns will gradually mature so the baby sounds will change. One day you’ll miss those noisy newborn sounds!
Does your baby’s cooing wake themselves up at night? Take this free 3-minute sleep quiz to get personalized guidance to help them sleep sounder – and possibly quieter.
Language Development Milestone After Cooing
After the cooing stage, babies will progress to babbling and, eventually, saying their first words.
Here’s a general timeline for language development after cooing:
- 6 to 8 weeks: Babies start cooing with simple vowel sounds.
- 4 to 6-months-old: Babbling begins, with repetitive consonant-vowel combinations like “baba” and “dada.”
- 6 to 9-months-old: Babbling becomes more varied, and some babies even begin to use sounds with intent.
- 12-months-old: Many babies say their first words, though this also can vary widely.
As with everything related to your baby’s development, speak to your pediatrician if you’re concerned or have any questions.
Final Thoughts
Cooing is an exciting milestone in your baby’s development. Not only does it show early communication skills, but it also reflects your baby’s growing comfort and happiness.
By responding to your baby’s cooing, you can encourage further vocal development and strengthen the bond between you both.
Cherish these first baby cooing sounds – they are the beginnings of a lifetime of communication and connection with your little one!
