Cooing, Babbling and More
Welcome to the adorable “cooing” stage! Enjoy as your baby’s soft involuntary gurgles slowly transform into intentional cooing and smiles and laughter enrich her communication.The Cornerstones of Communication
Most of the sounds your baby makes now are open vowel sounds, such as "aaaah" or "ooh." In the third month, she becomes even more communicative, and reacts with laughter and other signs of pleasure. By the third month, your baby's sounds have a distinct social purpose and begin to resemble real dialogue. She may begin cooing in response to someone talking to with her or even pause in order to wait for a "response."Recognizing Familiar Voices
Your baby is now able to distinguish between similar sounds, such as "ba" and “pa," and is attracted to a wider variety of sounds. Soft music relaxes her but human voices are her primary source of pleasure and interest. She reacts strongly to familiar voices, such as yours and other caregivers, and may even stop crying if she hears her mother's voice from another room.
Milestones
- Differentiates between different tones of voice and sounds, like “bah” and “pah.”
- Begins to make gurgling sounds.
- Cooing begins. Enunciates open vowel sounds like “aaah.”
Tiny Tips
- Don't hesitate to speak to your baby in "motherese" – short, animated baby talk. You will learn what special intonation, nicknames, rhythms and tones your baby likes.
- When your baby cries, try to relate to it as a form of verbal expression, rather than as something undesirable. This will help reduce tension and communicate an atmosphere of calmness.
- Try to learn and understand your baby’s unique “vocabulary” of different cries.