Your baby’s wailing cries and happy coos don’t just tug at your heartstrings; they’re how they express their needs and wants. They’re not communicating in words, of course, but these sounds are still an important part of your baby’s speech development in their first twelve months.

Why is my baby crying?

We’re no baby whisperers, but they’re usually hungry, uncomfortable, hurting somewhere, or simply looking for some attention. It’s distressing to hear your baby cry, of course, but try to remember that this is just a normal part of their development.

Some research even suggests that babies who cry more often may have stronger communication with you and others later in life. This is because crying communicates personal needs and wants. The older they get, the easier it will be for you to recognise what different cries mean. Responding to them promptly with love and care will make them feel safe and recognised.

OK, so define a coo for me, please.

Cooing happens around six to eight weeks. It is an early form of babbling and an exciting sign that your child is learning about jaw and lip movements that will someday help them form words.

Cute baby noises like "coo," "goo," and "ahh" are often accompanied by facial expressions and body movements that indicate how your baby is feeling. They may be responding to a familiar face or just enjoying making these sounds. Practising their motor speech movements could be something your baby has fun with!

Cooing doesn’t have any real meaning in language terms, but it's still a developmental milestone to praise and celebrate. Your baby is starting to learn to use their mouth and tongue to make sounds. This behaviour will evolve to the point that they can speak to you in words in the not-too-distant future.

Start encouraging your baby’s speech and language development.

Even at this early stage, there is plenty you can do to encourage your child’s speech. Here are some simple but effective ideas:

Talk to and respond to your baby. You may have started doing this before they were born. Your voice is one of your baby’s favourite sounds, so let them hear it! Try to engage with them face-to-face as much as possible. Even if they can't understand the words yet, they will learn from listening to you and watching how you form the words with your lips, jaw, and tongue. Remember to respond to their own communication attempts with excitement and joy. This will encourage them to keep trying.

It’s never too early to begin reading to your baby. Expose them to new vocabulary by choosing books with simple and repetitive language. Engage them with colourful illustrations.

Singing to your baby is a beautiful way to express love and also exposes them to language and rhythm. We recommend you try simple lyrics and catchy tunes.

Babies love to play Peek-a-Boo, and you can make the most of this to support their language development. These interactions let them experience basic anticipation and turn-taking, as well as cause-and-effect play. They also encourage your baby to make sounds and engage with you.

What roles do crying and cooing play in baby speech development?