Babbling is the stage when a baby repeats consonant-vowel syllables such as "ba-ba" and "da-da". It usually begins between 6 and 9 months and lays the groundwork for first words.
Key takeaways
- Babbling usually starts between 6 and 9 months, after cooing.
- It is how babies practise the sounds and rhythm of their language.
- A baby who is not babbling by 10 months should have a hearing check.
When does it start?
Most babies start babbling between 6 and 9 months, after a cooing stage that begins around 2 months. The CDC lists making sounds such as "mamamama" and "babababa" as a milestone by 9 months. Later, babies mix different syllables ("ba-da-ga") with the rhythm of real speech, and the first meaningful words often appear around 12 months.
What you can do
- Answer your baby's babbling as if you are having a conversation, and wait for them to "reply".
- Repeat their syllables back to them and add a new one.
- Sing, read aloud and play sound games every day.
- Turn off background TV, which cuts down on back-and-forth talk.
When to talk to your doctor
If your baby is not babbling by 10 months, does not react to sounds, or stops babbling after they had started.
Frequently asked questions
Usually not yet. It becomes a first word when your baby uses it consistently and on purpose for a specific person.
They may coo, but repeated-syllable babbling is usually delayed or missing, which is why late babbling calls for a hearing check.