Cooing is a baby's first soft vowel sounds other than crying, such as "aaa" and "ooo". It usually begins at around 2 months, when the CDC lists making sounds other than crying as a milestone.
What you can do
- Coo back and pause, so your baby learns to take turns.
- Talk to your baby face to face during feeds, nappy changes and baths.
When to talk to your doctor
Talk to your doctor if your baby makes no sounds other than crying by about 4 months or does not seem to react to loud noises.
Frequently asked questions
No. Cooing is vowel sounds; babbling, which usually starts at 6 to 9 months, adds consonants, as in "ba-ba".