Decoding Baby Talk

Learning more about language and social development during a baby’s first year can help new parents better decipher their baby’s cries and other social cues.

During your baby’s first year, you’ll notice rapid changes in social and emotional development.

Here are some milestones you might notice.

Birth to 3 Months: When you first bring your newborn baby home from the hospital, she will cry to communicate hunger, fatigue, pain or a wet diaper, but your baby may also cry when she wants to be held, is overtired or feels overstimulated by her environment. The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning at Vanderbilt University says you’ll learn to distinguish her cries over time, based on pitch and length.

3 to 6 Months: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), by the time your baby is three months old, she’ll begin smiling, recognizing the voices of loved ones and become more expressive during play. At this stage, babies babble, coo and produce single-syllable sounds like “da,” “ma” or “ba.” Between six and seven months, your baby might respond to hearing her name or try to communicate their emotions through tone. Talking to your baby when she babbles is a good way to encourage her.

6 to 9 Months: By the nine-month mark, babies understand basic terms like “no” or saying goodbye. They might also start saying their first words, repeat words and sounds their parents say or communicate through gestures— like pointing at what they want or raising their arms when they want to be picked up. Pointing out items or people your baby is surrounded by, and explaining the names of those items, can help her learn.

9 to 12 months: Around your baby’s first birthday, she will know simple terms like “dada,” “mama,” “up” or “uh-oh.” Experts also say 12-month-olds know simple commands such as “come here” or “don’t touch” in addition to common items like their bottles or shoes. Reading to your baby will help her build her vocabulary.

Many parents begin preparing themselves to hear their baby’s precious first words as the first year comes to a close, but it’s important to remember that all children develop at their own pace. If your baby hasn’t spoken his first word by his birthday, you shouldn’t be concerned as long as he’s making progress toward speaking, which the AAP defines as experimenting with sounds that vary in pitch, intensity and quality.

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