When Do Babies Start Babbling—and What Does It Sound Like?

Babbling is one of my favorite baby milestones. My middle son would carry on what seemed like full-blown conversations in baby babble—and it was adorable. But babbling is much more than baby finding their voice: It’s the stepping stones for future speech development. “Babbling lays the groundwork for first words and language,” says Alexis Divers, MS, CCC-SLP, a pediatric speech therapist and mom.

So, when do babies start babbling? And what—if anything—does baby babble mean? Ahead, experts break down everything you need to know about all that baby talk. (Plus, ridiculously cute examples of what baby babbling sounds like!)

Key Takeaways

• Baby babble is a distinct developmental stage that occurs between cooing and first words. Usually, this falls when baby’s around 4 to 7 months old.
• Baby babble is when an infant combines consonant and vowel sounds together, such as “ma,” “da” or “ba.”
• Baby babbling doesn’t mean anything specific, but it lays the foundation for baby’s first words (which typically happen around their first birthday).
• If baby isn’t babbling by 7 months, it’s a good idea to see your pediatrician.

When Do Babies Babble?

Between 6 weeks and 3 months old, baby starts cooing, or creating an extended vowel sound such as “ooh” or “aah.” When baby begins to attach consonant sounds—saying things such as “ma,” “ba” or “da”—they’ve officially entered the babbling stage. For most infants, the graduation from to babbling occurs somewhere between 4 and 7 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

“Babbling emerges when infants can combine the vowels and consonants into syllables,” explains Marianella Casasola, PhD, a professor who teaches infant cognitive development at Cornell University.

It’s important to remember that every baby’s different and develops at their own speed. Danielle T., a mom of two in New Jersey, recalls how her daughter “started to babble around 4 months.” However, her son “is 3 months now and is cooing a ton, but not yet babbling.”

What Are the Stages of Baby Babble?

There are three distinct phases of baby babble. Here’s how babbling typically evolves in infants:

• 4 to 6 months: This is when baby starts combining consonants and vowels, making sounds such as “ga” or “ba.” “During this time, they’re exploring and playing with their voices,” Divers says. “This is when you start to hear a lot of screeching [and] raspberries.”
• 7 to 10 months: During this phase, baby begins repeating the same consonant-vowel syllables (think “bababa” or “dadada”). “This type of babbling is known as canonical or reduplicative babbling,” Casasola explains.
• 10 to 12 months: Now, baby can mix different consonant-vowel syllables, like “ga-ba-do.” This is known as “non-reduplicated babbling or variegated babbling,” Casasola says. In this stage, babies “can also begin to include different intonations as they babble,” she adds—meaning their pitch can rise and fall. This phase can also produce baby’s first word approximations, such as using “ba” for “ball.”

What Does Babbling Sound Like?

Here’s an (adorable) example of baby babble.

How to Encourage Babbling

Want to encourage more baby babble? Start babbling right along with them! Experts agree that engaging in babble “conversations” with your infant is one of the best ways to promote their speech and language development. This “baby talk” means imitating their sounds, varying your pitch and waiting for a response. “Interacting with your infants and responding to their vocalizations not only promotes bonding, but also encourages infants to vocalize more—and thus, practice more,” Casasola adds. In fact, a 2017 study showed that when adults respond to baby’s babbles, it leads to them developing more complex sounds and, eventually, their first words sooner.

It’s best to keep babbling practice simple. “Babies learn language most effectively through fun, natural interactions with trusted adults in their everyday environments,” says Eva Elinskas, MS, CCC-SLP, a certified speech pathologist in Fairfield, Connecticut, and mom of three. “There’s no need for flashcards or apps—your child benefits far more from hearing you model words during activities they enjoy.” For example, if your little one loves playing with bubbles, emphasize simple words like “pop,” “open” and “more” as you play together, Elinskas suggests. “This helps build early language skills in a way that feels playful and natural,” she adds.

What Comes After Babbling?

Babbling eventually evolves into baby’s first words. This typically happens around baby’s first birthday, although—as with all milestones—there’s a range for when it might occur. “Most children begin to say their first words around 12 months of age,” Elinskas says. “By this point, they’ve usually spent several months babbling and practicing early speech sounds. This is why early words such as ‘mama,’ ‘dada’ and ‘bye’ are so common—they build on the sounds babies have already been exploring.”

There’s a difference between baby babbles that sound like words and true words, notes Divers. “Many parents get excited when their babies start babbling ‘mamama’ and ‘dadada’ because they think that it’s their child’s first word,” she says. “Unfortunately, it’s usually not. ‘Mama’ and ‘dada’ wouldn’t be considered a word until it’s said independently, intentionally, unprompted and in reference to Mom or Dad—typically at the earliest around 10 to 12 months.”

As baby develops their first words and grows their vocabulary—usually from one to two words at the 12-month mark to a handful by 18 months—babbling doesn’t go away. Instead, baby’s talking will be a combination of their first words and babble sounds. “They continue to babble as they’re learning to say their first words,” Casasola says. “They’re still learning how to articulate the sounds that make up words.”

What If Baby Isn’t Babbling?

If you’re concerned that your little one isn’t babbling, there’s no need to panic. Instead, practicing and modeling different mouth movements and sounds is a great place to start. “If a baby’s very quiet and not yet making many sounds, the first goal is to encourage more vocal play,” Elinskas suggests. “We want them experimenting with different noises, such as blowing ‘raspberries’ with their lips.”

However, if a lack of babbling continues, it warrants a conversation with your pediatrician or healthcare provider. Through hearing tests, speech evaluations and developmental screenings, they can determine the root cause of your little one’s delayed babbling—and any appropriate interventions (if necessary) to help. “If you have concerns about your child’s babbling or overall speech and language development, be sure to turn to trusted sources for guidance,” Elinskas advises. “These professionals can provide accurate information and help determine whether further support is needed.”

What’s considered delayed babbling?

If baby isn’t babbling or making other sounds by 7 months, this is considered delayed babbling, according to the AAP. And while parents should never hesitate to bring up concerns about their little one’s speech and language with their pediatrician, it’s also important to remember that infants all develop at their own pace. “Some infants may display behaviors sooner and others later,” reiterates Casasola. “There’s always a range of ages for typically developing infants.”

To Sum It Up

Baby babble isn’t just cute—it’s a critical step in your little one’s speech and language development. Those consonant-vowel combinations, which typically emerge between 4 and 7 months, let their voices practice making sounds and lay the foundation for their first words and future talking. And while those initial babbles don’t have any meaning, they’re still important: Over time, those ramblings of “mamama” will turn into your baby addressing you as “mama” (cue your heart melting!). Be sure to engage in “conversations” with baby to encourage continued babbling—and consult your pediatrician with any concerns.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.