Baby's First "Words": Understanding Pre-Language Communication Guide

Baby's First "Words": Understanding Pre-Language Communication (Coos, Babbles, and What They Mean)

Baby language development progresses through 6 stages before first words: crying (birth), cooing "oooo/aaahh" (2 months), vocal play/squealing (4 months), marginal babbling "ba/ma" (4-6 months), canonical babbling "ba-ba-ba" (6-10 months), variegated babbling/jargon (9-12 months), first words (12 months). Learn what each sound means, how to decode baby communication by age, bilingual development (Urdu+English does NOT cause delay), red flags for language delays, and Pakistan-specific guidance on screen time impact and joint family benefits.

Quick Sound Decoder: What Is Your Baby Saying?

Key insight from speech-language pathologists: Every sound your baby makes is building toward real words. According to American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): "Babbling is not just adorable—it's a big sign of progress. Your baby is practicing the skills needed for speech."

The 6 Stages of Pre-Language Communication (Birth to First Words)

Stage 1: Crying (Birth-2 Months) - Reflexive Communication

What you hear: "Waaah," "Eh," "Heh," "Eairh"

What it is: Crying is baby's FIRST communication tool, but it's NOT intentional language yet. According to developmental research: "At birth, crying is reflexive—babies cry because of physical needs, not to communicate specific messages."

What different cries mean (by 6-8 weeks, you'll recognize patterns):

• "Neh" = Hungry (tongue pushing roof of mouth triggers sucking reflex)
• "Owh" = Sleepy (yawn-like sound)
• "Heh" = Discomfort (skin irritation, wet diaper)
• "Eairh" = Lower gas pain (grunting sound)
• "Eh" = Need to burp

Developmental milestone: By 6-8 weeks, babies smile when you show up and make eye contact. This is their FIRST intentional social communication!

Stage 2: Cooing (2-5 Months) - The "Happy Sounds"

What you hear: "Oooooo," "Aaaahhh," "Guu," "Coo"

What it is: According to Great Ormond Street Hospital and Mayo Clinic: "Cooing is baby's first sound production besides crying, usually occurring between 6-8 weeks of age. These are vowel-like sounds with a pleasant 'oo' quality."

Why it happens:

• Baby is developing control of vocal cord muscles
• Learning to make sounds on purpose (not just crying)
• Experimenting with tongue and lip positions

What baby is "saying": "I'm happy! I'm comfortable! I love you! Pay attention to me!"

How to respond: According to speech therapists: "When your baby makes a sound, look at them, smile, and respond back. If they coo, coo back! This back-and-forth 'conversation' teaches turn-taking, a key part of language development."

Stage 3: Vocal Play (4-8 Months) - Experimenting With Voice

What you hear: Squeals, shouts, raspberry blowing (spit bubbles), growls, high-pitched screams

What it is: According to Baby College research: "Think of this as advanced cooing. Babies experiment with their vocal cords, practicing the rhythm and sounds of language. This phase often includes prolonged raspberry blowing and exuberant shouts—even at the most inappropriate moments!"

Why it's important:

• Builds motor skills for tongue, lips, jaw coordination
• Practices breathing control needed for speech
• Explores pitch, volume, and rhythm

What baby is "saying": "Look what I can do! I'm testing my voice! This is fun!"

Your reaction: Yes, loud squealing in the grocery store is embarrassing. But according to speech pathologists: "While it may seem like mere play, vocal exploration lays the foundation for the motor skills required for language development." Let them experiment!

Stage 4: Marginal Babbling (4-6 Months) - First Consonants Appear

What you hear: "Ba," "Ma," "Ummm," "Paaa," "Ga"

What it is: According to speech research: "Marginal babbling (also called pre-canonical vocalization) is when infants put together consonant-vowel or vowel-consonant sound combinations like 'baa,' 'maaa,' or 'uuum.'"

Key milestone: This is baby's FIRST use of consonant sounds! Before this, they only made vowel sounds ("oooo," "aaah"). Now they're adding "b," "m," "p," "d" sounds.

Why "mama" and "dada" come first:

• Sounds "m," "b," "p," "d," "t" are easiest for baby mouth muscles to make
• "Ma-ma" and "Da-da" are just repetitive practice of easy consonants
• NOT saying your name yet—just experimenting with sounds!

What baby is "saying": "I'm learning how to move my lips and tongue! These sounds are easier than others!"

Stage 5: Canonical Babbling (6-10 Months) - The "Real Babbling" Stage

What you hear: "Ba-ba-ba-ba," "Ma-ma-ma," "Da-da-da," "Ga-ga-ga"

What it is: According to ASHA and Pathways.org: "Canonical babbling is when baby repeats the same syllable over and over. This is also called 'reduplicated babbling.' It usually spans 6-10 months of age."

Why babies do this:

• Practicing the motor plan for speech sounds
• Strengthening mouth muscles
• Learning breath control for sustained sounds
• Discovering they can control their voice

Are they saying "Mama" yet? According to speech pathologists: "While it may sound like your baby is saying words like 'mama' or 'dada,' they are most likely just practicing at this stage. You'll know it's a 'real word' when they say it consistently in a meaningful context."

Example of NOT a real word yet:

• Baby says "ma-ma-ma" while playing with toys → Just babbling practice
• Baby says "ma-ma-ma" when hungry → Still practice

Example of a REAL first word:

• Every time mama walks in room, baby looks at her and says "mama" → TRUE WORD!
• Baby reaches for mama and says "mama" → TRUE WORD!

What baby is "saying": "I'm building muscle memory for speech! I love repeating sounds because it helps me practice!"

Stage 6: Variegated Babbling / Jargon (9-18 Months) - "Talking" Without Words

What you hear: "Ba-dee-boo," "Ma-ga-ga," "Da-bee-bah," sounds like baby is having a full conversation but you can't understand any words

What it is: According to BabbleBites: "Jargon is similar to variegated babbling, using a combination of consonant and vowel sounds in strings, with the addition of rhythm that sounds like your baby is talking (kind of like the language used by the Sims!)"

Key features:

• Different syllables strung together (not repeating same one)
• Sounds like real language with pauses, emphasis, question tones
• Baby uses gestures while "talking" (pointing, waving)
• Changes tone like asking questions or making statements

What baby is "saying": "I'm SO close to real words! I'm practicing the rhythm and melody of language! I'm telling you something important!"

How to respond: According to speech therapists: "Act as if they really are participating in a conversation with you! Try silly conversation phrases like, 'Really? They told you that?!' or 'Wow that sounds like so much fun!' or 'Oh my goodness, tell me more!'"

Stage 7: First True Words (10-15 Months) - The Milestone!

What you hear: "Mama," "Dada," "Ball," "No," "Hi," "Uh-oh," "Wawa" (water), "Doggy"

What counts as a first word: According to speech-language pathologists, a true first word must be:

1. Used independently (not right after someone else said it)
2. Used intentionally (in the correct context to communicate something)
3. Used consistently (more than just once or twice)

Examples that COUNT as first words:

• Word approximations: "Wawa" for water, "Baba" for bottle
• Environmental sounds: "Moo," "Woof," "Beep"
• Exclamations: "Wow," "Uh-oh," "Yay"
• Sign language: Sign for "more" or "all done"
• Names: "Mama," "Dada," pet's name

How many words by 12 months: According to ASHA and AAP: "By their first birthday, many babies begin saying their first word, and maybe one or two more." Range: 0-6 words at 12 months is normal.

How many words by 18 months: 50 words is considered within normal range.

Bilingual Babies (Urdu + English): Does Speaking Two Languages Delay First Words?

Common concern in Pakistan: "Mera beta abhi tak nahi bolta, shayad hum ghar mein Urdu aur English mix kar rahe hain." ("My son isn't speaking yet, maybe we're confusing him by mixing Urdu and English at home.")

Scientific truth:

NO. Bilingualism does NOT cause speech delays.
According to American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): "Bilingualism does not cause communication disorder, and prescribing monolingualism will not cure it."

Research evidence:

• Bilingual children hit the SAME speech milestones as monolingual children
• 5-10% of bilingual children have language delays—SAME as monolingual children (5-10%)
• Combined vocabulary across both languages = on track or AHEAD of monolingual peers
• Children are born ready to learn 1, 2, or 3+ languages without confusion

How to count words in bilingual babies:

According to speech-language pathologist Kristina Doyle:

• If 18-month-old says 25 words in English + 25 words in Urdu = 50 total words (NORMAL!)
• If baby knows "ball" in English AND "gend" in Urdu = counts as 2 words
• However, if baby says only 15 words in each language (30 total) = speech delay (needs evaluation)

Code-Mixing / Code-Switching: Is It Normal?

What you notice: Baby says "Mama, pani chahiye" or "Dada, where is ball?"—mixing Urdu and English in same sentence.

Is this a problem? According to bilingual speech research: "Code-mixing is completely NORMAL! It's a natural form of communication used by many bilingual speakers. This is a language SKILL, not a language weakness."

Why babies code-mix:

• They know one word is easier to say in Urdu, another in English
• They're using whichever word comes to mind first
• They've heard YOU code-switch (most Pakistani adults mix Urdu-English naturally)

What to do: Nothing! This is normal development. As they get older and vocabulary expands, they'll naturally learn to distinguish when to use each language.

Red Flags: When to Worry About Language Delays

According to ASHA, AAP, and speech-language pathologists, consult your pediatrician if:

Early intervention is key: According to research: "Early intervention is proven to have better outcomes than the outdated 'wait and see' approach. If you have concerns, get it checked out."

5 Ways to Encourage Language Development (Evidence-Based)

1. Talk About Everything (Narration Technique)

What to do: Describe what you're doing during daily routines.

Example: "Mama is cooking dinner! I'm chopping the tomatoes. Red tomatoes! Now I'm putting them in the pot. Hot pot! Be careful!"

Why it works: Babies learn words by hearing them hundreds of times in context. According to speech therapists: "Everyday routines like mealtime, bath time, getting dressed, and playtime are all great opportunities for teaching vocabulary."

2. Read Books Together Daily

When to start: From birth! Babies benefit from hearing language even as newborns.

How to read:

• Point to pictures and name them
• Use different voices for characters
• Let baby touch/chew board books
• Read same books repeatedly (repetition helps learning)
• Read in BOTH Urdu and English if bilingual

3. Respond to ALL Baby Sounds (Even Nonsense)

Baby makes sound → You respond immediately

Example:
Baby: "Ba-ba-ba"
You: "Ba-ba-ba! Yes! You're telling me a story!"

Why it works: Shows baby their sounds have power. Teaches turn-taking. Motivates more communication attempts.

4. Sing Songs and Nursery Rhymes

Songs to try:

• English: "Twinkle Twinkle," "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
• Urdu: "Machli Jal Ki Rani Hai," "Nani Teri Morni," "Lakdi Ki Kathi"

Why it works: Rhythm and repetition help language learning. Babies LOVE music. Builds memory for words.

5. Reduce Screen Time (Critical for Language Development)

AAP recommendation: NO screen time under 18 months (except video chatting with family)

Why screens hurt language development:

• Babies learn language from LIVE interaction, not screens
• TV/tablets don't respond to baby's attempts to communicate
• Replaces time for face-to-face conversation
• Research shows: more screen time = fewer words spoken at age 2

Pakistan-specific concern: Many Pakistani families use TV/phones as "babysitters" during busy times. While understandable, this significantly impacts language development.

Better alternatives:

• Let baby play independently with toys while you cook (narrate what you're doing)
• Involve older siblings in talking/playing with baby
• Use joint family to advantage—more adults = more language exposure!

Pakistan Advantage: Joint Family System Boosts Language Development

Research shows: More caregivers = MORE language exposure = BETTER language development

Benefits of joint family for baby's language:

• Multiple language models: Baby hears different voices, tones, vocabulary from dadi, dado, khala, mamu, etc.
• More conversation opportunities: Someone always available to talk to baby
• Rich language environment: Overhearing adult conversations builds vocabulary
• Bilingual advantage: Exposure to Urdu from elders, English from parents = natural bilingual development

How to maximize this advantage:

1. Encourage ALL family members to talk directly to baby (not just around them)
2. Ask elders to sing traditional Urdu songs/poems
3. Let baby participate in family gatherings (overhearing = learning)
4. Remind family: respond when baby babbles, don't ignore their sounds

The Bottom Line: Every Sound Is Progress Toward First Words

According to BabbleBites and speech-language pathologists: "From cooing to babbling to those magical first words, each stage is a building block for language. Celebrate every sound your baby makes—it's all part of their incredible journey toward talking!"

Key takeaways:

• 6 stages before first words: Crying → Cooing (2mo) → Vocal play (4mo) → Marginal babbling (4-6mo) → Canonical babbling (6-10mo) → Variegated babbling/jargon (9-12mo) → First words (10-15mo)
• What sounds mean: Cooing = happiness, babbling = muscle practice, jargon = almost talking
• Bilingual is BENEFICIAL: Urdu + English does NOT cause delays, actually provides cognitive advantages
• Code-mixing is normal: Mixing languages in same sentence = language skill, not confusion
• Red flags: No babbling by 6 months, no gestures by 9 months, no words by 15 months → see doctor
• How to help: Talk constantly, read books, respond to all sounds, sing songs, reduce screens
• Pakistan advantage: Joint family = more language exposure = better development!

For Pakistani parents:

• ✅ Speak BOTH Urdu and English at home—this is beneficial, not harmful
• ✅ Let elders speak to baby in Urdu—builds bilingual skills
• ✅ Respond to baby's babbles in whichever language feels natural
• ❌ Don't force "only English" thinking it will speed up speech (it won't—may actually hurt cultural connection)
• ✅ Reduce screen time—talk to baby instead of giving phone/tablet
• ✅ Use joint family advantage—more people talking = more language learning

Remember: Every baby develops at their own pace. Some start babbling at 4 months, others at 7 months. Some say first words at 10 months, others at 15 months. ALL of this is normal! The key is PROGRESS, not speed. As long as baby is moving through the stages and adding new sounds, they're on track. 💛

Final encouragement: Your baby is communicating with you RIGHT NOW through coos, babbles, and gestures. Celebrate these "pre-words"—they're the foundation for a lifetime of conversation. Talk back, sing, read, and enjoy this magical stage of development! 🗣️