Baby babble is one of the cutest things that your baby will do, but did you know that baby babble is important for speech development?
That’s right, babble is actually a really important indicator and milestone for speech. Encouraging your baby to babble is so important, and honestly really easy.
In this blog, we are going to explore how to help baby babble!
Is it normal that my 6, 7, or 8 month old is not babbling?
If your baby is not babbling by 6,7 or 8 months you may start to be concerned. Babies are all different, so just like other milestones babbling can happen at relatively different times.
It can be normal for babies not to babble much or at all around 6 or 7 months, but if they are not babbling by 8 months you may want to consult your pediatrician.
However, I wouldn’t panic! There are several reasons why your baby might not be babbling yet and ways to encourage them.
What is considered delayed babbling?
Delayed babbling is when your 8 month old is not babbling. Delayed babbling can be a sign that something is going on with your baby’s speech and something to be mindful of.
Why is my baby not babbling?
Your baby could be delayed in babbling for a few reasons. Here are a few:
Too Young: One reason could be that they are too young. Babies typically don’t start babbling until 4-6 months of age.
Hearing Impairment: Another reason could be due to hearing impairment. If a baby cannot adequately hear, they will not be able to mimic sounds.
Sometimes it can be as simple as congested ears or frequent ear infections. If you are concerned, consult your pediatrician.
Not Getting Spoken to Enough: If your baby is not being spoken to regularly, they can be delayed in babbling because they don’t have sounds to mimic.
When do babies typically start babbling?
Babies typically start babbling between 4- 6 months of age. During this age, they will start trying to mimic sounds they hear, vowel and consonant sounds.
A precursor to babbling is cooing which often happens around 1-2 months.
Why do Babies Babble?
Babies babble as a way to imitate and communicate. Babies inherently copy the sounds they hear and the people around them as a learning mechanism.
Babies hear others talking to them, so they want to try and talk back. Babbling is also a byproduct of babies learning about their own bodies and abilities.
How does Babbling Develop?
Babbling develops from cooing that happens anywhere from 2-4 months of age. Using the noises, voices, and sounds around them that they recognize.
Babies that are exposed to more sounds and language typically develop babbling more quickly, which in turn relates to speaking at a younger age.
Canonical Babble
During the developmental stage spanning approximately four to six months, infants initiate the production of sequences of syllabic utterances by integrating consonant and vowel sounds.
This developmental milestone is commonly referred to as canonical babbling, characterized by a variety of linguistic patterns.
These patterns may encompass reduplication (such as “dada” or “baba”), extended repetitions (like “mamama” or “dadadada”), or the weaving together of different syllables (such as “ma,” “di,” and “ba”).
Jargon Stage
Between the age of ten and 12 months, infants utilize babbling as a means to express their emotions. Through babbling, babies engage in communication with their surroundings, gradually shaping their babbling into a preliminary form of verbal conversation.
This developmental phase is commonly referred to as the jargon stage of babbling. The babbling of syllables within this stage bears a resemblance to the native language of the baby.
Furthermore, it may incorporate intonations and rhythmic patterns akin to those found in the speech of their parents, although it may not contain distinct words as such.
This stage remains in a constant state of evolution until around 12 months of age when infants typically produce their first recognizable word. Notably, these initial intelligible words often bear resemblance to the sounds frequently babbled by the baby.
Why are babbling and cooing important?
Babbling and cooing are important because they demonstrate your baby’s ability to hear sounds and mimic them. Babbling and cooing also show that your baby is capable of trying to communicate verbally.
All in all, babbling and cooing indicate that your baby is hearing (receptive) and communicating (expressive).
How to Help Your Baby Babble
Even if your baby is babbling, it is important to encourage and help your baby babble. But how do you know what to do or what is really going to help your baby to babble?
I have gathered up some of my favorite ideas to help your baby babble, and can’t wait to share!
Spend time Face-to-Face
Spending time face to face allows your baby to watch your mouth and facial expression. So much learning is done through imitation.
Allowing your baby to watch your face directly can greatly benefit their speech development and encourage babbling in 6,7 and 8 month olds.
Babble to them
I know that people say to use real language when speaking to babies, but if you babble to them it may make it easier for them to mimic you.
And no, you don’t want to do this forever. However, you might need to meet them where they are and babble to them even if it feels silly.
Make Fun Noises
Noises like kissing sounds, blowing raspberries, smacking your lips, etc are great ways to encourage your 6,7 or 8 month old to babble.
These noises are going to get them giggling, but are also easy for them to mimic. When they start to mimic those noises they will likely pick up on mimicking other noises and begin to babble.
Respond to their Noises
By responding to their noises they learn to reciprocate and mimic your noises. Responding to your baby’s noises encourages their babbling.
Narrate Your Life
Talk about everything! What you are doing, the noises outside, the color of different things.
When I do this, I like to be a bit animated. Babies love this because it is entertaining and they will often try to do the same.
Make Plenty of Eye Contact
Eye contact is important when encouraging babble. Engaging in eye contact helps to keep your little one looking and observing you and what you are doing.
Ask Questions
Ask questions and give choices, even if you know that they are not going to give you a “real” response. Questions give them a place to respond and engage in conversation.
Asking questions gives the option for response and making choices.
Point out Sounds
Pointing out sounds is a great way to encourage babbling. Talking about a cow meowing or dog barking is a great way to get your baby excited and help them to start babbling.
I think when my youngest started babbling the most when he was imitating a dog barking!
Name Everything
I remember the crazy looks that people would give me as I was walking through the store just talking to my babies like they were having an active conversation.
Even though I looked crazy doing this drastically helped my babies to start talking and have expansive vocabularies.
You can just narrate what you are doing, what other people/animals are doing, noises you hear, etc. The more they hear you talk, the better off they will be!
Fun Activities to Encourage Baby Babbling
Fun activities are a great way to encourage baby babbling. Helping your baby to babble should be fun and light-hearted.
These activities are perfect for encouraging babbling in babies around 6,7 and 8 months of age that need help babbling.
Here are my favorite activities to help your baby babble!
Blowing Bubbles
Kids love bubbles, and that’s no secret. Blowing bubbles gets them excited and curious.
Blowing bubbles is a great way to describe different things to your baby and encourage babbling.
Peek a Boo
All of my littles deeply loved peek-a-boo. Peek-a-boo is an engaging game for babies, and as they are curious about where you went and where you will come from next they might start babbling!
You can count on peek-a-boo to give them a good belly laugh!
Bath Time
Bath time is a fun place to encourage your 6,7 and 8-month-olds to babble. Kiddos love water and it is exciting to them which aids in babbling!
Tickles
Tickling is a great way to help your baby babble. Tickling is a fun game for little ones to play and you can even encourage them to tickle you back!
Use Puppets
Puppets are a great way to get babies babbling. Puppets are engaging to children and get them excited.
Use the puppets to engage with your baby and use them to help your 6,7 or 8 month old babble.
Pretend to Call
Ring, ring, ring, is baby there? I loved playing this game with my little ones.
You can use objects that look like phones, or even baby’s feet! That will get them giggling
Discovery Baskets
Discovery baskets are a great way for kids to learn about new objects. Discovery baskets can contain anything from spatulas and ladles to letter magnets and baby toys.
Sing Songs
Singing exposes children to new rhythms and words that they may not normally be exposed to. Music is a multi-sensory experience that engages cognitive functions like memory and planning.
Point to Body Parts
Pointing to body parts and talking about them is a great way to get your baby babbling and learning at the same time.
Read
Reading is an amazing way to expose babies to new words, tones, and information. Every time I read to my babies we discuss the pictures and talk about them.
Reading teaches children about language which is invaluable. Here are some books that I love for babies:
Mimic their Sounds
Mimicking your baby’s sounds is a great way to encourage babbling. This teaches them that they can copy sounds, and what that is like.
Do Baby Talk
Baby talk is sometimes not recommended, however, I found it helpful with my kids. I did a silly high-pitched mom voice and they loved it!
I wouldn’t recommend doing baby talk for a long period of time because it can inhibit speech development; however, it can get them excited and encourage babbling short term!
Mirror Time
One of my favorite things to do with 6,7 and 8-month-olds is to put them in front of a mirror. They will be so curious about the baby in the mirror and even attempt to talk to them!
Talk to them During a Diaper Change
Chatting with your baby during a diaper change is a great way to encourage babble. You can sing, recite a poem, just chit chat, really anything!
Say Your Name
Say mama or dada and point to your mouth when saying your name. This allows the baby to see how you are forming the word and makes it easier for them to mimic when babbling.
This Little Piggie
You know the nursery rhyme! It is a childhood favorite is sure to get your baby giggling and babbling.
Eenie Meenie Miney Moe
This nursery rhyme is another childhood favorite and is so much fun for little ones learning to babble.
Play with a Ball
Playing with a ball is a great way to get your baby babbling. You can encourage them to say roll or ball.
Words like roll and ball are easy for babies to mimic and babble.
Go Outside
The great outdoors has so many sights and sounds for you to narrate to your baby. Birds chirping, cars zooming, kids playing, there is so much to hear, do and see!
Build, Then Knock Down
Building towers and knocking them down is a great way to encourage babbling in babies that are struggling. All of my babies loved helping to build with blocks and then knocking down the tower.
When you go to knock down the tower say “BOOOOOOOOOM”! Your baby will likely love that funny noise and try to imitate it!
Sensory Activities
Sensory activities are an amazing outlet for babies to do in general but especially if your 6,7 or 8 month old is not babbling yet.
Stimulating their senses can help them try to vocalize what is going on. These are some fun sensory activities to try:
- Sensory Activities for 6-12 Month Olds
- Top 10 Sensory Activities for Babies
- 60 Amazing Activities for Babies
Try Food
Around 6,7 and 8 months of age food is safe for your baby to eat. Food can be a great source of babble inspiration.
When giving food to your baby you can ask them different questions and open up the opportunity for response.
Do a Light Show
Use a flashlight or a box and Christmas lights, and do a light show for your little one. The light show will captivate your 6, 7, or 8 month old and hopefully take them from not babbling to being a babbling machine.
Go to the Grocery Store
Going to the grocery store provides lots of opportunities for sounds and sights that baby might be interested in mimicking. There are also lots of things for you to narrate and vocalize to baby.
Use Squeaker Toys
Squeaker toys are funny and silly. Babies might try to imitate they noise or ask to see the toys in baby babble language.
Water Table
A water table is a great way to encourage and help your baby start to babble. Babies love water; splashing and playing with toys is a fun way to encourage your baby to start babbling
When Should You Speak to a Pediatrician?
I would recommend talking to your pediatrician if your baby is not babbling by 8 months old. Early intervention is key when it comes to speech development.
Oftentimes, there could be something that has to do with hearing loss or another medical condition. If evaluated and addressed early, your child has a better chance of catching up to their peers.
What NOT to Worry About When Your 6, 7, or 8 Month Old is Not Babbling
In terms of babbling, there are some things that you shouldn’t worry about. Here are a few examples of what not to worry about when your 6,7, or 8 month old is not babbling:
- Using the wrong words
- Proper English
- Nonsense talk
Remember that baby babbles are the building blocks for language. Helping your baby babble is far more important starting out than what they are babbling.
Babbling is the building block for language. If your baby is not babbling by 6,7, or 8 months don’t panic!
There are lots of ways to encourage your baby to babble, many of which we discussed above. If you have any that I missed and would like to add let me know in the comments below!
Happy babbling!
