When Should A Baby Start Talking?

Last Updated on June 2, 2022 by babygatesplus.com

If you are wondering when a baby should start talking, you need to read this because, at the end of this article, you will have the answer to that. Babies don’t just wake up and start talking. Language development is a process that starts way from crying.

Crying is a way of communication; babies will only cry since they cannot express themselves with words. Babies usually start to communicate way before they start speaking. The cues, the smiles, and the eye gaze are all forms of communication for the baby.

It is usually the joy of a mother when their baby says their first word. But before they can speak their first word, they normally gather information. If you are questioning when babies should start talking, there is no specified period when babies talk.

Some talk way much earlier while others delay in saying their first word. At least by the time they reach their first birthday, most babies normally say their first word. Parents should be reminded that they play a very big role in child language development.

Therefore talking to babies often, paying attention to their cues and looking at them directly when communicating helps in language development. Your baby starts talking when you start talking to them. They gather the information slowly until they can speak their first word one day. 

Kids learn by listening to your conversations and they later start imitating simple short phrases. Talking milestone involves several processes and stages.

You will hear a mother asking when she should baby start talking because there are all eager to hear their child alter that first word. The truth is, for a baby to start talking, they have to pass through these stages.

Crying

When a baby is very young, between one to two months, all they can do is cry and produce vowel-like sounds. That is the only way they can express themselves. However, with time, the vocal mechanism of the baby matures and by the time they are 2 to 3 months, they move to goos and coos.

Babbling

Babbling starts at the age of four months. By simply putting their lips together, babies can produce sounds such as “m” “b”, and “p”. At this age, you will hear lots of “Buuuuh” “Puuuuh, “Muuuh”. Research shows that the number of words spoken to a baby positively affects their language development. Therefore, it is advisable to start talking, singing and reading books to your baby right from their early stages. 

There are many things parents can do to their kids to get them to talk and help in their language development. These include;

Speaking to babies from day one

Babies learn by observing and listening. Before they can speak with words, keep speaking to them at their young months. They will slowly gather information until they can speak their first word.

Engage your baby in a conversation

Engaging your baby in a conversation by talking to them, pausing and allowing them to process the information, and giving them a chance to reply is a great way to help your baby’s speech development. That pausing while communicating with your baby helps develop language skills.

Have a Conversation in front of the baby

Parents should have regular conversations in front of the baby, especially when awake. During dinner time, don’t just watch the television. Instead, engage in regular conversations with your partner. This is because babies learn by listening and they will later imitate simple words they hear you say.

Use different tones and syllable

It is good to use different tones and syllables when taking so that the baby will learn new sounds and try to imitate them.

Explain your babies babble to them

If your baby is babbling and looking around, you might try to explain theirs babbles to them. For example, are you looking for your toy, or do you want your milk bottle?

Try to communicate with your baby as much as possible to help them achieve their talking milestone easily.

Bigger Variety of Sounds

After babbling, the next stage your baby will proceed to is making a bigger variety of sounds. This is normally when they are 6 to 7 months old. The babbling becomes more like a speech; below 8 months, kids won’t say anything intelligent. Kids can respond with a smile, coo or babble at this age. Try to engage them and answer them back. At this stage, you will note changes in the tone of your baby’s voice if you pay close attention and listen carefully.

When Do Babies Start Talking?

Towards the end of their first years, babies will be making long strings of babble with short syllables mimicking the intonation and rhythm of the adults. Normally, this is a precursor period for the baby to speak their first words. So, right at your child’s first birthday or the period around that time, your baby will say their first word. Nothing beats the joy of a mother, like hearing their child say their first word.

Even after your child speaks their first word, language development continues. Sometimes, it might be frustrating when the right pronunciation and articulation have not caught up to your child. And you will be there trying to figure out what your kid wants to say.

By the time your kid is two years old, they should be able to answer simple questions, give directions and identify things they see on sight.

However, no matter how parents try to engage their children in talks, some children still experience speech delays. Speech delays can be caused by factors such as too much screen time and physical challenges such as poor hearing, tongue tie, and cleft lip.

Parents should seek help if they detect any problems with their kids that might delay their speech. Also, children should not be exposed to too much screen time. Instead, they should be exposed to more dialogue.