When Do Babies Start Babbling?

Try some baby talk

Tulloch knows this one might feel silly—but baby talk, also known as "parentese"—is proven to speed up language development. "Parentese refers to that voice people tend to use when they speak to babies—rising tones, elongated vowels, exaggerated facial expressions," says Tulloch.

Research from 2021 suggests baby talk helps infants develop words—disproving the idea that "baby talk" delays language.1 But there's a caveat: “The most important thing is to use proper grammar and say the words properly. There are different types of baby-talk," says Dwyer. "There's the exaggerated, high-pitch speaking style, and then there's not saying the words correctly."

In other words, "Do you want a snaaaaack?" "Do you want to play with a baaaaaall" are helpful uses of parentese. "Do you want a snacky-snack and to play with the bally-ball?" are not.

Make music

You don't need to be Taylor Swift to have a sing-along with your baby. "Singing songs and reciting rhymes with your baby can be a fun and engaging way to promote babbling," says Fagundo. "Choose simple and repetitive songs and rhymes that your baby can learn and remember, and encourage them to join in by babbling along with you."

Narrate your life

You've probably heard that reading to your baby is a good idea—and it is. But you can also narrate your daily activities as a way to expose them to even more language. "For example, while changing a diaper, you can say, 'I'm going to lift your legs up now' or 'Now we're going to put on a clean diaper,'" says Fagundo.

When To Worry About Baby Babble

Milestones can be nerve-wracking for parents, especially if their child is on the later end of what's typical or not hitting them. On the other hand, there's also the idea that "all babies develop differently." True, but when is "differently" cause for concern?

"We really preach knowing what the communication milestones are and knowing the different age ranges," says Dwyer. "As long as your child is falling within the age range, that's OK. If they surpass that—say they are 10 months old and not babbling—that is a point when you want to talk to your child's pediatrician. It's always better to be proactive than reactive. It can't hurt to just get a second opinion."