At what age do babies typically start cooing?

Babies typically start cooing between the ages of 3 weeks to 2 months. During this developmental stage, infants begin to produce soft vowel sounds, which are often characterized by a series of "oo" and "ah" sounds. This marks an important milestone in their communication development, as it signifies the beginning of vocal expression beyond crying.

The age range of 3 weeks to 2 months is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it is a time when infants are developing better control over their vocal cords and are experimenting with different sounds. Secondly, cooing serves as a precursor to more complex forms of vocalization, laying the foundation for language development. The interaction that occurs during this cooing stage can promote bonding between infants and caregivers, as caregivers often respond to these sounds, encouraging further vocal practice and communication.

This developmental phase is generally not observed as early as 1 to 2 weeks, when infants are still adjusting to their new environment and primarily communicate through crying. The other age ranges, such as 3-6 months or 6-9 months, correspond to stages of vocalization where babies typically start babbling and using consonant sounds but don’t mark the initial onset of cooing like the earlier period