Baby Not Cooing
The short answer
Cooing - those soft "ooh" and "aah" vowel sounds - typically begins between 6 and 8 weeks of age and becomes more frequent by 2-3 months. Some babies start a bit later, especially if they were born prematurely. If your baby is socially engaged, making eye contact, and smiling, cooing is likely just around the corner.
By Age
What to expect by age
During the first 6 weeks, crying is your baby's primary form of communication, and that's completely expected. Some babies begin making soft vowel-like sounds toward the end of this period, but most haven't started cooing yet. Focus on responding to your baby's cries - this back-and-forth teaches them that communication gets a response.
This is when cooing typically emerges. Your baby may start with quiet "ooh" or "aah" sounds, often during calm, alert moments - especially during face-to-face interaction with you. Premature babies may start cooing later based on their adjusted age. Talking, singing, and responding to your baby's sounds encourages more vocalization.
By 3-4 months, most babies are cooing regularly, laughing, and beginning to experiment with a wider variety of sounds including squeals and growls. If your baby is not making any vowel sounds by 4 months (adjusted age for preemies), it's worth mentioning to your pediatrician. A hearing screen may be recommended.
Babies transition from cooing to vocal play and early babbling during this period. If your baby has never cooed or made vowel sounds by 4-5 months, your pediatrician will likely want to check hearing and may recommend a developmental evaluation. Early identification of any issues leads to the best outcomes.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby is under 8 weeks old - many babies haven't started cooing yet at this age.
- Your baby was born prematurely and you're calculating based on adjusted age - a baby born 6 weeks early may not coo until closer to 3-4 months chronological age.
- Your baby coos in some settings but not others - babies often vocalize more during calm, one-on-one interaction than in busy or stimulating environments.
- Your baby is making eye contact, smiling socially, and seems engaged even if cooing hasn't started yet.
- Your baby is 3-4 months old (adjusted age) and has never made any vowel sounds or cooing noises.
- Your baby seems unusually quiet overall - rarely cries and makes very few sounds of any kind.
- Your baby doesn't seem to react to your voice or turn toward sounds.
- Your baby does not respond to any sounds - no startling at loud noises, no turning toward voices - at any age. This suggests a possible hearing concern that needs prompt evaluation.
- Your baby was cooing and has completely stopped making sounds, especially if accompanied by decreased social engagement.
Sources
Related Resources
Related Speech Concerns
My Baby Is Losing Words or Skills
If your child was consistently using words and has truly stopped, this is something to act on promptly. Regression - the genuine loss of skills a child previously had - is different from a normal plateau or a toddler being too busy to talk, and it always warrants a conversation with your pediatrician sooner rather than later.
Baby Not Babbling
Babbling with consonant sounds like "ba," "da," and "ma" typically begins between 6 and 9 months and is an important building block for speech. Babies develop at different rates, but if your baby is not making any consonant sounds by 9 months, a hearing check is a good first step.
Baby Not Laughing at Peek-a-Boo
Most babies start showing delight during peek-a-boo between 6 and 9 months, when they develop "object permanence" - the understanding that things still exist when hidden. If your baby isn't laughing at peek-a-boo yet, consider their age and overall social engagement. Some babies prefer other games, and some show enjoyment through smiles or excited movements rather than laughter. What matters most is whether your baby is socially engaged with you overall.
Baby Not Making Vowel Sounds
Most babies begin making vowel sounds - those lovely "oooh," "aaah," and "eee" sounds - around 2 to 3 months of age. This early cooing is one of the first steps in language development. Some babies are naturally quieter than others, but if your baby isn't making any vowel sounds by 4 months, it's worth checking in with your pediatrician to make sure hearing and development are on track.
Baby Not Responding to Own Name Consistently
Most babies start recognizing and responding to their own name between 5 and 7 months, though consistent response may take until 9 months. It's common for babies to sometimes ignore their name when they're focused on something interesting - this is normal. However, if your baby rarely or never turns when you say their name by 9 months, it's worth discussing with your pediatrician to check hearing and development.
Baby Not Turning to Sounds
Babies typically begin turning toward sounds around 4 to 6 months of age. If your baby isn't consistently looking toward voices or noises by 6 months, it's worth having their hearing checked. In many cases, something as simple as fluid in the ears can temporarily affect hearing, and early identification leads to the best outcomes.