Baby Not Making Vowel Sounds
The short answer
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.
By Age
What to expect by age
In the first two months, babies communicate mainly through crying and reflexive sounds like grunts, squeaks, and sighs. Cooing and vowel sounds haven't started yet, and that's completely normal. Your newborn is taking in the world and learning the rhythm of your voice. Talking and singing to your baby now lays the groundwork for their first vowel sounds.
This is when most babies begin cooing - making open, rounded vowel sounds like "ooo," "aaa," and "eee." These sounds often emerge during face-to-face interaction and are your baby's first attempts at "conversation." If your baby is 3-4 months old and making some sounds (even if they're not classic coos), they're likely on track. Some babies coo quietly or only in certain settings.
By 4 to 6 months, cooing should be well established and your baby may be adding new sounds - squealing, growling, blowing raspberries. If your baby still isn't making any vowel-like sounds by 4-5 months, talk to your pediatrician. A hearing screening is a good first step, since babies need to hear sounds to learn to produce them.
After 6 months, babies should be moving from cooing into babbling - adding consonant sounds to their vowels ("bababa," "mamama"). If your baby is over 6 months and still isn't making vowel sounds or any purposeful vocalizations, a speech and hearing evaluation is recommended. Early identification of any issues gives your baby the best start.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby is under 3 months and makes occasional sounds like grunts, squeaks, or sighs but no clear vowel sounds yet - cooing is just about to begin.
- Your baby coos sometimes but not constantly - some babies are quieter and vocalize mainly during interactive play.
- Your baby makes sounds mostly when they're content and happy, and is quiet when tired or overstimulated.
- Your baby was premature - adjust for their corrected age when tracking vocalization milestones.
- Your baby is 4 months old (corrected for prematurity) and has not made any vowel-like sounds.
- Your baby makes sounds but they're all the same monotone quality with no variation in pitch or sound type.
- Your baby seems disinterested in voices and doesn't try to "talk back" when you speak to them.
- Your baby is 6 months or older and makes no purposeful vocalizations at all - not even vowel sounds, grunts, or squeals.
- Your baby was making vowel sounds and has completely stopped vocalizing - loss of any communication skill warrants immediate evaluation.
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 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.
Baby Is Very Quiet and Not Vocalizing
Some babies are naturally quieter than others, just like some adults are more talkative than others. However, all babies should be making some sounds - cooing by 3-4 months and babbling by 7-9 months. If your baby is very quiet and rarely makes any vocal sounds, it's important to have their hearing checked and discuss their development with your pediatrician. A quiet baby isn't always a concern, but it's worth investigating.