Newborn Language Milestones: Weeks 1-2

It’s a common misconception that newborns are limited in their abilities, but right from the moment they enter this world, they are busy communicating, exploring, and even crawling. As a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP), I want to shed light on the newborn language milestones that play a pivotal role in shaping expressive and receptive language skills.

From birth, babies are masters of communication, which is fundamental for their survival. They express their needs, whether it’s hunger, cold, loneliness, or the need for a diaper change, through their vocalizations (cries, coos) and subtle gestures. Equally important is their ability to keenly observe and respond to sounds and cues from their caregivers. This intricate dance of communication forms the basis of what we call pre-linguistic skills, which are the essential building blocks for language development.

Vocalizing

Every coo and cry are seemingly simple sounds that carry immense weight in a newborn’s communication development and strengthen the bond between a baby and caregiver. Believe it or not, those coos and cries are early forms of expressive language. Newborns’ coos and cries have subtle variations in pitch, length, and volume – which is their special code for conveying their wants and needs- such as snuggles, feeding, temperature, or a fresh diaper.

In these early days, many of these sounds are reflexive, occurring during both deep sleep and periods of wakefulness. While I, as an SLP, find these noises endearing, some parents might find them perplexing, even worrying. It’s crucial to recognize that this stage is a natural part of your baby’s development. As your infant grows, their noise-making will transform into purposeful and controlled vocal play. These evolving sounds mark the beginning of your little one’s journey into intentional communication. For now, embrace this adorable symphony of newborn sounds.

How to Encourage and Support:

1. Respond to baby’s cues (during wakefulness): Pay attention to the variation in cries and try to decipher what your baby is communicating. Respond to their cues to meet their wants and needs.
2. Engaging Chats: Keep the conversations flowing! Interact with your baby during daily activities, using short phrases with varying inflections, volume, and speech rates. When your baby makes their own sounds, mirror them, nurturing their budding communication skills.

Responding to Sounds

Newborns spend a considerable amount of time dozing, but their little minds are far from idle, especially in terms of auditory exploration. It’s incredible to think that the ability to hear begins in utero. Even before birth, they are tuning in and distinguishing familiar voices from the ambient noise around them. After birth, sounds are suddenly clear and crisp, no longer muffled by the protective cocoon of the womb. This newfound clarity, however, comes with surprises, especially in the form of startling reactions to loud noises, known as the startle reflex. It’s not uncommon for a loud sound to jolt a sleeping baby into a crying fit, but here’s the comforting truth: this is entirely normal development.

Another fascinating milestone in a baby’s auditory journey is their growing ability to locate and focus on sounds. Watch in amazement as a baby’s head turns toward familiar voices or other captivating sounds. Believe it or not, this is the beginning of conversational turn-taking.

How to Encourage and Support

1. Surround baby with Gentle Sounds: Introduce the little one to various sounds in their environment. Melodies, conversation, and whispers stimulate their curiosity and encourage vocalizations. Sing songs during activities such as diaper changing and bath time to start to build a routine.
2. Engaging Chats: Initiate one-on-one conversations with your little one. Your voice not only calms them but also encourages them to respond and interact.

In these early weeks, your baby is developing important skills that will build communication. Stay tuned for more newborn language milestones.