03/26/2026
I don’t know who needs to hear this right now, but…
Grunting.
Shrieking.
Squealing.
Whining.
Full-volume pterodactyl noises.
They are all part of normal communication development.
And here’s the important part:
You don’t need to “fix” the noise.
You need to respond to the message.
Before babies have words, they communicate with sound, facial expressions, and body movement. Research on early speech and language development shows that these vocalizations are practice — they’re building breath control, coordinating their voice and their articulators (e.g., tongue, jaw), and creating the neural pathways needed for speech.
So what do you actually do when your baby is screaming or grunting at you?
Here’s your game plan:
1️⃣ Get face-to-face.
Pause. Make eye contact. Let them know you’re listening.
2️⃣ Respond to the emotion first.
“Oh! You sound excited!”
“Whoa, that was loud!”
“Are you frustrated?”
3️⃣ If the sounds were vocal play, you can imitate or shape the sound.
If they say “aaaa!” you can say “ahhh!” back — then model a slightly clearer, melodic or pleasant-sounding version!
You’re showing them how conversation works.
4️⃣ If the vocalizations were less vocal play but more attempts to send you a message, do your best to act as your baby's interpreter and model simple language from their perspective.
“Ball!”
“Up”
“More”
Keep it short. Keep it slow.
5️⃣ Pause again.
Give them space to respond. That pause is where learning happens.
You don’t have to stop the noise.
You can help turn it into interaction.
Save this for the loud days 💛
Send it to a parent who needs reassurance.
