How to Communicate With Your 4- to 7-Month-Old

Babies this age can communicate with body language, smiles, laughter, crying, and babbling. Talking together helps your baby learn how to use words to communicate.

• Talk to your baby as often as possible. Say out loud the names of people, objects, and activities.

• Keep your baby in the same room as you so he or she can listen to your speech and copy sounds. Portable cribs, baby-safe seats, and high chairs are all great ways to keep your baby safe and nearby. Remember to buckle all safety straps, and never put a baby seat on a counter or table.

• When you talk to your baby, speak slowly and put stress on single words. For example, show a toy to your baby and say, "Do you want a toy? This is your toy." Then wait for a response.

• Babies this age love playing with others. Play communication games with your little one:

  • Copy your baby's coos and babbles. Repeat the sounds your baby makes.

  • Have "conversations" and give your baby a chance to "reply." Respond happily to whatever your baby "says." This encourages your baby to make sounds. It also teaches that people take turns when talking.

  • Read picture books aloud every day. Point to the pictures and say the names of the objects.

  • Play games like "pat-a-cake" and "peek-a-boo."

  • Sing to your baby.

  • Play a "faces" game. Copy the faces your baby makes, and make faces for your baby to copy. This can include smiling and looking surprised.

• Babies this age learn best by talking and playing with others and touching things in their world. So it's best to avoid screen time such as videos, video games, TV, and phone apps. Video chatting (such as FaceTime or Skype) is OK.

• When your baby cries:

  • Check that your baby is safe and not hungry, tired, sick, or in need of a diaper change.

  • Comfort your baby with singing, talking, holding, or gentle rocking.

  • If it's time for your baby to sleep, put your baby in the crib and leave the room quietly. You may need to go to your baby again if the crying continues. Talk to your health care provider if your baby is having trouble sleeping.

• Your baby isn't making cooing sounds.

• Your baby doesn't respond to others by making his or her own sounds.

• You're concerned about your baby's language skills.

• You're worried that your baby isn't seeing or hearing normally.

• You're worried about your baby's crying.

• You feel very frustrated, sad, or out of control.

How do babies this age communicate? Babies this age use sounds to get attention and show feelings. Their voices might get higher, as if asking a question. Babies also use body language to communicate. When full, your baby might lean back and turn away to let you know not to give any more food. Your baby may show excitement by smiling and moving when you come into the room.

When do babies start to understand what words mean? By the end of the seventh month, babies usually respond to their names, pause when they hear "no," babble, copy sounds, and respond to speech by making sounds of their own.