When do infants begin to exhibit cooing sounds?

Infants typically begin to coo around the age of 2 to 3 months. During this developmental phase, babies start to engage in vocal play, producing soft vowel sounds that are a precursor to later speech development. Cooing consists of elongated sounds such as "oo," "ah," and "ee," which signal that the infant is beginning to explore their vocal capabilities and is engaging socially with caregivers. This sounds development is critical for communication as it lays the foundation for further speech sounds and babbling that will occur in subsequent months.

When assessing the timeline of infant vocalizations, it's important to note that the cooing stage occurs before the babbling stage, which usually starts around 4 to 6 months. By recognizing these milestones, caregivers can support a child's communication development effectively.