newborn
Is my newborn developing normally in communication?
In the first three months, healthy communication means crying with different tones, settling to a familiar voice, watching faces, a first social smile around 6–8 weeks, and early cooing from about 6–12 weeks. There are no words yet, and that is completely expected. Seek a developmental or hearing check if your baby never reacts to loud sounds, doesn't calm to your voice, doesn't look at faces, or makes no sounds at all by around 3 months. A newborn hearing screen is the single most useful early step.
In these first weeks, your baby is already 'talking' to you — through cries, gazes and tiny coos — and noticing that is the loveliest start.
In short
Yes — in the first three months, healthy communication looks like crying with different tones, settling when held or spoken to, watching faces, and beginning to make soft cooing sounds. There are no words yet, and that is completely expected. The most important things to watch at this age are hearing and connection — that your baby startles to loud sounds, calms to your voice, and is starting to lock eyes with you. None of this is a test to pass; it's a gentle daily conversation that is just beginning.What healthy communication looks like at 0–3 months
Newborns communicate long before their first word. In these weeks you can expect to see:- Crying with variety — different cries for hunger, tiredness or discomfort, which you slowly learn to read.
- Reacting to sound — startling, blinking or going still at a sudden loud noise, and settling at a familiar, gentle voice.
- Watching faces — gazing at you, especially during feeds and cuddles, and from around 6–8 weeks, rewarding you with a first social smile.
- Early sounds — soft coos, gurgles and throaty vowel-like sounds, usually emerging from around 6–12 weeks.
- Calming to comfort — quietening when picked up, rocked or spoken to softly.
Every baby has their own rhythm, and these emerge gradually rather than on a fixed day.
When a gentle check is wise
Arrange a developmental or hearing check if, by around 3 months, your baby does not startle or react to any loud sounds, never settles or quietens to your voice, doesn't look at faces or make eye contact, or makes no cooing sounds at all. A newborn hearing screen (offered in many Indian hospitals) is the single most useful early step for communication — if your baby missed it or you're unsure of the result, ask for it. Trust your instinct: what you notice every day matters.The Pinnacle way
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care, never from an online list. Our clinicians watch how your baby connects, listens and responds, and shape any support around bonding and play. You can explore our speech therapy approach and a simple developmental screening for early peace of mind.Trusted sources
CDC "Learn the Signs, Act Early" milestone guidance for 2-month-olds; American Academy of Pediatrics (healthychildren.org) on early communication and newborn hearing screening; ASHA guidance on how communication develops from birth.Next step — Enjoy these early conversations, and if anything feels unsure, book a gentle developmental check with a Pinnacle clinician for calm, clear reassurance.
What to watch
By around 3 months, seek a developmental or hearing check if your baby does not startle or react to any loud sounds, never settles to your voice, doesn't look at faces or make eye contact, or makes no cooing sounds at all. If your baby missed the newborn hearing screen, ask for it.
Try this at home
Talk, sing and respond to your baby's coos as if chatting back — pausing for their 'reply'. This face-to-face turn-taking is the very foundation of communication, and it works best up close, around 20–30 cm from their face.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10 · reviewed every 365 days
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
Should my newborn be making any sounds yet?
Beyond crying, soft cooing and gurgling sounds usually begin from around 6–12 weeks. Before that, crying with different tones is your baby's main way of communicating, and that is completely normal.
When will my baby smile at me?
A first true social smile — in response to your face or voice — usually appears around 6 to 8 weeks. If your baby isn't smiling socially by about 3 months, mention it at your next check-up.
How do I know if my newborn can hear properly?
Watch for startling at sudden loud sounds and settling to your voice. The newborn hearing screen offered in many Indian hospitals is the most reliable early check — if your baby missed it, ask your paediatrician to arrange one.