Explores changes in tone and volume

Your baby has been listening to the sounds around them since before they were born and has started to explore the sounds they can make. You might have noticed they are making different sounds and even starting to repeat sounds, for example saying ba-ba or da-da. They will as they develop control of the sounds that they make begin to explore changes in tone and volume. 

Listening and learning 

Varying the intonation and volume we use when we talk is an important part of communication, we share information not only through the words we say but also how we say them.  

Each language has its own pattern of intonation, stress and rhythm, this is known as prosody. Your baby has been able to identify different language since they were born using ‘prosody cues,’ so by listening to the how things are said, and particularly by listening to intonation. [1]  

Recognising the intonation or melody of spoken language is the first step that your baby takes towards identifying words, syllables and sounds in speech. The way in which words are said supports your baby to break the speech they hear into words. This is one of the reasons why nursery rhymes are a wonderful way to support your child’s language development. The pattern and emphasis in nursery rhymes supports them to identify words, and to understand meaning as keywords are spoken with greater emphasis. [2]   

Making sounds 

As your baby begins to make more sounds you might notice a greater variety of intonation in the sounds they make. Some researchers suggest that this variation in ‘melody’ can also be seen in babies’ cries as their cries change from having a simple melodic pattern to a more complex pattern as they develop. [1]  

Your baby’s ability to vary the tone and volume of the sounds is linked to brain development and development of their throat and vocal cords. As your baby’s control of their movements and throat and vocal cords develops, they will be able to make more sounds and control the sounds they make. [3]  

They might begin to copy the tone you use when speaking to them and explore making sounds with different volumes. This exploration will support them to develop control of the sounds they make. They will link their movements with sound, make links between information from their senses and explore how what they hear changes according to the movements they make with their mouth, lips and tongue.  

If your baby has a dummy, make sure they have plenty of time without their dummy so they can explore moving their mouth and making sounds.  

What next? 

Your baby’s exploration of tone and volume will support them in their journey to speech and communication. They will explore babbling using different sounds, patterns and volumes before using their first words and exploring the way in which intonation can change the meaning of what they say. 

References 

[1] Wermke, K., Robb, M.P. & Schluter, P.J. (2021). Melody complexity of infants’ cry and non-cry vocalisations increases across the first six months. Scientific Reports, 11(1), article 4137.  

[2] Addyman, C (2020) The laughing baby: The extraordinary science behind what makes babies happy.  London: Unbound.  

[3] Vihman. M.M (2014). Phonological Development. The First Two Years. Wiley Blackwell