Babies typically learn vowel sounds first, followed by specific consonant sounds.
Development of Early Sounds in Babies
Babies follow a predictable pattern in acquiring speech sounds. Initially, they experiment with various sounds, and gradually, they start producing recognizable speech sounds.
Order of Sound Acquisition
The order of sound acquisition usually progresses as follows:
- Vowel Sounds: Babies first master vowel sounds, such as "ah," "ee," and "oh."
- Bilabial Consonants: According to research, after vowels, babies tend to develop bilabial sounds. These sounds are created by bringing both lips together. Examples include:
- /m/ as in "mama"
- /p/ as in "papa"
- /b/ as in "baby"
- Alveolar Consonants: Next, babies often learn alveolar sounds. These sounds are made by touching the tip of the tongue to the alveolar ridge (the bump behind your top front teeth). Examples include:
- /t/
- /d/
Therefore, while individual development can vary, the general sequence of sound acquisition begins with vowels, followed by bilabial consonants, and then alveolar consonants.
