At what age do infants typically exhibit “canonical babbling”?

Canonical babbling is a stage in an infant's speech development that typically occurs between 6 to 8 months of age. During this period, infants begin to produce sounds that combine consonants and vowels in a repetitive and recognizable manner, such as "bababa" or "dadada." This stage is crucial as it signifies the infant's developing ability to control their vocalizations and explore the sounds of their language.

The timing aligns with their cognitive and physical development, where the ability to coordinate vocal cords, tongue, and lips becomes more refined. This milestone is fundamental for later stages of language acquisition, as it lays the groundwork for meaningful speech and communication.

While some infants may start earlier or later, the majority typically start demonstrating canonical babbling around the 6 to 8-month age range. This is why the correct age associated with the onset of canonical babbling is noted as 6 to 8 months.