I’m a Hoot: How Babies Communicate Before Words

From the moment I discovered my voice, the world became a playground of sounds and sensations. I’ve been practicing every squeal, gasp, and raspberry with great enthusiasm. Each one a tiny triumph in my quest to be heard. This is how babies communicate. Not with words, but with hoots, fusses, and joyful noise. I may be small, but I’ve got a lot to say, and I’m learning fast how to say it my way.

Over the past few months, I have been expanding my vocabulary. I have noticed that other people make a variety of sounds, and I want to participate. Before I can join in, I need to refine my skills, and that requires plenty of practice. I have been making good use of my spare time by working on my skills at home.

I can make many sounds already, and I’m discovering new ones all the time. My favorites include the one that sounds like “pea-you” and the one that makes a “bvvv” noise. I can make squeal sounds too. I like to make them as loud and high-pitched as possible.

I enjoy loudly blowing raspberries into the air. It’s really fun and sends drool flying. Mommy always wipes the drool off my face with a tissue. I don’t like that. The only time I like tissues near my face is when I’m trying to taste them.

Some of my sounds are just for fun, but others I have assigned meaning to. When I want something and Mommy isn’t paying attention, I let out a loud but short yell while I reach out my hands. I have an angry yell too! If I’m excited, I make gasp sounds while kicking my feet. When I feel fussy, I hoot like an owl. Sometimes I hoot a lot.

How Babies Communicate with a Hoot

I hoot when I’m hungry. I hoot when I’m bored. But mostly, I hoot when I’m sleepy. Sometimes I hoot for a long while. Then my hoots turn into moans, and I fall asleep. It’s at those times that Mommy calls me her hootie fuss-fish. Mommy even made up a song about the hottie fuss-fish. It’s a funny song. Mommy sings it when I hoot, and sometimes she sings it just for fun. It makes me laugh.

I’m a hootie, kind of fuss fish.

I hoot and I hoot and I fuss, fuss, fuss.

I’m a hootie, kind of fuss fish.

I hoot and I hoot like a grumpy gus.

I’m a hootie, kind of fuss fish.

I fuss and I fuss and I hoot, hoot, hoot.

I’m a hootie, kind of fuss fish.

I fuss and I fuss, and I hoot to boot.

So that’s me hooting, fussing, and finding my voice one silly sound at a time. Every squeal, raspberry, and sleepy moan is part of my growing language. It may not be words yet, but it’s definitely how babies communicate. And if you listen closely, you’ll hear a whole world of meaning in every giggle, gasp, and hoot I make.