What is the main purpose of babbling and cooing in infants?

The primary purpose of babbling and cooing in infants is to communicate needs or emotions. During these stages, babies produce a variety of sounds that include cooing, which typically involves longer vowel sounds, and babbling, which mixes consonants and vowels. These vocalizations serve as an important foundation for later language development, as they are the infant's initial attempts to express themselves and engage with caregivers.

Through babbling and cooing, infants interact with their environment, which helps solidify the bond with their caregivers. This interaction encourages social engagement, and caregivers often respond to these sounds, thereby reinforcing the child's effort to communicate. Such vocalizations do not involve the development of vocabulary, complex sentences, or writing skills; instead, they focus on basic communication and emotional expression at a level appropriate for infants.