Babies start talking at different ages, but on average, they begin to express themselves in words with meaning between 9 and 14 months

. Before this stage, babies make various sounds, such as cooing and oohing, which are precursors to talking

. Around 6 months of age, babies start to play with language sounds, and they usually say their first words between 9 and 12 months

. Some key milestones in a baby's speech development include:

• Birth to 3 months : Babies make cooing noises

• 4 to 6 months : Babies laugh, giggle, and make more speech-like babbling sounds

• 12 to 18 months : Babies start using single words, such as "ma-ma" and "da-da"

It is essential to remember that every baby is unique, and their speech development may vary. If you have concerns about your child's speech development, it is always a good idea to consult a pediatrician or speech language pathologist for guidance