Blowing raspberries, the loud, wet sound infants make, is often questioned by parents as a potential sign of a developmental difference. This sound play is a common motor skill infants develop as they explore their bodies and environment. This article clarifies the role of this action in typical infant development and outlines the validated indicators that signal a need for further developmental review.
Why Babies Blow Raspberries
Blowing raspberries is a sign of healthy development and is considered a normal stage of vocal play that typically appears between four and six months of age. This behavior is a form of oral motor practice, helping infants strengthen the muscles in their lips, cheeks, and tongue. This control is an important precursor to forming sounds, spoken words, and the oral control needed for eating solid foods and drinking from a cup.
The action also serves as sensory experimentation and communication. Infants discover the vibrating sensation on their lips and the unique sound they can produce. They use the sound to explore volume and intonation. When parents imitate the sound or laugh, the baby learns that the behavior can elicit a response, establishing the back-and-forth rhythm of conversation.
Normal Communication Milestones
Early communication begins with the emergence of a social smile, observable around two months of age. This is quickly followed by cooing and other non-cry vocalizations, often heard between two and four months.
Around six months, infants begin to develop true babbling, repeating consonant-vowel combinations like “ba-ba” or “da-da,” which shows increased control over their vocal apparatus. A significant social milestone is the development of joint attention by six to nine months, where a baby can shift their gaze from a person to an object and back to share an experience. By this time, a child is also expected to consistently turn their head in response when their name is called.
Early Behavioral Indicators of Autism
Early indicators of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) center on deficits in social communication and interaction that are persistent over time. One frequently noted sign is a consistent lack of eye contact, observable as early as two months of age. By nine to twelve months, a child who does not reliably respond when their name is called warrants professional attention.
The absence of early social gestures, such as waving goodbye or pointing to request an object, which typically emerge by twelve months, is a concern. A child who rarely smiles socially or shows limited facial expressions may also be an early indicator. Some children may exhibit repetitive behaviors, known as stimming, such as hand flapping or persistent rocking, which can interfere with play or interaction. If a child shows a combination of these specific differences, consulting a pediatrician or early intervention specialist is the appropriate next step.