Which of the following is the correct sequence in which babies produce sounds and gestures during their first year?

During the first year of life, infants typically demonstrate a progression in their communication efforts, starting with crying, which is their primary form of expressing needs and discomfort. This is followed by cooing, which involves the production of softer vowel sounds and is an early stage of vocalization that begins around six to eight weeks. As infants develop further, they start to engage in babbling, where they combine consonant and vowel sounds—usually starting around six months. Gestures, such as waving or reaching, typically emerge later in the first year as infants begin to communicate intentionally and interact more with their caregivers.

The sequence of crying, followed by cooing, advancing to babbling, and culminating in the use of gestures, represents the natural developmental milestones in how babies communicate. This progression illustrates not only their growing vocal abilities but also their increasing social interaction skills. By the end of the first year, gestures become a significant part of their communication repertoire, often used alongside vocalizations to express ideas and needs.