What is the earliest communicative sound a child makes?

The earliest communicative sound a child makes is typically a cry.

While it might seem like just a noise, a baby's cry is actually a complex signal used to communicate basic needs like hunger, discomfort, or tiredness.

Here's why:

* Universal: Crying is a universal behavior across cultures, signifying its innate nature.

* Specific variations: Babies can subtly vary their cries to indicate different needs (e.g., a high-pitched cry for hunger, a low-pitched cry for pain).

* Response eliciting: Crying is designed to elicit a response from caregivers, prompting them to attend to the baby's needs.

While cooing and babbling come later, the cry is the first step in a child's journey of communication.