When Can Your Baby Hear You?

Your baby can start hearing sounds in the womb around 18 to 24 weeks of pregnancy , and they usually begin recognizing familiar voices more clearly by 27 to 29 weeks. By full term, a baby’s hearing is close to adult-like for basic sound detection.

Quick Scoop

  • Around 18 weeks: your baby may hear internal sounds like your heartbeat.
  • Around 24 weeks: they become more sensitive to sound.
  • Around 25 to 29 weeks: they can respond more to voices, especially familiar ones like yours.
  • At birth: hearing is already working, and newborns often recognize voices they heard before birth.

What This Means

Talking, reading, or singing to your baby during pregnancy is a reasonable way to bond, especially in the third trimester when they can hear your voice more consistently.

After Birth

Newborn hearing is expected to be functional right away, but babies still react best to familiar voices, soft sounds, and changes in tone. Early milestones include turning toward sounds, calming to voices, and later responding to their name.

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