Turns toward a familiar sound then locates range of sounds with accuracy.
Observe whether the child: turns toward a familiar sound then locates range of sounds with accuracy.
What it looks like
Three ways this behaviour shows up as a child grows. Each level includes everyday moments to watch for.
Emerging
Just starting
The baby sometimes startles or pauses when hearing a familiar sound, and may turn slightly, but does not consistently locate where it came from. Responses are stronger for louder or closer sounds.
What you might see
A familiar caregiver speaks from the side, but the baby keeps looking straight ahead with no head turn or eye shift.
A familiar rattle is shaken on the left, then on the right, and the baby does not show a consistent turn toward either side.
When a familiar sound happens, the baby pauses movement or startles but does not turn to find it.
The baby turns their head a little toward a sound but overshoots or looks in the wrong direction.
Expected
On track
The baby turns toward a familiar sound in a quiet environment and may locate the source when it is obvious (close or on one side). Accuracy drops when there are multiple sounds or the sound is subtle.
What you might see
The baby turns toward a caregiver’s voice when called from one side while lying/sitting, but needs a second cue if the voice is softer.
The baby turns toward a rattle on one side, but if it moves behind them they stop and do not clearly search.
Exceeding
Going further
The baby reliably turns toward familiar sounds and locates a range of sound sources with good accuracy (left/right, near/far), using head and eye movements. They respond in different rooms and with different sound types.
What you might see
The baby turns and looks toward the door when they hear a familiar person’s voice approaching.
When a toy makes a sound from different positions, the baby turns accurately to the correct side and looks directly at the source.
If a sound starts on one side and then moves, the baby tracks the change by turning head/eyes to follow it.
The baby hears a familiar tune/toy and immediately looks toward the usual place it is kept (e.g., musical toy shelf) before it is shown.
Try this at home
Small everyday moments where you can notice this behaviour without setting up anything special.
Playtime: while your baby is sitting or lying safely, shake a familiar rattle gently to one side (out of sight) and observe whether they turn and locate it accurately.
Daily routine: call your baby’s name from the doorway and notice whether they turn toward the sound source and look to find you.
Music: play a short familiar song from a phone/speaker placed to the left or right; watch how quickly and accurately your baby turns toward it.
Bath/bedtime cue: use a consistent sound (running water, a bedtime music box) and see whether your baby looks toward where that sound is coming from in the room.
Quiet moment: make a soft familiar sound (gentle ‘shh’ or a familiar phrase) and observe whether your baby can still locate it without a loud volume.
Connected behaviours
Behaviours that scaffold, follow, or co-emerge with this one.
The framework source and supporting developmental research.
Framework source
Development Matters in the EYFS (2012), Communication and Language: Listening and attention (birth–11 months).
DM2012 treats turning toward and locating sounds as a core observable behaviour underpinning early listening and attention.
Five-level rubric (detailed)ShowHide
The full progression underlying the three levels above. Used by the platform’s reasoning agent when planning activities and observations.
Not Yet
The baby does not reliably turn toward familiar sounds and often shows no clear change in gaze or head position when sounds occur. Sound location appears inconsistent or absent.
A familiar caregiver speaks from the side, but the baby keeps looking straight ahead with no head turn or eye shift.
A familiar rattle is shaken on the left, then on the right, and the baby does not show a consistent turn toward either side.
Emerging
The baby sometimes startles or pauses when hearing a familiar sound, and may turn slightly, but does not consistently locate where it came from. Responses are stronger for louder or closer sounds.
When a familiar sound happens, the baby pauses movement or startles but does not turn to find it.
The baby turns their head a little toward a sound but overshoots or looks in the wrong direction.
Developing
The baby turns toward a familiar sound in a quiet environment and may locate the source when it is obvious (close or on one side). Accuracy drops when there are multiple sounds or the sound is subtle.
The baby turns toward a caregiver’s voice when called from one side while lying/sitting, but needs a second cue if the voice is softer.
The baby turns toward a rattle on one side, but if it moves behind them they stop and do not clearly search.
Secure
The baby reliably turns toward familiar sounds and locates a range of sound sources with good accuracy (left/right, near/far), using head and eye movements. They respond in different rooms and with different sound types.
The baby turns and looks toward the door when they hear a familiar person’s voice approaching.
When a toy makes a sound from different positions, the baby turns accurately to the correct side and looks directly at the source.
Reflexive
The baby quickly searches for and finds sound sources, adjusting their head/body position to pinpoint where it is coming from. They may anticipate familiar sounds and look toward the expected location before the sound repeats.
If a sound starts on one side and then moves, the baby tracks the change by turning head/eyes to follow it.
The baby hears a familiar tune/toy and immediately looks toward the usual place it is kept (e.g., musical toy shelf) before it is shown.
