Parents can’t get enough of this baby’s ‘Jurassic’ phase—here’s why it’s actually kind of genius

When @bedheadratty shared a TikTok of her baby roaring after a dinosaur exhibit visit—captioned: “taking my perfectly healthy baby to see the dinosaurs exhibit…my baby turning into a dinosaur the next day”—it quickly struck a chord. With 1.6 million views in just four days, the video captures more than just a cute moment: it’s a fascinating peek into how babies explore their growing voices.

@bedheadratty first time parents you’ve been warned #firsttimemom #firsttimeparents #newmom #babymilestones #babyactivities ♬ ECE Marketing Airball – EC Equine Marketing

Babies roar, squeal, and babble—and it’s all good

Vocal experimentation is a natural developmental phase. According to the AAP, babies around 4–7 months start to babble, blending consonants and vowels, testing out pitch, volume, and rhythm—even before they form actual words.

This stage is a key part of vocal development:

• Coos and gurgles emerge between 2–6 months, paving the way for more complex sounds.
  
• From about 6 months onward, babies expand their babbling, often mimicking sounds they hear—and non-speech noises like growls and squeals also play a role in practicing vocal control.

So when a little one roars like a dinosaur, that’s powerful vocal play.

Related: Why isn’t my baby talking yet? 7 ways to encourage speech from a speech language pathologist

What makes the “baby dinosaur phase” so relatable

Early childhood experts explain that this phase supports:

• Vocal control: By around six months, babies are babbling and making a range of sounds, including gurgling and squeals—crucial practice that engages the muscles and breath control needed for speech development.

• Mimicry skills: Between 4–7 months, infants begin to “babble and mimic repetitive sounds (bah, dah)” and soon attempt to reproduce simple words—all indicating they’re learning by imitation and vocal interaction.

That shared moment hits home

Other parents have echoed the joy in the comments:

• @Taylor747474  – “Ma’am you can’t just steal pieces of the exhibit.”
• @Great Wolf Lodge  – “Dinosaurs don’t exist— the cutest newly discovered species has been spotted! 🥹🦕”
• @Rachel🇨🇦 – “Dino mode activated! If anybody’s figured out how to turn it off please let me know…… we’re going on 4 1/2 years now🤣🤣😭 I can say dinosaur name better that I can pronounce the majority of the English language.🤣🤣”

It’s a moment that reminds parents how joyful and universal these quirky early years really are.

Related: Toddler mimics mom’s vocabulary in hilarious TikTok—and it’s a masterclass in language development

How to nurture baby’s vocal play

These simple strategies can turn everyday outings into learning moments:

• Echo their roars: Responding to their sounds encourages more vocal exploration—key to early communication.
• Model animal sounds: “Roar like a dinosaur! Moo like a cow!”—it invites play and expands their vocal range.
• Talk and sing with expression: A study led by the University of Washington’s Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I‑LABS) confirmed that using parentese (a high-pitched, slow, sing-song speaking style) alongside conversational turns significantly boosts infants’ language skills, including vocabulary growth and social engagement.

That dinosaur roar is cute, and it’s growth

This viral clip reminds us that development doesn’t always come wrapped in a milestone chart. A baby’s roar at the library or squeal at the farm can be a sign they’re practicing voice control, imitating their world, and forming the building blocks of language.  And honestly, is there anything cuter than a baby dino?