Which of the following describes a significant milestone for communication in infants?

The significant milestone for communication in infants is best described by the ability to both cry and gaze at birth. This early form of communication is crucial because it represents infants' initial attempts to interact with their caregivers. Crying is an instinctive response that helps convey needs such as hunger, discomfort, or the need for attention, while gazing helps establish a visual connection with caregivers, facilitating bonding and promoting early social interactions. This foundational communication sets the stage for later development of more complex language skills.

While cooing and babbling are important milestones indicating a progression in communication as the infant grows, they occur later in development. Coordination of visual attention at six months reflects a developing skill but isn’t as foundational as the ability to cry and gaze at birth. The use of language at eighteen months marks a significant point in verbal communication development, but again, it occurs much later than the critical immediate interactions seen at birth.