Thinkabara👶 Speech and language milestones by age
What most children understand and say from birth to age 5, with simple ways to help at every stage. Milestones describe what most children (about 3 in 4) do by a certain age — every child develops at their own pace.
| Age | Understands (listening) | Says (talking) | Try at home |
|---|---|---|---|
| By 6 months | Turns toward sounds and voices; calms to a familiar voice. | Coos and makes sounds back when you talk; laughs; squeals. | Make faces and sounds back and forth — a "conversation" before words. |
| By 9 months | Responds to their name; looks when you point. | Babbles with repeated sounds like "mamama", "bababa". | Play peekaboo; name things your baby looks at. |
| By 12 months | Understands "no"; follows routines like waving bye-bye. | Calls a parent "mama" or "dada"; waves; uses gestures to show what they want. | Read picture books every day; pause and let your baby "answer". |
| By 18 months | Follows a one-step direction with a gesture ("Give it to me"). | Tries to say three or more words besides mama and dada; points to show you things. | Name everything — "a big red ball!" — and add one word to what your child says. |
| By 2 years | Points to things in a book when you ask; points to body parts. | Says at least two words together, like "more milk"; uses more gestures than waving and pointing. | Give choices ("apple or banana?"); sing songs with actions. |
| By 30 months | Follows two-step directions. | Says about 50 words; uses two or more words together with one action word ("doggie run"); names things in a book. | Talk about what you are doing; read the same favorite books again and again. |
| By 3 years | Understands in, on and under; asks and answers simple questions. | Talks with you in conversation using at least two back-and-forth exchanges; asks who, what, where or why; says their first name. | Ask open questions; act out stories with toys. |
| By 4 years | Follows longer directions; understands stories. | Says sentences with four or more words; says some words from a song or story; talks about at least one thing that happened during the day. | Retell the day together at dinner; play rhyming games. |
| By 5 years | Understands most of what is said at home and school. | Tells a story with at least two events; answers simple questions about a story; keeps a conversation going with three or more exchanges; uses or recognizes simple rhymes. | Make up silly stories together; talk about feelings and reasons ("why do you think…?"). |
Summarized from the CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." milestones (2022 update) and ASHA guidance for parents. This is general information, not a screening tool.
When to talk to a professional
Talk to your pediatrician and ask for a speech-language evaluation if your child:
- doesn't babble, respond to their name or use gestures like pointing by 12 months;
- isn't saying any words by about 16–18 months, or isn't combining two words by 2 years;
- is hard for family members to understand at age 3, or for strangers at age 4;
- loses words or skills they used to have, at any age;
- seems not to hear well, or you have any concern at all — trust your instincts.
Early Intervention (birth to 3) and public school evaluations (3 and up) are free in every US state. You don't need a doctor's referral to ask.
Everyday ways to build language
- Talk about what you're doing — while cooking, bathing, driving.
- Follow your child's lead and talk about what they look at.
- Add one word: child says "car", you say "blue car!"
- Read together every day and pause for your child to fill in words.
- Limit background TV — real conversation teaches the most.
Frequently asked questions
When should a child say their first word?
Many children say their first words around 12 months, but there is a wide range. By 18 months, most children try to say at least three words besides mama and dada.
Is my late talker going to catch up?
Some late talkers catch up on their own, but many do not, and it is hard to know which group a child is in. That is why it is better to get an evaluation early than to "wait and see". Early help works best.
Who can evaluate my child's speech and language?
A licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP). In the US, children under 3 can get a free evaluation through their state's Early Intervention program (Part C of IDEA), and children 3 and older through the local public school district — even if they don't attend that school yet. Your pediatrician can also refer you, and a hearing test is always a good first step.
Does learning two languages cause speech delays?
No. Bilingual children reach milestones within the same range as children learning one language. Count words in all languages together. Keep speaking the language you know best with your child.
Related pages
Speech sound development chartStuttering in childrenLanguage activitiesAll speech activities