Early Speech Milestones Every Parent Should Know

Speech and language grow rapidly in the first years of life. Knowing what typically emerges when can help you support communication, spot possible delays early, and celebrate progress with confidence.

What to expect from birth to age 3

  • 0 to 3 months: Startles to sound, makes coos, and smiles socially.
  • 4 to 6 months: Babbles with sounds like p, b, and m, laughs, turns to your voice.
  • 7 to 12 months: Uses gestures like pointing and waving, responds to name, imitates sounds, first words may appear around 12 months.
  • 12 to 18 months: Understands simple words, follows one-step directions with gestures, says about 10 to 20 words by 18 months.
  • 18 to 24 months: Vocabulary grows to 50 or more words, begins two-word combinations like “more milk.”
  • 2 to 3 years: Uses short sentences, follows two-step directions, strangers understand most speech by age 3.

Why these checkpoints matter

Milestones are guideposts, not a race. Still, early support can make communication easier and reduce frustration for your child. If there are underlying concerns like hearing loss or oral-motor difficulties, identifying them early opens the door to targeted strategies that fit daily routines.

Short fact: About 1 in 36 children has autism spectrum disorder, and early language differences can be one of the first signs families notice (CDC).

Simple ways to nurture speech every day

Talk during routines. Describe what you see and do at mealtimes, bath, and play. Keep sentences short and repeat key words.

Follow your child’s lead. Join in on what interests them. Label, imitate their sounds, and expand with one more word.

Read and sing together. Point to pictures, pause for your child to fill in words or gestures, and enjoy predictable songs.

Try the “pause and wait” trick. Offer a choice or start a familiar phrase, then pause a few seconds to invite a look, sound, or word.

When to get a professional opinion

Trust your gut if your child is not babbling by 9 months, not using gestures by 12 months, has fewer than 50 words or no two-word phrases by 24 months, or you have concerns about hearing, play, or social connection. A licensed speech-language pathologist can evaluate strengths, clarify next steps, and coach you on practical strategies that fit your family’s day.

The goal is not perfection. It is progress, connection, and giving your child rich chances to communicate in ways that feel natural and fun.