Speech & Language Milestones birth-12 months: A Parent-Friendly Guide

The first three years of life are full of growth in more ways than one! (I'm currently on maternity leave with my 2-month-old and am in awe of the changes I witness every day). When it comes to language development, babies go from cooing and smiling to saying their first words, asking questions, expressing ideas, and having full-on conversations. As a pediatric therapist, I often hear parents wondering about what skills their child should have and what milestones they should be looking out for. In this three-part blog series, we'll go through speech and language milestones to look out for in the first three years and when extra support might be helpful, starting with birth to 12 months!

Birth to 3 Months: The Foundation of Speech and Language

During these early weeks and months, communication is largely about connection. Check out our recent blog about newborn language development for more!

What to expect during this time -

• Your child turns toward familiar voices

• They are quiet or smile when spoken to

• They coo

• Your child cries differently for different needs (This was a really fun one to recognize as a first-time parent! We can tell a "I'm in pain" cry from a "I'm tired" and it really helps us know how to help our baby!)

• Startles to loud sounds

How to encourage and support your child's language development during this time -

• Talk to your baby during routines (diaper changes, feeding, bath time)

  • We talk about this at length in the Newborn Language blog

• Imitate their coos and sounds to build early turn-taking

• Use parentese or a high pitched, sing-songy voice (think Ms. Rachel!) to engage and maintain a child's attention

4 to 6 Months: An increase in sounds and socializing

Your baby begins experimenting with their voice, the sounds they make, and exploring social communication.

What to expect during this time -

• Your child responds to the tone of voice of others

• They show interest in music and toys that make noise

• Your child laughs, giggles, and uses more expressive facial movements

• They play with vocalizations and sounds (e.g., "ahh" or "mmm")

• They begin babbling (e.g., "ba" or "da")

How to encourage and support your child's language development during this time -

• Repeat your child’s vocalizations, sounds, and babbling to encourage "conversation." This builds a beginning understanding of back-and-forth communication.

• Introduce simple songs with motions (e.g., The Wheels on the Bus)

• Introduce toys that make noise to encourage exploration of sounds (e.g., a kick piano)

7 to 12 Months: Lots of babbling

At this stage, children start to intentionally communicate, even though it's often not true words just yet.

What to expect during this time -

• Your child understands a few frequently used words (e.g., no, milk)

• They respond to their name

• Your child uses some gestures to communicate (e.g., pointing, reaching)

• They use reduplicated babbling (e.g., "baba") and variegated babbling (e.g., "bada")

• Around 12 months, they say their first word

How to encourage and support your child's language development during this time -

• Label items during daily routines; keep it natural and functional (i.e., no need for flashcards)

• Pair a gesture with a verbal word (i.e., waving while saying "bye-bye")

• Comment and add to a child's play, but let them lead. Try to avoid "quizzing" your child

This first year is foundational to subsequent speech and language development. The "conversations" you have with your child while at their changing table or when they're eating are enriching and supportive of skills they will continue to develop in their early childhood years. If you have questions about your child's speech and language, don't hesitate to reach out to us today!