Not sure what to expect in terms of your child’s speech and language development? Check out our communication milestones to see if your little one is on track!
4-6 month Milestones
- Moves eyes in direction of sounds
- Responds to no and changes in tone of voice
- Notices toys that make sounds
- Recognizes voices
- Uses sounds p, b and m in babbling
- Smiles and laughs when spoken to
- Vocalizes excitement and displeasure
- Makes gurgling sounds when left alone and when playing with you
7-12 month Milestones
- Enjoys games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake
- Turns and looks in direction of sounds
- Responds to own name
- Recognizes words for common items such as “cup,” “shoe,” “book”
- Begins to respond to requests (e.g. “Give me”)
- Uses a large variety of sounds in babbling
- Uses speech or non-crying sounds to get and keep attention
- Uses gestures to communicate (waving, holding arms to be picked up)
- Imitates different speech sounds
- Has 1 – 3 meaningful words (hi, dog,dada, mama)
12-15 Month Milestones
- Looks in the direction of when asked, ‘Where’s …?”
- Engages in pretend play such as feeding a doll
- Uses some words (signs and animal sounds count too!_
- Understands “no”
- Points to three body parts
- Follows simple directions like, “Give it to me”
2–3-Years
- Understands differences in meaning (“go-stop,” “in-on,” “big-little,” “up-down”)
- Follows 2-part commands (“Get the book and put it on the table”)
- Understands 500 – 900+ words
- Requests items by name
- Uses 2 – 4 word phrases
- Maintains topic over several conversational turns
- Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n sounds
- Produces 50 – 250+ words
- Is approximately 50 – 75% intelligible
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