Speech and Language Milestones, Birth to 1 Year

Overview

Speech and language development milestones relate to receptive language (the ability to understand words and sounds) and expressive language (the ability to use speech and gestures to communicate meaning).

Receptive language skills are the first communication skills learned. In the womb, babies hear and respond to familiar voices.

Soon after birth, your baby starts to learn expressive language skills. Around 6 to 9 months of age, most babies start to make the link between sound and meaning. By 12 months, they may have mastered a few words and usually understand far more.

Speech and language milestones

Receptive language

Expressive language

Babies less than 1 month old:

  • Listen to the rhythm and melodies of speech.
  • Usually can pick out their parent's voice.
  • Learn the rhythm and melodies of two languages when both are spoken often in their environment.
  • Use undifferentiated crying. This is crying that sounds the same and doesn't vary by specific need.

1- to 4-month-old babies:

  • As early as 1 month, may recognize the basic and distinct sounds of a language (phonemes), such as "tr" and "cl."
  • Prefer "baby talk" and voices with high pitch.
  • Become alert to sounds by blinking or widening eyes. They may start to be awakened by noise, become startled, or turn toward a sound to look for its source.
  • Will quiet to their parent's voice.
  • Make cooing sounds, often vowel sounds such as "ah-ah-ah" or "ooh-ooh-ooh."
  • At about 3 months, make cooing sounds back to someone who is talking to them.

5- to 6-month-olds:

  • Recognize their own names.
  • Make sounds like "goo" and blow bubbles at the same time.
  • At about 6 months, start to babble, repeat sounds, such as "ma-ma-ma" or "bah-bah-bah" to get attention or express feeling.
  • By 6 months of age, vary their cries to signal specific needs.

7- to 9-month-olds:

  • Hear words as distinct sounds.
  • By 9 months, usually recognize the meaning of some facial expressions and tone of voice, such as when a parent says "No!"
  • Repeat sounds that they hear.
  • Mimic the rhythm of the way others talk to them.
  • May say words like "mama" and "dada."
  • By 9 months may wave "bye-bye" when prompted.

10- to 12-month-olds:

  • Start to follow simple commands like "give me the toy."
  • Usually understand "mama" and "dada" and can identify parents.
  • Correctly refer to a parent as "mama" or "dada."
  • Use the index finger to point to things they want and need.
  • At about 12 months, can say a few single words other than "mama" or "dada."

Credits

Current as of: March 1, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
John Pope MD - Pediatrics
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Louis Pellegrino MD - Developmental Pediatrics