Speech Development Milestones

If you are concerned about your child’s language development and if they are achieving their developmental milestones age appropriately…. Don’t delay!!  Help is available to you from our highly skilled rehabilitative team of speech-language pathologists at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Early intervention for children birth-3 years old is key to future social and academic success. However, in order to provide your child with the best help possible, it is important that you are able to recognize red flags of language delay, Speech delay, Speech disorders, Autism, and or Phonological errors.
Please see the following list of ASHA’s developmental milestones for children from birth to three years old, to determine if you need to request a referral from your child’s pediatrician.

baby cooing while looking at mom

Speech milestones in babies, what should my baby be able to do?

Hearing and Understanding Skills

Talking Skills

Birth to 3 Months
  • Startles at loud sounds.
  • Quiets or smiles when you talk.
  • Seems to recognize your voice. Quiets if crying.
Birth to 3 Months
  • Makes cooing sounds.
  • Cries change for different needs.
  • Smiles at people.
4 to 6 Months
  • Moves her eyes in the direction of sounds.
  • Responds to changes in your tone of voice.
  • Notices toys that make sounds.
  • Pays attention to music.
4 to 6 Months
  • Coos and babbles when playing alone or with you.
  • Makes speech-like babbling sounds, like “pa, ba, and mi.”
  • Giggles and laughs.
  • Makes sounds when happy or upset
7 Months to 1 Year
  • Turns and looks in the direction of sounds.
  • Looks when you point.
  • Turns when you call her name.
  • Understands words for common items and people—words like cup, truck, juice, and daddy.
  • Starts to respond to simple words and phrases, like “No,” “Come here,” and “Want more?”
  • Plays games with you, like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake.
  • Listens to songs and stories for a short time.
7 Months to 1 Year
  • Babbles long strings of sounds, such as “mimi” “up up” and “babababa.”
  • Uses sounds and gestures to get and keep attention.
  • Points to objects and shows them to others.
  • Uses gestures like waving bye, reaching for “up,” and shaking his head no.
  • Imitates different speech sounds.
  • Says one or two words, such as “hi” “dog” “dada” “mama” or “uh-oh.” This will happen around his first birthday, but sounds may not be clear.

toddler sisters reading a book together

Speech Milestones in Children One to Two Years

Children develop at their own rate. Your child might not have all skills until the end of the age range.

Hearing and Understanding Skills

Talking Skills

  • Points to a few body parts when you ask.
  • Follows 1-part directions, like "Roll the ball" or "Kiss the baby."
  • Responds to simple questions, like “Who’s that?” or “Where’s your shoe?”
  • Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes.
  • Points to pictures in a book when you name them.
  • Uses a lot of new words.
  • Uses p, b, m, h, and w in words.
  • Starts to name pictures in books.
  • Asks questions, like “What's that?”, “Who’s that?”, and “Where’s kitty?” 
  • Puts 2 words together, like "more apple," "no bed," and "mommy book."

toddler boy running whit footbal while dad chases

Speech Milestones in Children Two to Three Years

Children develop at their own rate. Your child might not have all skills until the end of the age range.

Hearing and Understanding Skills

Talking Skills

  • Understands opposites, like go–stop, big–little, and up–down.
  • Follows 2-part directions, like "Get the spoon and put it on the table."
  • Understands new words quickly.
  • Has a word for almost everything.
  • Talks about things that are not in the room.
  • Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n in words.
  • Uses words like in, on, and under.
  • Uses two- or three- words to talk about and ask for things.
  • People who know your child can understand him.
  • Asks “Why?”
  • Puts 3 words together to talk about things. May repeat some words and sounds

Source: The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

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