Developmental Milestones: When Should My Child Be Saying What?
As a parent, it’s natural to wonder if your child is on track with their speech and language development. You may find yourself comparing your child’s vocabulary to that of a cousin, friend, or sibling. You might ask: Is it normal they’re not talking yet? Should they be saying more words by now? When do sentences start?
The truth is, speech and language development follows a general path—but every child develops at their own pace. However, there are certain milestones we expect to see by specific ages. Understanding these markers helps you recognize what’s typical, when to wait, and when it might be time to get support.
Let’s walk through the speech and language milestones from birth to 5 years old, with guidance on what your child should be saying—and when.
Why Milestones Matter
Milestones are not rigid rules, but benchmarks. If a child misses a few milestones but continues to progress, they may just be a late bloomer. But if several milestones are delayed or skipped, it could indicate a speech delay, language disorder, or another communication challenge.
Early identification matters because early intervention can significantly improve long-term communication, learning, and social success.
0–12 Months: The Foundations of Communication
Even before babies say words, they’re already laying the foundation for communication.
What to Look For:
● 0–3 Months: Cooing, smiling, eye contact, calming to familiar voices
● 4–6 Months: Babbling (“ba-ba,” “ga-ga”), laughter, vocal play
● 7–12 Months: Using gestures (waving, pointing), imitating sounds, responding to their name
First Words:
By 12 months, many babies say their first true word—often “mama” or “dada,” but also words like “ball,” “bye,” or “uh-oh.” They should also understand simple words like “no,” “cup,” or “dog.”
When to Watch:
● No babbling by 6 months
● Doesn’t respond to sounds or their name by 9 months
● No gestures by 12 months
12–18 Months: Single Words and Growing Vocabulary
Your child is now exploring language in a more intentional way.
What to Expect:
● Saying 5–10 words (not just sounds)
● Naming familiar people, objects, or body parts
● Using words to make requests: “milk,” “up,” “more”
● Understanding and responding to simple commands like “give me” or “come here”
Communication is Multi-Modal:
They’ll use pointing, gestures, and facial expressions along with words to communicate needs. This combo is key.
18–24 Months: Language Explosion Begins
This period often brings a dramatic vocabulary growth spurt.
Typical Milestones:
● Saying 50+ words by 24 months
● Beginning to combine two words: “want toy,” “more juice,” “mommy go”
● Understanding 200–300 words, including actions and object names
● Following simple two-step directions: “Get your shoes and come here”
When to Watch:
● Fewer than 20 words by 18 months
● Not combining two words by 24 months
● Little interest in communicating or engaging with others
2–3 Years: Short Sentences & Storytelling Emerges
Now your toddler starts sounding more like a kid.
What’s Typical:
● Vocabulary grows to 200–500 words
● Using 3–4 word sentences: “I want big truck,” “Mommy help me”
● Asking questions (“What’s that?” “Where dog go?”)
● Beginning to use pronouns (I, me, you) and plurals (dogs, cats)
Understanding:
They should understand most daily conversations, identify objects in books, and follow longer directions.
When to Watch:
● Not using two-word combinations consistently by 30 months
● Speech is hard to understand by family
● Little interest in books or naming pictures
3–4 Years: Complex Sentences & Clearer Speech
Your child’s speech is becoming more adult-like, though still imperfect.
Typical Skills:
● Using 4–5 word sentences or longer
● Starting to tell simple stories or describe past events
● Understanding basic concepts: big/little, in/on/under, same/different
● Speech is understood by unfamiliar adults 75% of the time
They may start using grammatical endings (like –ing, –ed), though they might not get them right all the time.
4–5 Years: Ready for Kindergarten Communication
At this stage, your child should be talking almost like a little adult, capable of conversing, reasoning, and explaining.
By 5 Years:
● Speaks in full, grammatically correct sentences
● Tells long stories with logical sequence
● Asks and answers “why” and “how” questions
● Uses most sounds correctly, though tricky ones like R, S, TH may still be developing
● Can carry on back-and-forth conversations
When to Watch:
● Frequent grammatical errors (e.g., “He goed to the store” at age 5)
● Difficulty being understood by people outside the family
● Trouble answering questions or staying on topic
Speech vs. Language: Know the Difference
It’s important to know the difference between speech and language delays.
● Speech refers to how sounds are made—articulation, fluency (like stuttering), and voice.
● Language is about meaning—understanding others (receptive language) and expressing oneself (expressive language).
Some children have trouble with both, others just one. A child who speaks clearly but only uses a few words may have a language delay, not a speech issue.
When to Seek Help
You don’t need to wait for a formal diagnosis to seek support. Early signs of a communication delay include:
● Not meeting the milestones listed above
● Frustration when trying to speak
● Difficulty being understood by others
● Regressing in language after previously making gains
Speech and language pathologists can perform evaluations and create personalized therapy plans—even virtually. At Anywhere Speech & Language, we specialize in helping children of all ages and abilities build the communication skills they need to thrive.
Tips to Support Your Child at Home
Talk to your child throughout the day. Narrate actions, label items, and respond to their sounds or gestures.
Read daily. Choose age-appropriate books, point to pictures, and ask questions.
Limit screen time. Focus on real-world interactions that build language through connection.
Expand on what they say. If your child says “dog,” respond with “Yes, that’s a big dog!”
Give choices. “Do you want apple or banana?” encourages naming and decision-making.
Final Thoughts
Every child is unique—but no parent should feel lost when it comes to speech and language development. If your child is missing key milestones, don’t wait and see. Early help leads to better outcomes.
If you’re unsure whether your child is on track, reach out to a licensed speech-language pathologist. At Anywhere Speech & Language, we offer personalized evaluations and engaging online therapy sessions that meet your child right where they are—at home, school, or on the go.
Contact us today to get started with an evaluation or a parent coaching session. You’re not alone—we’re here to help your child find their voice.