When Do Babies Start Talking? Speech and Language Milestones by Age

010–6 months

Birth to 6 months: sounds and cooing

• Startles at loud sounds and calms to familiar voices.
• Cries differently for different needs.
• Coos and makes “ooh” and “aah” sounds from about 2 months.
• Laughs and makes sounds back when you talk.
• Starts making consonant sounds such as “p”, “b” and “m” near 6 months.

026–12 months

6 to 12 months: babbling and gestures

• Babbles with repeated syllables like “bababa” and “mamama”.
• Turns to their name and to sounds.
• Understands simple words such as “no”, “bye-bye” and familiar names.
• Uses gestures: pointing, waving, reaching up to be lifted.
• May say a first word around 12 months.

See when do babies start babbling.

0312–18 months

12 to 18 months: first words

• Says a few words with meaning, often names of people, animals, food and “up” or “more”.
• Follows simple instructions with gestures, such as “give me the ball”.
• Points to show you things and to ask for them.
• Copies sounds and words.
• Uses between about 10 and 50 words by 18 months.

0418–24 months

18 to 24 months: word explosion and two-word phrases

• Vocabulary grows quickly, often to 50 words or more by 2 years.
• Starts combining two words: “daddy go”, “more juice”.
• Points to body parts and pictures when named.
• Understands simple questions and instructions without gestures.
• Familiar adults understand about half of what they say.

052–3 years

2 to 3 years: short sentences

• Uses 200 to 1000 words and three- to four-word sentences.
• Asks “what” and “where” questions.
• Understands concepts like “in”, “on” and “big”.
• Most of their speech is understood by familiar adults by age 3.
• Some sound errors are still normal; see speech sound development chart.

06Variation

Why some babies talk later

Children vary widely. Some talk early, others focus on walking or other skills first. Boys, younger siblings and children learning two languages may start a little later, although bilingualism does not cause language delay. Children who understand well, use gestures and play imaginatively are more likely to catch up.

Persistent ear infections and glue ear, hearing loss, developmental conditions and, sometimes, limited interaction can delay talking. See speech delay vs autism.

07Encourage

How to encourage your baby to talk

• Talk to your baby during daily routines: nappy changes, meals, bath and walks.
• Respond to coos, babble and pointing as if they are conversation.
• Name things your baby looks at and points to.
• Read, sing and share nursery rhymes every day.
• Use short, simple sentences and repeat words often.
• Limit screens and background TV; face-to-face interaction is what builds language.
• Give your baby time to respond before speaking again.

08Dummies

Dummies, screens and talking

Using a dummy for long periods during the day can limit babbling and practising sounds, so it is best kept for sleep and removed by around 12 months where possible. Screens, even educational ones, do not replace talking with an adult, and background television reduces the amount of talking between parents and children.

09Hearing

Hearing and talking

Babies learn to talk by hearing speech, so hearing is checked early. Newborn hearing screening identifies most permanent hearing loss, but hearing can change later, for example with glue ear after colds and ear infections. A child who does not respond to quiet sounds, turns the TV up loudly or has frequent ear infections and slow speech should have a hearing test.

Hearing assessments can be done at any age, even in babies, and treating glue ear or providing hearing aids early protects language development.

11Summary

Key points to remember

• Babbling starts around 6 to 9 months and first words around 12 months.
• Most children have about 50 words and two-word phrases by age 2.
• Understanding comes before speaking, and gestures matter.
• No words by 16 months or loss of skills should be checked.