Speech & Language Milestones – What to Expect from Birth to Three
By: Lydia Stimpson, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech and language development is an exciting journey that begins at birth. Here’s a quick look at what to expect in the first three years.
0-12 Months
- Coos, babbles, and experiments with different sounds
- Laughs, squeals, and plays with pitch
- Recognizes and responds to familiar voices
- Imitates simple sounds and says first words (e.g., “mama,” “dada”)
12-24 Months
- Expands vocabulary to around 50 words by 18 months
- Begins combining two words (“more milk,” “big truck”)
- Understands and follows simple commands
- Uses gestures like pointing and waving
24-36 Months
- Vocabulary grows rapidly (200-450+ words)
- Forms two- to three-word sentences (“I want cookie”)
- Speech becomes 50-75% intelligible
- Begins asking simple questions (“Where’s doggy?”)
- Starts using early grammar rules
Tips to Encourage Speech & Language Development
- Talk and engage: Narrate daily activities and encourage conversation
- Read regularly: Choose books with repetition and simple sentences
- Play with words: Use songs, rhymes, and pretend play to build vocabulary
By age three, children are using language to express themselves, interact with others, and explore the world. Every child develops at their own pace, but these milestones offer a helpful guide to track progress!
Worried About Your Child’s Speech or Language Development?
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