What Are Speech and Language Developmental Milestones?
Birth to 3 Months Quiets to familiar voices or sounds Reacts to loud sounds, e.g., baby startles, blinks, stops sucking, cries or wakes up. Makes soft sounds when awake, e.g., baby gurgles. 3 to 6 Months Turns eyes or head towards sounds, e.g., voices, dog barking Starts to make speech like sounds, e.g., “ga,” “ooh,” “ba,” and p, b, m sounds Reacts to changes in your tone of voice 6 to 9 Months Responds to own name and looks when called Understands simple words, “no,” “bye-bye,” “juice” Babbles, “da da da,” “ma ma ma” 9 to 12 Months Responds to both soft or loud sounds Repeats single words and imitates animal sounds Points to favorite toy or foods when asked 12 to 18 Month Uses 10 or more words Follows simple spoken directions, “get the ball” Points to people, body parts or toys when asked “Bounces” to music 18 to 24 Months Uses 20 or more words Combines 2 or more words, “more juice,” “what’s that?” Uses many different consonant sounds at beginning of words, m b, g, m Listens to simple
