Speech Milestones for Babies: What to Expect in the First Year
Gwen Swire • 2024-01-15
Curious about your baby's speech milestones in their first year? Uncover the key stages of language development and tips to support your little one's journey.
Greetings new parents out there! Let's talk about the exciting first year of your baby's speech and language development.
Birth to 3 Months
- Coos and Gurgles Enjoy these sweet sounds as your baby begins to experiment with their voice.
- Reacts to Sound Notice how your baby turns their head toward you when you speak.
4 to 6 Months
- Babbling Begins Those adorable 'baba' and 'gaga' sounds start here. This is the foundation of speech development.
- Laughs and Squeals Your baby’s giggle is not just cute; it's a sign they’re learning to communicate.
7 to 9 Months
- Variegated Babbling The babbling gets more complex, sounding more like speech.
- Understands Basic Words They start to understand simple words like 'no' or 'bye-bye'.
10 to 12 Months
- First Words Get your camera ready; those first words like ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ may be just around the corner.
- Imitates Sounds Babies often try to mimic the sounds and tones they hear.
Tips for Encouraging Speech Development
- Talk to Your Baby Narrate your day, describe actions, and engage in back-and-forth 'conversations'.
- Read Together Reading is a fantastic way to expose your baby to the rhythm and sound of language.
- Sing Songs Simple songs are great for language development.
- Encourage Imitation Make faces, play with sounds, and encourage your baby to mimic you.
Every baby is unique, so they may not hit every milestone exactly on schedule, and that's perfectly okay. If you ever have concerns about your child's speech and language development, you can speak to your pediatrician or a speech language pathologist.
