When Do Babies Start Talking? First Words Timeline & Concerns (SLP Guide)

Is your baby babbling but not saying words yet? Wondering if your 18-month-old should be talking more?

You're asking one of the most common questions pediatricians and speech therapists hear: "When do babies start talking?"

Mom and child having a conversation. Mo

At NewDay Child Coaching, our pediatric speech-language pathologist works with families every day who have questions about their child's speech development. Today, we're breaking down exactly what to expect, when to expect it, and—most importantly—when you might need extra support.

When Do Babies Say Their First Words?

Most babies say their first recognizable words between 10-14 months old, though the typical range is actually wider than many parents realize: anywhere from 8-18 months can be considered within normal development.

But here's what many parents don't know: your baby's journey to those first words actually begins at birth.

Speech development isn't just about the words that come out—it's about months of listening, watching, and practicing the building blocks of communication.

The Complete Baby Speech Development Timeline

Birth to 3 Months: The Foundation Stage

Even newborns are learning language! During these early months, babies:

• Cry to communicate needs (and you learn to distinguish different cries)

• Make cooing sounds, especially during face-to-face interaction

• Startle or quiet in response to loud sounds

• Turn toward voices, especially familiar ones like mom and dad

• Begin to smile at people (social smiling typically emerges around 6-8 weeks)

What this means: Your baby is absorbing the rhythm, tone, and patterns of language even though they're not using words yet. Every conversation you have with your baby—even one-sided ones—is building their future vocabulary.

4-6 Months: Experimenting with Sound

This is when things get exciting! Babies at this age:

• Begin vocal play: making squeals, growls, and raspberry sounds

• Respond to changes in your tone of voice

• Notice toys that make sounds

• Start babbling with consonant-vowel combinations like "ba-ba-ba" or "ma-ma-ma" (though these aren't meaningful words yet)

• Laugh and express joy vocally

Parent tip: When your baby makes sounds, respond as if you're having a conversation. Pause after they "speak" and reply. This back-and-forth rhythm teaches them the fundamentals of communication.

7-12 Months: True Babbling and First Words Emerge

This is the stage when babbling becomes more complex and starts to sound like real speech:

7-9 months:

• Babbling includes more varied consonants (ba, da, ga, ma)

• Strings of babbling sound more speech-like with rising and falling intonation

• Understands "no" and their own name

• Uses gestures like waving bye-bye or reaching to be picked up

• Responds to simple requests like "come here" (especially with gestures)

10-12 months:

• First true words typically appear! Common first words include: mama, dada, hi, bye, ball, dog, more

• Imitates speech sounds and tries to repeat words you say

• Follows simple one-step commands ("Give me the ball")

• Points to objects and people

• Uses consistent sound patterns for specific objects, even if not perfectly pronounced (like "baba" for bottle)

Important note: At 12 months, most babies have 1-3 words, but the range of normal is quite broad. Some babies have 5-10 words, while others might not have any recognizable words yet but show strong receptive language (understanding what you say).

12-18 Months: Vocabulary Growth Begins

During the second year, language development accelerates:

12-15 months:

• Vocabulary grows slowly at first: typically 3-10 words

• Uses single words to communicate entire thoughts ("Up!" means "Pick me up")

• Follows one-step directions without gestures

• Points to familiar objects when named

• Imitates familiar sounds (animal sounds, car sounds)

15-18 months:

• Vocabulary expands to approximately 10-25 words (though individual variation is significant)

• Begins using words to request things, not just label them

• May start combining a word with a gesture (says "ball" while pointing)

• Understands many more words than they can say (receptive vocabulary typically exceeds expressive vocabulary by a wide margin)

• Points to several body parts when asked

The "word spurt": Many children experience a sudden jump in vocabulary around 18 months, sometimes adding several new words per day once they reach about 50 words.

18-24 Months: Combining Words

This is when language really takes off:

18-20 months:

• Vocabulary grows to 50-100 words

• Begins combining two words together ("more milk," "daddy go," "big dog")

• Speech is still hard for strangers to understand (25-50% intelligible)

• Follows two-step directions ("Get your shoes and bring them to me")

• Names pictures in books

20-24 months:

• Vocabulary expands to 200-300 words

• Uses two-word phrases consistently

• Asks simple questions ("Where daddy?" "What that?")

• Speech becomes more intelligible (50-75% understood by familiar listeners)

• Refers to self by name

• Shows increasing interest in songs, rhymes, and stories

What About Late Talkers?

Here's something important: approximately 10-20% of 2-year-olds are "late talkers," meaning they have fewer than 50 words and aren't yet combining words. Research shows that about 70-80% of these late talkers catch up to their peers by age 3-4 without intervention—these children are sometimes called "late bloomers."

However, 20-30% of late talkers continue to have language difficulties that persist into the school years. The challenge is that we can't always predict which children will catch up and which won't.

This is why early evaluation matters. If your child is behind in speech milestones, an evaluation can help determine whether a "wait and see" approach is appropriate or whether early intervention would be beneficial.

Concerns: When to Worry About Speech Delays

While every child develops at their own pace, certain signs warrant a conversation with your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist:

By 12 Months:

• Doesn't babble with consonant sounds (ba, da, ga, ma)

• Doesn't use gestures like waving, pointing, or showing objects

• Doesn't respond to their name

• Doesn't turn to look when you point and say "Look at the..."

• Has lost speech or social skills they previously had

By 18 Months:

• Has fewer than 6-10 words

• Doesn't point to show you interesting things

• Doesn't follow simple directions

• Prefers gestures over vocalizations for communication

• Doesn't pretend play (like feeding a doll or making toy cars go "vroom")

By 24 Months:

• Has fewer than 50 words

• Isn't combining two words together ("more juice," "mommy up")

• Doesn't imitate words and actions

• Speech is mostly unintelligible even to family members

• Doesn't follow two-step instructions

• Only repeats what's said to them (echolalia) without using language spontaneously

At Any Age:

• Loss of previously acquired skills

• Frequent frustration when trying to communicate

• Significant feeding or swallowing difficulties

• Voice is consistently hoarse, nasal, or difficult to hear

• Limited eye contact or social interaction

• You have a gut feeling something isn't right (parent intuition matters!)

Understanding the Difference: Receptive vs. Expressive Language

One crucial distinction often overlooked by parents:

Receptive language = what your child understands

Expressive language = what your child says

It's completely normal for receptive language to develop ahead of expressive language. A 15-month-old might only say 5 words but understand 50-100 words. This gap is expected.

However, if your child has difficulty with both understanding and speaking, or if their receptive language is also delayed, early intervention becomes even more important. Receptive language delays can be more concerning than isolated expressive delays because understanding language is the foundation for using it.

What Affects When Babies Start Talking?

Several factors influence speech development timing:

Individual variation: Some children are naturally early talkers, others are late bloomers. Birth order, temperament, and individual learning style all play roles.

Gender differences: Girls often begin talking slightly earlier than boys and tend to have larger vocabularies in the toddler years, though boys typically catch up by school age.

Multilingual environments: Children learning two or more languages simultaneously may start talking slightly later or mix languages initially, but this is normal and doesn't indicate a problem. Bilingual children typically reach the same language milestones as monolingual children when you count words across both languages.

Ear infections: Chronic ear infections, especially those causing temporary hearing loss, can delay speech development. If your child has frequent ear infections, mention any speech concerns to your pediatrician.

Prematurity: Babies born prematurely should have their milestones calculated based on their adjusted age (due date, not birth date) until around age 2-3.

Screen time: Research suggests excessive screen time, especially passive viewing, can negatively impact language development. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time (other than video chatting) before 18 months, and limited, high-quality programming with parent co-viewing after that.

Parent interaction: The amount of back-and-forth conversation, reading, and responsive communication babies receive significantly impacts their language development. Quality interaction matters more than quantity of words.

How to Support Your Baby's Speech Development

You don't need flashcards or expensive programs—these simple, everyday strategies make the biggest difference:

Talk Throughout Your Day

Narrate what you're doing: "Now we're putting on your socks. One sock, two socks! Time to go outside." This constant exposure to language builds vocabulary naturally.

Get Face-to-Face

When talking to your baby, get down to their eye level. This helps them watch your mouth movements and facial expressions, which supports speech development.

Respond and Expand

When your baby babbles or says a word, respond immediately:

• Baby: "ba!"

• You: "Ball! Yes, that's a ball! The ball is red."

This teaches them that communication gets responses and helps build more complex language.

Read Together Daily

Even 5-10 minutes of reading picture books daily makes a significant difference. Let your baby touch the book, turn pages, and point to pictures. You don't need to read every word—talk about the pictures instead.

Sing Songs and Nursery Rhymes

The rhythm, repetition, and melody of songs support language learning. Bonus: babies love the social connection of singing together.

Limit "Parentese" But Use It Strategically

"Parentese" (high-pitched, melodic speech with exaggerated intonation) is actually helpful for babies because it helps them distinguish speech sounds. However, also model clear, correct pronunciation as your child gets older.

Reduce Pacifier Use After 12 Months

Extended pacifier use, especially during awake time, can interfere with babbling practice and speech sound development. Limit pacifiers to sleep times after the first year.

Don't Anticipate Every Need

Give your baby opportunities to communicate wants and needs. Pause before automatically handing them things, and wait expectantly for them to attempt communication (gestures, sounds, or words).

Avoid Pressure

Never pressure or demand that your baby "say the word." This can create anxiety around communication. Instead, model the word and wait patiently for your child to try when ready.

When Should You See a Speech Therapist?

Don't wait for your child to "outgrow" speech delays, especially if multiple concerns are present. Early intervention—meaning services started before age 3—is significantly more effective than waiting until preschool or kindergarten.

Consider an evaluation if:

• Your child isn't meeting the milestones for their age (see concerns above)

• Your child is frustrated by inability to communicate

• You're worried, even if you can't pinpoint exactly why

• Family history of speech/language delays or learning disabilities

• Your pediatrician has expressed concern

Where to get help:

• Contact your state's Early Intervention program (free, or low-cost, evaluations for children under 3)

• Ask your pediatrician for a referral to a pediatric speech-language pathologist

• Reach out to NewDay Child Coaching for a consultation with our SLP

Important: You do NOT need to wait for your pediatrician's referral to contact Early Intervention directly. As a parent, you can self-refer for a free, or low-cost, evaluation.

The Bottom Line on Baby Speech Development

Most babies say their first words around their first birthday, but normal development ranges from 8-18 months. By age 2, most toddlers are combining words and have vocabularies of 200+ words, though significant individual variation is normal.

What matters most isn't comparing your baby to others—it's watching for steady progress in both understanding and using language. If you have concerns, trust your instincts and seek evaluation. Early support can make a tremendous difference in your child's communication development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if my 18-month-old isn't talking but understands everything?

A: Strong receptive language (understanding) is a positive sign. Many late talkers have excellent comprehension but need more time for expressive language to emerge. However, this still warrants monitoring or evaluation. If your child has 10 or fewer words at 18 months, consider an early intervention evaluation—even if understanding is strong. About 70-80% of these children catch up naturally, but evaluation helps identify the 20-30% who need support.

Q: Does using baby sign language delay speech?

A: No—research actually shows the opposite! Baby sign language can support speech development by reducing frustration, encouraging communication, and building the concept that symbols (whether signs or words) represent objects and ideas. Many babies drop signs naturally once they can reliably use words. Signs are especially helpful during the 8-14 month period when babies understand much more than they can say.

Q: My baby says "mama" and "dada" but nothing else. Is this normal?

A: At 12 months, having just 2-3 words is within the normal range. Watch for steady progress over the next few months. By 15 months, you should see vocabulary growing to at least 5-10 words. If vocabulary remains stuck at just "mama" and "dada" without adding new words by 15-18 months, consider an evaluation.

Q: Should I correct my toddler's pronunciation?

A: Don't directly correct or ask them to "say it right"—this can create pressure and frustration. Instead, model the correct pronunciation in your response without making it a teaching moment. For example, if your child says "wawa" for water, respond with "Yes! Water! Let's get some water." This provides the correct model without criticism. Many speech sounds don't fully develop until age 4-7, so some "errors" are developmentally appropriate.

Q: Can too much screen time really delay speech?

A: Yes, research shows a connection. Each 30-minute increase in daily screen time is associated with an increased risk of expressive speech delay in young children. Screens provide passive language exposure without the back-and-forth interaction that actually builds language skills. However, interactive video chatting with family members (like FaceTime with grandparents) doesn't carry the same risks and can even support language development.

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Concerned about your child's speech development? Book a consultation with Rachel Lynn, SLP, our pediatric speech-language pathologist who specializes in early communication.

📥 Download our free resource: Communication Milestones Checklist for Ages 0-3

About the Author:

Rachel Lynn, MS, CCC-SLP - Certified Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in pediatric communication and feeding development. Rachel has helped hundreds of families support their children's speech and language growth through evidence-based, parent-friendly strategies.

The NewDay Child Coaching Team:

• Rachel Lynn, SLP - Communication and Swallowing/Feeding Guide

• Dr. Amber Michelle, PT - Physical Development Guide

• Amanda Rae, OT - Fine Motor, Sensorimotor, Sensory/Feeding Guide

"Interweaving Disciplines and Knowledge for the Benefit of All™"

Disclaimer:

The content on this blog is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical or professional advice. While we strive to share accurate and up-to-date information, we make no guarantees regarding completeness, accuracy, or applicability to your individual situation. You should always consult a qualified professional before making decisions related to health, development, or care. Use of this blog and its content is at your own risk. We may include affiliate links or sponsored content, but all opinions expressed are our own. Unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is prohibited.

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