Mother reading to baby
At Every Turn > Primary Care > Speech and language milestones in children: What parents need to know
Tips May 02, 2016

Speech and language milestones in children: What parents need to know

Tracy Lee, MS, CCC SLP, Speech/Language Pathologist

One of the joys of watching a child grow is seeing how they learn to communicate. Going from a baby who doesn’t seem to do much besides cry and sleep to a walking, talking machine is an incredible process. Sometimes, however, that process gets held up for one reason or another. It could be a developmental disorder, or simply a slower rate of growth for that particular child. Thankfully, there are milestones we can look to for guidance.

General patterns based on age

Every child is different, but listed below are general patterns we look for based on age.

Age 0-1

  • Communication begins as early as 0-3 months, starting with eye contact with a caregiver and responding to noises and cooing.
  • Look for simple gestures such as waving, shaking head “no” and raising arms to be picked up.
  • Babbling starts between 6 and 9 months, typically with “baba,” “mama” and “dada.” It’s worth noting that these sounds might not indicate their parents yet, but could just be repeating back what they hear.

Age 1-2

  • Actual words begin to emerge with an expected vocabulary of about 15 words by 18 months of age.
  • Words are used to label things, to make requests, and to comment. Imitation of words also becomes more consistent.
  • Children should be able to follow simple directions, identify simple body parts and point to familiar objects and pictures when named.

Age 2-3

  • Vocabulary should reach between 100 and 200 words and include nouns, verbs, pronouns and negatives.
  • A child at this age can identify objects by function, respond to yes/no questions, and understand spatial concepts like “in,” “on” and “under.”
  • People should be able to understand them about 50 percent of the time.

Age 3-4

  • Vocabulary should be at least 300 words, with the ability to form sentences and answer questions.
  • They can understand more complex directions, identify colors and parts of an object.
  • People should be able to understand them about 75 percent of the time.

Warning signs

You should consider talking with your pediatrician about your concerns if you see the following:

  • Minimal to no eye contact with others
  • Limited words, or no words at all by 18-24 months of age
  • Little or no attempt to communicate with others
  • Unable to follow simple directions, or not seeming to understand the names of things
  • Frustration at being unable to communicate, resulting in tantrums, hitting or biting

How parents can help

Talking to your child can be some of the best medicine. Naming objects and actions will help enhance their vocabularies, as will requesting that they do the same. Children learn through imitation, so create a language rich environment that provides models to imitate. Create routines in which language is involved, saying “up” every time you go up a stair, saying “bye” to every object you clean up, etc. Expand on your child’s utterances by adding another word. For instance, if they say “dog,” you say, “Hi, dog.” Being involved in your child’s play can make a huge difference.

Tracy Lee, MS, CCC SLP Tracy Lee, MS, CCC SLP Speech/Language Pathologist New Berlin Clinic
Children’s Wisconsin has more than 20 primary care offices conveniently located throughout the Milwaukee area and southeast Wisconsin. Find a pediatrician near you. View more articles from Tracy Lee, MS, CCC SLP

Related stories

How to protect your family this flu season Children's Wisconsin
Tips Aug 26, 2025

Protecting Your Family This Flu Season

Sarah Mooney, MD Pediatrician

Vaccines are a safe, simple and effective way to protect your children and family from the flu.

How kids can safely use artificial intelligence Children's Wisconsin
Tips Aug 20, 2025

Rise of the Machines: What Parents Should Know About AI and Kids

Kate Bennett, DSW, LCSW Behavioral Health Consultant

What parents can do to help their kids use AI in safe and healthy ways.

How to identify and treat head lice in children Children's Wisconsin
Tips Aug 15, 2025

How To Identify and Treat Head Lice in Children

Sarah Mooney, MD Pediatrician

Lice are annoying, but they are harmless and do not spread disease.

Top 5 things parents should know about hand, foot and mouth disease Children's Wisconsin
Tips Aug 11, 2025

What Parents Should Know About Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Cheryl Cameron, MD Pediatrician

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a mild but highly contagious viral infection that is common in young children.

Measles outbreak United States 2025 Children's Wisconsin
Tips Aug 08, 2025

Measles Outbreak Shows Importance of Getting Your Kids Vaccinated

Frank Zhu, MD Medical Director

The recent measles outbreak is a regrettable reminder to all of us of just how preventable this disease truly is when your child is vaccinated.

How to get kids to talk about the feelings Children's Wisconsin mental and behavioral health
Tips Aug 07, 2025

How To Help Your Young Child Talk About Their Feelings

Janelle Clark, LPC Behavioral Health Consultant

Children who find healthy ways to express their feelings are more likely to develop positive relationships with others, feel more confident and perform better in school.

Common newborn skin ailments Children's Wisconsin
Tips Jul 18, 2025

Baby Blemishes: Seven Common Skin Conditions in Newborns

Stephen Humphrey, MD Pediatric Dermatologist

Seven common skin conditions that affect newborns, how to treat them and when to see a doctor.