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Watching babies reach different milestones can fill our eyes with wonder — that a child so new to the world can adapt and learn different ways of functioning so quickly. Within a baby’s first year of life, they learn the tastes of different foods, the ability to laugh and recognize when something is funny, and how to babble and form bits of speech.
When children begin to communicate from babbling to words, the progression can sometimes seem to sky-rocket. At one point your infant was only giggling in your lap, and now they're trying to form sentences and make jokes with you. Babies begin reaching speech development milestones as early as 1 years old. To help navigate and keep an eye on your child’s growth, here is all you need to know about early language development and your child.
Language development: How to encourage it?
While moms of infants might be in “survival mode” while caring for their first or third baby, their little one is developing their ability to communicate.
Language and speech development begins as soon as a baby hears their parent’s voice. The sounds of a parent’s language are all the infant needs in order to begin understanding their sense of language. At six months, a child will be able to discern their home language.
The biggest way that babies learn about speech and sounds is by making playtime education. “The best way to get your toddler to talk is by turning everyday activities into learning experiences. As they go about their day-to-day life, there is a wealth of knowledge and teaching opportunities for them to encounter,” shared mom and pediatric occupational therapist Marissa Labuz in her blog Teaching Littles (https://www.teachinglittles.com/teach-your-toddler-to-talk-language/).
For a child’s communication abilities, the mothers have the advantage. Mothers get to help their little one see the fun and complexities within language as they sing lullabies, make silly baby sounds, and have conversations with their baby using non-baby talk.
Babies also become more interested in language while being read to. As the baby hears the mother use words in a variety of contexts and purposes, the child gains an understanding of those words.
Another way of encouraging language development is through actually talking with your child and avoiding baby talk. “Talk about your day and their days as you go about doing things. I’m washing the dishes. You’re playing with the ball. I’m curling my hair,” suggested Labuz. Conversing with your child and having a direct dialogue with them will be beneficial. As the baby grows and begins formulating words, those playful conversations will become their pathway into speaking with fluency.
Milestones: How many words should a 15-month-old say?
Generally, there are different stages of growth that all children tend to experience. While each child's growth might vary, a guideline does help mothers know if their baby is heading in the right direction.
Stanford Medicine Children's Health shares this chart of the developmental milestones for a child:
- Birth to 5 months: An infant will generally communicate their needs through coos, giggles, and fussiness.
- 6 to 11 months: Babies will try to communicate and show their understanding through actions and gestures. Babies begin to understand “no” and express babble (ba-ba) while trying to make similar sounds to their caregivers.
- 12 to 17 months: Toddlers will communicate with more direct and simple expressions. They will imitate words, and they might have a vocabulary of about four to six words.
- 18 to 23 months: At this stage, toddlers will speak with more clarity and instead of one-word phrases, the child will begin combining words such as “more milk.” A toddler might know about 50 words.
- 2 to 6 years old: Children in this range will develop a clearer speech annunciation, their vocabulary will grow immensely, they will play with words and phrasing more, and they will be able to form sentences that become more complex as they reach 6 years of age.
Getting help when needed: Speech therapy for toddlers
When it appears like a baby is not reaching a milestone, a parent should reach out to their pediatrician.
Fortunately, during a baby’s regular wellness checkups, a pediatrician can help observe the development. “Some warning signs are if a child does not make eye contact, respond to his name, or begin to form words. Catching problems early is the best way for your child to improve his skill,” said Dr. Jennifer Shu to American Academy of Pediatrics.
If a child seems to have speech delays, Kids Health shares some signs to look for, such as auditory problems, processing delays, weakened vocal muscles, a cleft lip, or trouble with breathing.
Speech therapy for a child should occur as early as possible. “The way speech delay is treated in toddlers depends on the cause. When treated early, these delays, and the problems that can cause them, often get better over time,” said Jay L. Hoecker, MD, with the Mayo Clinic. Interventions and treatment can look like language, articulation, or oral-motor therapy.
In order to receive these services, doing a little research might help. “In the United States, you can get your child tested through a government-funded early intervention program,” suggested Dr. Hoecker. Speech delays or impairments in a child may not be permanent, and early assistance could help correct the issue before it gets worse.
*Disclaimer: The advice on Mom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
