Watching a child learn to communicate is one of the most fascinating parts of early childhood. From that very first coo all the way to stringing sentences together, language development is a journey full of small victories. Knowing what’s typical for different ages helps families encourage growth, spot anything that seems off, and give kids the boost they might need right when it counts. Below, you’ll find a straightforward look at the key stages of early language development, ideas for supporting little ones, and tips for when to seek extra help. Supporting these skills early gives children the building blocks they need for learning and connecting with others for years to come.
Birth to 3 Months
The earliest months are all about tuning in to sound. Newborns are quietly soaking up the voices and noises around them—even before they can say a word. They quickly learn to tell the difference between familiar and new voices, and they show a strong preference for hearing people talk, especially family members.
By 3 months, you’ll probably hear some adorable cooing—those sweet, soft, sing-songy sounds. These aren’t just cute; they’re an important first step in language learning. Babies often coo back when someone chats with them, which shows they’re listening and eager to respond. In fact, studies show about 75% of babies are cooing and reacting to familiar voices by 3 months old, which really illustrates just how much progress happens right from the start.
How does language develop between 4 and 6 months?
As babies leave the newborn stage behind, their vocal noises get a boost. Between 4 and 6 months, you’ll notice much more than cooing. This is prime time for babbling. Babies start playing with sounds—think “ba,” “ma,” or “ga”—and they’ll often repeat these syllables over and over, testing out what their little mouths can do.
They’re also figuring out the give-and-take of conversation, even if they can’t talk just yet. You might see your baby giggle when you use a playful voice, or fuss if your tone turns stern. By 6 months, babbling has a real sense of purpose, with babies using their voice to show what they like and don’t like. This turn-taking with sounds helps shape the path to real words down the road.
7 to 9 Months
From 7 to 9 months, babbling ramps up in complexity. Now, you’ll start to hear repeated patterns like “bababa” or “dadada.” This may sound simple, but it takes a lot of effort for little ones to coordinate their lips, tongue, and vocal cords just right.
A fun thing to notice at this age: babies begin mimicking the rhythm and melody of the language they hear most. The babbling starts to resemble the ups and downs of actual speech, even though the “words” don’t make sense yet. Practicing these patterns lays the groundwork for clear speech later on.
9 to 12 Months
As the first birthday approaches, imitation takes center stage. Babies at this age love copying sounds, tones, and sometimes even simple words or phrases. It’s often easy to spot when they’re trying to “talk back” by mimicking your words or the way you say them.
This is also when kids start showing they understand words that matter to them, like names of family members or favorite toys. Recognizing their own name or responding to “mama” or “dada” is a big leap. And it’s not just words—many kids this age can follow simple directions (“give me the ball” or “wave bye-bye”), making it perfectly clear their receptive language skills are taking shape.
12 to 24 Months
If you’ve spent any time around a toddler, you know this is when language really starts to take off. By their second birthday, children usually say their first real words, usually naming things that matter in their world—think “milk,” “ball,” or “go.” It’s quick work from there, as toddlers gobble up new words at an astonishing pace.
You’ll soon hear them start combining words, too. Instead of saying just “more,” for example, they might say “more juice.” Or instead of “daddy,” it becomes “daddy play.” This marks those first steps into early grammar. Research suggests that by 23 months, toddlers can have roughly 225 words in their vocabulary—proof of just how rapid the learning is during this phase.
What complex sentence skills develop between 24 and 36 months?
Between two and three years old, language moves into a new phase. Longer phrases and full sentences start to replace single words and two-word pairings. Kids begin putting together three- and four-word sentences to express bigger ideas, needs, and even opinions.
Comprehension jumps, too. Children this age can usually follow two-part directions and start to grasp concepts involving time (“after lunch”) or place (“on the table”). Their understanding and use of words expand by leaps and bounds—by 30 months, it’s not unusual for children to know around 569 words. There’s a lot of growth happening, both in the words they use and in what they understand from others.
Special Considerations for Bilingual Children
Raising a child in more than one language can be incredibly rewarding, but it sometimes comes with questions. There’s a common misconception that learning two languages will slow a child down, but the research simply doesn’t support that.
Bilingual kids usually hit the same big language milestones as their monolingual peers. You might notice them mixing both languages in a single sentence or having a slightly smaller vocabulary in each language when counted separately, but their combined knowledge is right on target. Multiple studies confirm that bilingual and monolingual children reach language milestones on nearly the same schedule, showing just how flexible and adaptive young minds really are.
Recent Updates in Developmental Milestones
Guidelines for language and overall development aren’t set in stone—experts update them as new research comes in. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recently refined their developmental milestones, which is important for families, teachers, and healthcare providers to know about.
ASHA’s 2023 updates pinpoint more accurate timeframes and highlight which skills really matter most at each age. These changes come from careful analysis of large groups of children and are meant to give a sharper, more useful picture of typical progress. Staying up to date helps everyone track a child’s development with greater confidence, relying on the most current understanding available.
What was the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on language development?
The COVID-19 pandemic led to sudden changes in how children played, socialized, and learned—and these shifts had a real impact on language growth. Many experts and teachers have seen an uptick in language delays and behavior challenges since the pandemic’s onset.
Less time spent with peers, changes in routines, and more reliance on screens have likely played a role. Outside the family, children simply weren’t exposed to as many new voices, situations, or opportunities for conversation. Survey data from speech-language professionals after the pandemic strongly suggests that children are showing more language difficulties than before, which underscores just how vital social interaction is for early learning. This makes it even more important to encourage talking, reading, and face-to-face time at home and in the community.
When to Seek Professional Help
While developmental guidelines offer useful benchmarks, every child follows their own tempo. Still, it’s important to watch for signs that might mean extra attention is needed. The sooner concerns are addressed, the better the outcome usually is.
If your child is missing several language milestones for their age, has trouble understanding what’s being said, or struggles to make themselves understood—even to familiar people—consider reaching out for a professional evaluation. Don’t ignore gut instincts; if something doesn’t feel right, it’s always worth asking. Early intervention really can make all the difference. A speech-language pathologist can assess your child and suggest practical steps or therapy, if needed.
Supporting Language Development
Parents and caregivers hold the keys to building strong language skills. Everyday activities—reading, talking, playing—are incredibly powerful. Surround your child with plenty of conversation. Describe what you’re doing, ask questions, and respond to their sounds, even if it’s just babbling.
Reading books together is one of the best habits. Picture books expand vocabulary and spark questions, and story time is a wonderful kind of bonding. Singing songs, sharing simple rhymes, and playing games involving naming or describing objects all help stretch young language skills. Consistent, interactive activities like these have been linked to stronger vocabulary and better language understanding over time.
Understanding Developmental Milestones
Remember, milestones are meant to be guides—not strict rules. They offer a rough timeline for what many children will do at certain ages, but there’s a healthy amount of variety. Think of them as helpful checkpoints rather than a scorecard.
One child might breeze through early vocabulary, while another takes longer but quickly catches up later. The goal is to use these milestones as cues—to know what to look for, to celebrate progress, and to spot red flags if they appear. Missing a single milestone doesn’t always signal a problem, but missing several or losing skills already mastered should prompt a closer look.
Being tuned in and supportive truly pays off. Encouraging language—by talking, listening, and reading—builds confidence and helps children become capable communicators. Spotting and addressing concerns early opens doors for extra help if needed. With steady support and plenty of everyday conversation, children grow into strong, lifelong learners—ready to share their ideas with the world.
