Language Milestones From Birth To Three

Mia Scott, CF-SLP

Every child is different and develops at their own pace, but here are some important language milestones to look out for. From babbling to your child putting together short sentences, each stage serves a role in your child’s language skills and development. 

In your child’s first year you should see them progress from being alert to sounds, cooing, and making different sounds when they are upset or happy to babbling, beginning to recognize the names of familiar items or people, and looking towards you when you call their name. Between 10-12 months, children begin using 1 to 2 words and using more gestures like pointing, waving, etc. 

By age two, children should use and understand at least 50 words. They should also be beginning to combine 2 words for example, “more cookie”. 

By three, children are increasing the amount of words they use together, for example “I want more”. They will ask and answer simple questions and use plurals and -ing (running, playing, etc). 

These are just a few examples of milestones you should see your child reaching. If you have concerns regarding your child’s language development, reach out to a pediatric speech language pathologist. Providing skilled support early can make a big difference in your child’s development.