Main content Speech and Language Milestones, Birth to 1 Year

    Speech and Language Milestones, Birth to 1 Year



    Topic Overview

    Speech and language development milestones relate to receptive language (the ability to understand words and sounds) and expressive language (the ability to use speech and gestures to communicate meaning).

    Receptive language skills are the first communication skills learned. Expressive language also begins soon after birth. Speech progresses from isolated sounds to possibly making a simple word or two (like "mama") by the end of the first year.

    Speech and language milestones
      Receptive language Expressive language

    Babies less than 1 month old:

    • Listen to the rhythm and melodies of speech.
    • Usually can pick out their mother's voice.
    • Learn the rhythm and melodies of two languages when both are frequently spoken in their environment.
    • Use undifferentiated crying, which is crying that sounds the same and does not vary by specific need.

    1- to 4-month-old babies:

    • As early as 1 month, may recognize the basic and distinct sounds of a language (phonemes), such as "tr" and "cl."
    • Prefer "baby talk" and voices with high pitch.
    • Become alert to sounds by blinking or widening eyes; may start to be awakened by noise, become startled, or turn toward a sound to look for its source.
    • Will quiet to their mother's voice.
    • Make cooing sounds, often vowel sounds such as "ah-ah-ah" or "ooh-ooh-ooh."
    • At about 3 months, make cooing sounds back to someone who is talking to them.

    5- to 6-month-olds:

    • Recognize their own name.
    • Make sounds like "goo" and blow bubbles at the same time.
    • At about 6 months, start to babble, repeat sounds, such as "ma-ma-ma" or "bah-bah-bah" to get attention or express feeling.
    • By 6 months of age, vary their cries to signal specific needs.

    7- to 9-month-olds:

    • Hear words as distinct sounds.
    • By 9 months, usually recognize the meaning of some facial expressions and tone of voice, such as when a parent says "No!"
    • Repeat sounds that they hear.
    • Mimic the rhythm of the way others talk to them.
    • May say words like "mama" and "dada."
    • By 9 months may wave "bye-bye" when prompted.

    10-month-olds:

    • Usually understand "mama" and "dada" and can identify each parent.
    • Correctly refer to each parent as "mama" or "dada."



    By: Reference Healthwise Staff Last Revised: Reference December 2, 2010
    Medical Review: Reference Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics
    Reference Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics


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