When Do Babies Start Talking? Milestones and Red Flags

Ever wonder if it’s worth it to read that picture book to your 3-month-old? Chat them up like you’re grabbing coffee with a friend? Or name each food that you put into your grocery cart? The answer is ‘yes’—even if your child doesn't say anything back. But when do babies start talking? Our little ones usually say their first word at around 1 year old. In the meantime, there are lots of ways to encourage your child’s ability to talk. And they’re pretty fun, too. After all, what’s not to like about babbling with your baby?

When my first baby said his first word—”car”—it felt like it was right on time. But then my second boy didn’t utter his first word until later. As I waited and encouraged him to speak, I started to get worried. Until one day we had an impromptu bubble-blowing parade in our backyard, and he said it: “Bub-a.” Bubbles! I was happy and relieved. What I didn't know was that he was right on schedule the whole time. I just didn't understand enough about what really “counts” as words.

So, when do babies say their first word? We have all the answers for you here.

How to use this guide

Navigating parenthood can be stressful. You want the absolute best for your baby. We’ve created this guide to help take some of that pressure off. You can use this guide in several ways:

• Find your baby’s age range, learn about typical milestones, and choose one or two strategies to try this week.

• Track new sounds, gestures, and words in a simple log at home. 

• Look for trends over weeks. Progress doesn’t always follow a straight line!

Curious or concerned?

Our free screener is tailored by age and covers all areas of speech, language, and feeding. Find out if your child might need speech therapy.

Screener for children

Screener for children

What counts as “talking” before words?

Glad you asked! Babies “talk” in many ways before using words. If I had known this, it would have alleviated a lot of anxiety about my son. Here’s what “counts” as a word:

• Full words, such as “mommy”

• Animal sounds, such as “moo” or “meow”

• Saying part of a word, such as “ba” for “ball”

• Exclamatory words, such as “whee!” or “uh-oh!”

• Sign language, such as signing “eat,” “more,” and “all done”

• Environmental sounds, such as “beep,” “choo-choo,” and “ding-dong”

For these to be words, your child has to use them consistently and with intention. So, for example, they say “meow” when they see the family cat.

Talking timeline: When do babies say their first words?

At what age do babies start talking? If you’re keeping a baby book, there’s a very important page: Their first word. It’s certainly something to celebrate. “The first word is such an exciting milestone,” says Alexis Irazoque, M.S., L/SLP, a speech-language pathologist with Expressable. 

There is variability in when babies start talking. Irazoque shares this general timeline:

• 0-6 months: Cooing, vowel-like sounds, laughing, squealing

• 6-9 months: Babbling, such as “mamama” or “dadada”

• 9-12 months: Sound imitation, such as “vroom, vroom” or “moo.” Also makes simple gestures, such as waving “hi.”

• 12 months: Baby’s first word! It could be anything, but some of the most common first words for babies are Mama, Dada or Papa, car, go, more, please, help, eat, milk, bottle, banana, bubble, and ball.

• 12-18 months: Labeling items and using names, such as saying a friend’s name

• 18 months: By this time, toddlers use words more purposefully to ask for something, such as “cookie?”

• 18-24+ months: They have five to 10 words they use regularly. Toddlers may also use simple two-word phrases like “I want” or “more please.”

Babies and Toddlers

Speech and Language Milestones for Birth to 18 Months

Leanne Sherred, M.S., CCC-SLP

What age do babies start talking? Quick answers for parents

As mentioned above, many babies say their first word around 12 months. Some babies will say their first word before their 1-year birthday. Some will say it after their first birthday. This is all normal. Around 24 months, toddlers usually say two-word phrases. 

Factors that influence timing

The first word doesn’t just pop out of nowhere. Language development starts soon after a baby is  born. “The building blocks of communication emerge in the newborn stage, believe it or not!” says Stephanie Cohen, M.A., CCC-SLP, CLC, a speech-language pathologist and author of My First Learn-to-Talk board book series. “As parents hold their infants and talk to them sweetly, infants begin to learn how to turn on their voices and respond,” she says.  

Remember that there is a wide range of “normal” for when babies start talking. “Every child is an individual,” says Cohen. Communication development is influenced by several things: 

• Genetics

• How your child grows

• Medical factors, such as hearing health

• Your child’s environment

Caregivers can make a difference when it comes to a baby's learning environment. Research shows that young children who hear more adults talking develop more speech. It's a good thing when you hear toddlers chatting away, even if you have no idea what they’re saying. “Little ears are listening to the adults around them, who talk in full sentences and have conversations. This is our toddler’s attempt to imitate us before their little mouths are able to converse using words in sentences,” says Cohen.

The takeaway? It’s a good thing to chat with your baby and toddler at home. Learn more about how to do that below. 

Home strategies to encourage talking

Certain factors like your child’s genetics are out of your control. However, you can support talking with several strategies at home. “We know that a language-rich environment supports communication development. This means caregivers talk with their infant or toddler often, respond when their child communicates, and regularly use books during daily routines," says Cohen. Here are specific things our experts recommend to support your child’s speech development:

1 Narrate daily activities

Example: “Let’s go get your shoes. It’s time to get in the car.”

2 Imitate your child as they learn new sounds or words

Example: When your child tries to say the word “banana,” you can respond, “Yes! B–b-ba-na-na.”

3 Use parent speak

Another word for this is “parentese,” which means speaking slowly with lots of emotion and a sing-song voice. 

Example: “Eww, stinky diaper!” or “Peek-a-boo, I see you!”

4 Use communication temptations

Example: Offer your child a toy, snack, or treat. Encourage them to use a word like “help” or the name of the item to receive it. (If they don’t use a word, still give it to them. Just get in the habit of using a pause between the offer and the giving.)

5 Give choices

Example: Offer your toddler two clear choices: “Do you want crackers or a banana?” When your child points or reaches, say, “Crackers? Mmmm, you want crackers.”

Receptive vs. expressive language 

Of course, there’s more to communication than just talking. It’s important to look for other communication skills in your baby, too. That’s where receptive and expressive language come in.

You might hear these terms tossed around, but what do they mean? And, why should caregivers know these terms? Here are their definitions.

Receptive language: Think of this as understanding. A child understands sounds, words, questions, facial expressions, and gestures; understanding language develops before using language.

Expressive language: Think of this as using. It’s when a child uses words, gestures, and sounds to communicate with others.

It’s important to know what these terms are. That way, you can also spot a potential problem. Difficulty understanding speech may be a sign of a receptive language disorder. Difficulty finding the right words when speaking may be a sign of an expressive language disorder.

Milestones and red flags: When to seek an evaluation

You know very well by now that your child is going to do what they want to do on their own time. You also know your child best, so if you’re concerned, seek professional help. 

“By 15 months, most children have said their first word,” says Irazoque. “Between 18 to 30 months, toddlers should be using new words regularly. They should also be starting to combine words into short phrases like ‘more milk’ or ‘bye-bye mommy.’ If a child hasn’t reached these milestones, talk to a professional. Your child’s pediatrician or a speech therapist can provide an evaluation.”

In addition, Irazoque also recommends an evaluation if your child:

• Isn’t learning or using new words 

• Has trouble imitating sounds or words

• Rarely uses gestures (like pointing or waving)

• Seems to have difficulty understanding simple directions

• Gets very frustrated when trying to communicate

To get a better understanding of whether your child is on track, take a look at our milestone checklists by age:

• 0-12 months

• 12-24 months

• 2 years

• 3 years

You can also take our free online screener to see if your toddler might benefit from an evaluation. The questions are tailored to your child’s age, and you’ll receive detailed results within minutes.

Speech and Language Issues

Your Child’s Early Language Development: Key Milestones, Signs of Delay, and Expert Tips

Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP

What to expect at a speech-language evaluation

If you’re nervous about a speech-language evaluation, we have good news for you. With the right speech therapist, this meeting will go smoothly—and you can choose in-person or virtual to meet your unique needs. Either way, the therapist is there to provide support if you and your child need it.

“The main goal of a speech-language evaluation is to get a good picture of how the child is currently communicating and see if speech therapy would be helpful,” says Irazoque. “It’s a very family-centered process. Both the caregiver and the child will be involved in the appointment,” she adds.

At the evaluation, you can expect to:

• Fill out a short questionnaire about your child. It will ask about your child’s medical history, daily routines, and your main concerns. 

• Watch your child play and interact with the speech therapist. “We may bring out toys, books, or bubbles and watch how the child responds, makes sounds, uses gestures, or plays with their caregivers,” says Irazoque.

• Answer questions about what you see at home. This is called a caregiver interview.

“Our goal is to help caregivers feel confident in understanding their child’s communication,” says Irazoque. The speech therapist will also talk to you about next steps. “Even if your child just needs a little extra support, early speech therapy can help them build strong communication skills for years to come," she says.

You can learn more about Expressable’s approach to evaluating and treating babies and toddlers in our early language treatment guide.

How to collaborate with your child’s caregivers

You can work together with other caregivers to help your little one communicate. “Caregivers play such an important role in helping everyone on a child’s team stay on the same page,” says Irazoque.

At daycare, talk to their teacher. Tell them what words, signs, or gestures your child uses. For example, your child might use the sign for “more” when they want more food. Or, they might point when they want something. 

Ask your speech therapist for ideas to share with caregivers. For example, agreeing to all use  the same gesture, word, or visual cue can help your child learn. Plus, it can help everyone communicate with your child better. “It really is all about teamwork. The more consistent communication support the child gets across settings, the faster they’ll make progress and the more confident they’ll feel expressing themselves,” Irazoque says.

Supplies master list

The good news? Special materials are almost never needed to help your child develop language. You can communicate with your child through daily routines, toys, and books you already have at home:

Name and describe foods. Example: “This banana is yellow.” “This apple is round.”

Look into a mirror with your baby. Example: Make a happy face, then a sad face. Say “mama” or “dada.” 

Have two stuffed animals talk to each other. Example: “Hi, I’m a dog,” says the dog stuffie. “Hi, I’m a cat,” says the cat stuffie.

Read together. Example: Read a sensory board book before bed. Move your child’s hand on the fur and say “soft,” or over the ball and say “smooth.”

Look at family photos. Example: Point to dad in the photo and say “dada,” or to grandma and say “grandma.”

Frequently asked questions

What is the earliest a baby can talk?

Babies usually say their first word at around 12 months. But this is variable. Some babies start talking earlier than 1 year. Some start talking later. 

Do early talkers have higher IQ?

There is not good research showing that early talkers have higher IQ. Research shows that talking and interacting with young children is linked to stronger cognitive and language skills when they’re older.

What is considered a late talker?

If a child has not said their first word by 15 months, or they’re not using short phrases by 30 months, they may be a late talker. A speech evaluation can help determine if they are considered a late talker. 

Is it OK if a 2-year-old doesn't talk?

Although every child is different, babies often say their first words around 1 year old. If your toddler hasn’t said their first word by 15 months, or they aren’t using new words regularly, talk to your pediatrician. Your child may benefit from a speech therapy evaluation.

Are boys slower to start talking than girls?

Yes, research shows that girls say their first words and first sentences at a younger age than boys. Girls also have larger vocabularies in their early communications than boys do.

Are younger siblings more likely to be late talkers?

Maybe. Some research suggests that younger siblings have slower language development compared to those who have two or more older siblings, and they have less vocabulary at 18 months. 

Key takeaways

• Babies usually say their first words around 12 months.

• There are many ways babies talk. Full words, sounds, parts of words, and sign language all “count” as talking.

• Caregivers can encourage their babies and toddlers to talk in several ways. Narrate activities, talk in a sing-songy voice, and imitate them when they use new sounds or words.

• If your baby hasn’t said their first word by 15 months, talk to your pediatrician or a speech therapist.

• Play-based speech therapy can help support your child in their language development. A speech therapist can also give you ideas that you can use at home.