Baby Language Development Milestones

A complicated process, language involves more than just speaking. Language is an interplay of hearing, speaking, gesturing and so on. During the first years of a baby's life, language acquisition rapidly expands. Parents can mark children's progress by following language development milestones.

Newborn to 3 months

• Between birth and 3 months of age, she will smile when caretakers talk with her. She will also begin to coo and express pleasure through acts like laughing. Another milestone during these first few months is that she will develop different cries to express her wide variety of moods, such as hunger, discomfort and boredom.

Between 3 months and 6 months

• During this time period, the baby will start to carry conversations with adults by making noises. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders explains that infants often babble in a way that imitates speech. This is also the time when babies start to notice different voice tones.

Between 6 months and 12 months

• Once they pass the 6 month mark, babies begin to understand the word "No." They also start communicating with their hands. At this age, children start to answer simple questions. Parents may notice that a baby's first words appear between these months, according to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. By the time he reaches the age of 1, he may have up to two words in vocabulary arsenal, according to the NIDCD.

Between 12 months and 18 months

• The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh explains that a child may expand their vocabulary to include up to six words during this time period. Before 18 months, children often learn to identify body parts by pointing. Another milestone, prompted greetings such as "Hi" and "Bye" begin at this age.

Between 18 months and 2 years

• Between 18 months and 2 years of age, she may learn polite gestures like saying "Please" and "Thank you." According to The Ohio State University Extension, children will learn how to say up to 50 words. They will also be capable of understanding more words than they speak. The pre-cursor for sentences occurs before 2 years old. Children begin to combine two words to make their points.

Consideration

• Every child reaches milestones at their own speed. If a language delay is suspected, parents should contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible. The provider may refer the parent to a speech therapist for further evaluation.