Age-Appropriate Hearing, Speech and Language Milestones

Birth to 3 months

• Reacts to familiar sounds or voices. For example, calms down when hearing parent’s voice.
• Reacts to sudden loud sounds. May blink, startle, or cry.
• Makes vocal sounds other than crying.

3 months to 4 months

• Looks in the direction of a sound to see where it’s coming from.
• Makes sounds back when you talk to them.
• Makes sounds, such as “oooo” and “ahhh” (cooing).

4 months to 6 months

• Laughs.
• Takes turns making sounds with you.
• Makes squealing sounds.
• Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows).

6 months to 9 months

• Babbles, making repetitive sounds, such as “mama” and “baba.”
• Looks when you call their name.
• Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo.

9 months to 12 months

• Understands "no."
• Waves "bye-bye."
• Calls a parent "mama" or "dada" or another special name.

12 months to 15 months

• Tries to say 1 or 2 words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog.
• Follows simple directions when given with both a gesture and word. For example, they give you a book when you hold your hand out and say, "Give me the book."
• Looks at a familiar object when you name it.
• Points to ask for something or get help.

15 months to 18 months

• Tries to say 3 or more words besides “mama” or “dada.”
• Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you an object when you say, “Give it to me.”

18 months to 24 months

• Combines at least 2 words into short phrases, such as “more cookie” or “want milk.”
• Points to at least 2 body parts when you ask them to show you.
• Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes.
• Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the fish?”

24 months to 30 months

• Says about 50 words.
• Says 2 or more words, with 1 action word, like “Doggie run.”
• Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
• Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we.”
• Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”

30 months to 3 years

• Talks with you in conversation using at least 2 back-and-forth exchanges.
• Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is my ball?”
• Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “swimming,” “eating,” or “walking.”
• Says first name, when asked.
• Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time.

3 years to 4 years

• Says sentences with 4 or more words.
• Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme.
• Talks about at least 1 thing that happened during their day.
• Answers simple questions like “What is a pencil for?”

4 years to 5 years

• Tells a story they heard or made up with at least 2 events. For example, a dog was lost and a friend found it.
• Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to them.
• Keeps a conversation going with more than 3 back-and-forth exchanges.
• Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall).