Speech & Language Milestones (Birth to 5)

Startles to loud sounds

Quiets or smiles when spoken to

Seems to recognize your voice and quiets if crying

Increases or decreases sucking behavior in response to sound

Makes pleasure sounds (cooing, gooing)

Cries differently for different needs

Smiles when sees you

Moves eyes in direction of sound

Responds to change in tone of your voice

Notices toys that make sounds

Pays attention to music

Babbling sounds more speech-like with many consonants including p, b, m

Chuckles and laughs

Vocalizes excitement and displeasure

Makes gurgling sounds

Coos back and forth with you

Enjoys games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake

Turns and looks in direction of sounds

Listens when spoken to

Recognizes words for common items like "cup," "ball," "book," or "milk"

Begins to respond to request (e.g., "want up?" "come here")

Babbling has both long and short groups of sounds such as "tata pohpoh meemee"

Uses speech or non-crying sounds to get and keep attention

Uses gestures to communicate (lifting arms to be picked up, waving, patting)

Imitates different sounds

Has one or two words (mama, ball, hi, woof, dada, up)

Points to a few body parts when asked

Follows simple commands and understand simple questions ("give a kiss" "pat the dog" "roll the ball" "give it to me")

Listens to simple stories, songs, and rhymes

Points to picture in a book when named

Says more words every month

Uses some one- or two- word questions ("what that?" "where ball?" "go bye?")

Put two words together ("no cookie" "more milk" "baby go")

Uses many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words

Understands differences in meaning ("go-stop, "in-on," "big-little," "up-down")

Follows two step directions ("get your car and put it in the bag")

Listens to and enjoys hearing stories for longer periods of time

Has a word for almost everything

Uses two- or three- words to talk about and ask for things

Uses k, g, f, t, d, and n sounds

Speech is understood by familiar listeners most of the time

Often asks for or directs attention to objects by naming them

Asks why?

May stutter on words or sounds

Hears you when you call from another room

Hears television or radio at the same loudness level as other family members

Understands words for some colors

Understands words for some shapes

Understands words for family members (e.g., "gammy, brother, etc.)

Understands words for order like "first, next, and last"

Understands words for time like "yesterday, today, and tomorrow"

Follows longer directions like "Put your pajamas on, brush your teeth, and then get your shoes"

Follows classroom directions like "Draw a circle on your paper around something you eat"

Hears and understands most of what is said at home and in school

Says all speech in words. May make mistakes on sounds that are harder to say like L, R, TH

Responds to "What did you say?"

Talks without repeating sounds or words most of the time

Names letters and numbers

Uses sentences that have more than 1 action word (e.g., "Today I jumped down and run away."

Keep a conversation going

Talks in different ways depending on the listener and place. May use short sentences with younger children and talk louder outside than inside.