Developmental Milestones

Calms down or smiles when spoken to

Seems to recognize familiar voices

Startles and reacts upon hearing loud noises

Starts or stops feeding in response to sound

Begins to coo and make pleasure sounds

Cries differently for different needs

Follows sounds with their eyes

Responds to changes in the tone of your voice

Makes gurgling sounds when playing with you or alone

Uses their voice to express pleasure and displeasure

Notices music and toys that make sounds

Babbles in a speech-like way during playtime

Smiles during interaction with familiar faces

Laughs and giggles

Says a few words, like “mama” or “uh-oh”

Understands simple commands like, “come here”

Shows anxiety when separated from main caregivers

Recognizes words for common items, like “juice”

Responds to word “no”

Uses speech sounds to get attention

Uses nouns almost exclusively

Listens when spoken to

Communicates using gestures like holding up arms

Imitates different speech sounds

Identifies pictures or objects by pointing

Recognizes the names of familiar people, objects and body parts

Follows simple directions accompanied by gestures

Practices voice intonation, sometimes imitating others

Uses inflection and emotion even if speech is unintelligible

Asks one- or two-word questions, like “more milk?”

Understands simple questions, like “where’s your bear?”

Has a growing vocabulary of 5-20 words

Enjoys simple stories, songs, and nursery rhymes

Uses a variety of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

Requests specific item by name

Has a word to communicate almost everything

Has growing vocabulary of 50-250words

Begins to use verbs, plurals and past tense

Uses vowels correctly

Speaks in a way that is understood by family and friends

Explains experiences in short, 3-4 word sentences

Uses two-or three-word phrases to talk about or request things

Uses speech that is 50-70% intelligible to strangers

Understands between 500-900 words

Asks short 1-2 word questions

Answers yes and no questions

Has a growing vocabulary of 800-1500 words

Speaks using 4- or 5- words sentences

Uses pronouns during speech

Talks about experiences and events in chronological order

Engages in conversations

Begins to identify colors and animals

Imitates many words, phrases, sounds

Understands constrasts

Uses at least four prepositions

Uses speech that is 80% intelligible to strangers

Understands between 1200-2000 words

Answers simple “who?” “what?” “where?” and “why?’ questions

Repeats sentences as long as 9 words

Uses speech that’s intelligible, even if articulation errors are present

Counts to 10 without help

Knows and understands opposites

Understands simple time concepts

Uses adjectives and adverbs in conversations

Repeats 4 syllable words

Has the ability to define common words

Pays attention to and comprehends short stories

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

Tells stories that stay on topic

Communicates easily with others

Says most sounds correctly

Uses rhyming words

Names some letters and numbers

Uses adult grammar

Sources: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association & U.S. Department Of Health & Human Services