At What Age Should A Baby Talk? | Milestones And Delays

Parents ask “at what age should a baby talk?” because they want a clear timeline and simple ways to help. Here’s a straight answer, then the detail: speech and language grow step by step—from early cooing to babbling, first words, then short phrases. You’ll see wide variation, but patterns are consistent across most children.

At What Age Should A Baby Talk?

Short version: a first word commonly lands near the first birthday, and two-word phrases (like “more milk”) often show up by year two. Before that, babies build the system that makes words possible—eye contact, turn-taking, gestures, sound play, and understanding simple words. If your child isn’t on that path, early help makes a big difference.

Speech And Language Milestones By Age (Quick Table)

Use this broad-to-specific snapshot to see what most children do and what you can try next. Babies progress at different paces; the ideas below work for any stage.

Age Range	What You’ll Hear/See	What To Encourage
0–2 Months	Cooing, soft vowel sounds, quiet alert moments	Face-to-face talk, sing, gentle “serve and return” chats
2–4 Months	More coos, smiles, sound imitation starts	Pause after you talk so baby can “answer” with a sound
4–6 Months	Babbling begins (ba, da), squeals, raspberries	Model syllables, repeat baby’s sounds back and add one
6–9 Months	Reduplicated babble (bababa), name response, pointing	Name objects the baby watches; label actions in real time
9–12 Months	First word may appear; follows simple requests	Offer choices (“banana or apple?”), wait for a sound/gesture
12–18 Months	1–10+ words across this window	Daily naming walks at home; exaggerate key words
18–24 Months	Explosion for many children; 2-word combos	Expand (“dog” → “big dog”), model short phrases
24–36 Months	Sentences grow; strangers understand more	Open-ended prompts, lots of back-and-forth talk

When Do Babies Start Talking? Practical Timeline

Talking isn’t a switch. It’s a stack of layers that build on each other:

Cooing And Early Sounds (0–4 Months)

Those soft “oo/ah” sounds matter. They help your baby practice breath, voice, and taking turns. Treat every coo like a message—smile, answer, and pause. That back-and-forth pattern sets the base for conversation later.

Babbling And Play With Sounds (4–9 Months)

Now you’ll hear strings like “bababa” or “dadada.” Repetition shows growing control of lips and tongue. You may also notice longer stretches of attention and more copying of your tone. Keep the game going by mirroring a sound, then adding one more step.

First Meanings And Gestures (8–12 Months)

Pointing, waving, and showing are language too. Many babies understand common words (“cup,” “ball”) before they can say them. A first true word may arrive before or after 12 months. Whether it’s “mama,” “ball,” or a pet name, treat it like gold—respond, repeat, and celebrate.

Word Growth (12–18 Months)

Across this stretch, many children move from a few words to a small list. A favorite food, an animal, a person—these are common early choices. Keep choices simple and repeat labels during real moments, not as a quiz.

Two-Word Phrases (18–24 Months)

Short phrases like “more milk,” “big truck,” or “daddy go” often appear as understanding jumps. If your child says one word, you can “stretch” it to two (“milk” → “want milk”). Short, natural phrases work best.

Sentences And Clarity (24–36 Months)

By the third year, sentences get longer and strangers catch more of what your child says. Grammar won’t be perfect; that’s fine. The goal is steady progress in both understanding and expression.

How To Help Talking Start Sooner

Talk During Real Moments

Language sticks when it’s tied to life. Narrate diaper changes, meals, and play. Short lines beat long monologues: “Spoon. Stir. Hot soup. Blow.”

Follow Your Child’s Lead

Watch where your child looks or points. Name that thing, then add a simple action word. If it’s the cat: “Cat. Soft cat. Cat sleeps.”

Use Repetition With Small Tweaks

Echo your child’s sound or word, then add one piece. “Ball” → “red ball.” “Dog” → “big dog run.” This tiny step teaches how words fit together.

Read And Sing Daily

Rhymes and simple books build rhythm and vocabulary. Point to pictures as you name them. Pause to let your child add a sound or point to a choice.

Limit Passive Screen Time

Live conversation beats background media. If a video is on, co-view and talk about what you see. Your voice and face matter far more than any animation.

What’s Normal Variation Versus A Delay?

Every child has a unique pace, and progress often comes in bursts. Even so, there are common markers that help you decide when to get extra help. Midway through your read, here’s one reliable reference: the CDC’s developmental milestones list what most children (about 75% or more) do by each age. If you have a concern, you can also skim this overview of speech and language milestones from the NIDCD.

Green Flags

• Plenty of eye contact and turn-taking sounds
• Gestures like pointing or waving by the end of year one
• Steady growth in understanding (follows simple directions)

Yellow Flags

• No babbling by 6–7 months
• No gestures by 10–12 months
• Few or no words by 16 months
• No two-word phrases by 24 months

Red Flags

• No response to name or to common sounds
• Loss of words or social interest after having them
• Very limited eye contact or little interest in interaction

At What Age Should A Baby Talk? Context That Helps

That exact phrase shows up in search because families want certainty. Real life gives ranges. Birth circumstances, hearing, sleep, temperament, exposure to more than one language, and health can shift timelines. The goal isn’t to hit a date; it’s steady forward motion across cooing, babble, words, and phrases.

When To Ask For An Evaluation (And What Happens)

If a delay is likely, an earlier check is better. Your pediatrician can review hearing, mouth structure, movement, and language skills, then suggest next steps. In many regions, public early-intervention services offer no-cost screening for children under three. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can test understanding, expression, and play skills, then create a plan you can use at home.

Who May Be Involved

• Pediatrician for screening and referrals
• Audiologist for hearing tests
• Speech-language pathologist for targeted practice
• Early-intervention coordinator to connect services

Common Reasons For Late Talking (And What Helps)

Late talking can have many sources, from hearing issues to a simple need for more back-and-forth talk. Some children grow language mainly through play and real-time modeling; others need structured practice to unlock their next step.

Possible Reason	What You’ll Notice	What Helps
Hearing Issues	Missed name calls, frequent ear infections	Medical exam; formal hearing test; talk near ear level
Limited Interaction Time	Few chances for back-and-forth	Daily 10-minute “talk time” blocks tied to routines
Late Talker Profile	Good understanding, few spoken words	Model short phrases; expand child’s words during play
Oral-Motor Coordination	Effortful babble or unclear sounds	SLP strategies for sound shaping and repetition
Limited Play Variety	Repetitive play, fewer pretend acts	Play kits with actions to label (feed, wash, park)
Developmental Language Disorder	Ongoing language gaps beyond age ranges	SLP therapy plus home carryover, steady vocabulary work
Bilingual Exposure	Vocabulary spread across two languages	Rich input in both; more total words across languages

Age-By-Age Coaching You Can Use Today

0–6 Months: Build Back-And-Forth

Hold the gaze for a beat, talk in short bursts, then pause. Let baby add a coo. Repeat that cycle often. Use soothing songs and clear mouth shapes so baby can read your lips.

6–12 Months: Label What Your Baby Watches

If eyes are on the dog, talk about the dog. Name, then action: “Dog. Soft dog. Dog runs.” Respond to all sounds like real attempts. First words often follow this period of heavy labeling.

12–18 Months: Grow Words With Choices

Offer two options—“pear or banana?”—and pause. Any sound, gesture, or point counts as a turn. Repeat the chosen word with emphasis, then add one element: “banana… yellow banana.”

18–24 Months: Stretch Into Phrases

Turn single words into short lines. If your child says “truck,” you say “big truck” or “truck go.” Keep it playful; follow your child’s topic.

24–36 Months: Expand Conversation

Ask simple “what” or “where” questions tied to the moment. Narrate feelings and routines. Read picture books with repeated lines so your child can jump in.

Helpful Benchmarks And Where To Read More

Milestones are guides, not scorecards. Still, they help you spot when to check in with your doctor. You can compare your child’s skills with the CDC’s age pages (for instance, the 12-month milestones or 18-month milestones) and keep a list to bring to visits. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ parent site also explains what to do if you see a possible language delay, including when doctors use screening tools and when to refer to an SLP.

Quick Answers To Common Worries

“My Child Isn’t Saying Words At 15 Months”

Check for steady babble, gestures, and understanding. Add daily naming games and short phrase models. If no words by 16 months or you’re unsure about hearing, book an appointment.

“Two Languages At Home—Will That Slow Talking?”

Two languages don’t cause language problems. Total vocabulary often spreads across both. Keep rich input in each language from people who speak them well.

“Strangers Still Struggle To Understand At Age Three”

Clarity improves across the third year. If speech is hard to understand most of the time, ask for an SLP screen to check sound patterns and mouth coordination.

Our Method, In Brief

This guide organizes widely accepted milestone ranges from public health and medical sources and pairs them with day-to-day coaching that fits family routines. We avoid one-size promises and focus on actions you can try now.

Bottom Line For Parents

Talking builds layer by layer. Many babies say a first word near 12 months and put two words together by 24 months. If progress stalls—or if your gut says the path looks different—schedule a visit and ask about hearing and an SLP screen. Early steps bring faster gains, and the best tool you have is simple: frequent, warm, back-and-forth talk during real life.