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Parenting and child development

Language development

How a child learns to understand and use sounds, gestures and words, from early squeals to first words, two-word phrases and short stories.

What It Means

Language development is how a child comes to understand what people say and to communicate back, first with sounds and gestures and then with words and sentences. CDC tracks it as language and communication, one of the four areas on its milestone checklists. The milestonesDevelopmental milestonesSkills most children can do by a certain age, like rolling over or waving bye-bye. CDC places each at the age 75% or more of children reach it. See more cover both sides: understanding, like pointing to a body part when asked, and speaking or signaling, like waving bye-bye or putting two words together.

Try It: Check CDC's Language Milestones for Age 2

For a child who has turned 2. Tick what you've seen your child do. These are CDC's language and communication milestones for 2 years.

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CDC sets these where 75% or more of children have them, so mention any you haven't seen to your child's doctor.

How Parents Say It

  • "She says 'ba' for ball and for bottle."
  • "He understands everything, he just doesn't say much yet."
  • "They're talking in full sentences now."

The Breakdown

Language and communication milestones by age, from CDC's checklists

By this ageMost children (75% or more)
6 monthsSqueal; take turns making sounds with you
1 yearWave bye-bye; call a parent mama, dada or another special name
18 monthsTry to say three or more words besides mama or dada
2 yearsSay at least two words together, like "More milk"; point to things in a book when asked; point to at least two body parts when asked; use more gestures than waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes
5 yearsTell a storyUser storyA short description of something a product should do, written from the point of view of the person who needs it, often in the form "As a, I want, so that." See more they heard or made up, with at least two events

When to talk to the doctor. CDC recommends talking with your child's doctor about any concern with how your child speaks or communicates. Each milestone was placed at the age most children already reach it, so that even one missing would prompt a closer look. Bring up any gap at the next well-child visit, or sooner if you're worried. Taking the checklist for your child's age to the appointment makes it easier to say exactly what you've seen.

Good to Know

CDC's lists cover understanding as well as talking. A child who points to body parts when asked is showing understanding, whether or not many words have come yet. If a hearing or speech question comes up, your child's doctor can tell you whether a screening or a referral makes sense.

FAQ

When do babies say their first words?

CDC lists calling a parent mama, dada or another special name as something most children do by 1 year. By 18 months, most try to say three or more words besides mama or dada.

When should a child put two words together?

CDC's checklist has saying at least two words together, like "More milk," among the milestones most children reach by 2 years.

When should I worry about my child's speech?

Talk with your child's doctor whenever you have a concern, which is CDC's advice. CDC places each milestone where 75% or more of children already have it, so even one missing language milestone is worth raising.

Do It in Buhata

Tasks, Household Space

Add a Task in your Household Space in Buhata to go through CDC's language milestones for your child's age before each checkup.

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Related Terms and Categories

  • Expressive language

    The sending side of language: putting wants, thoughts and ideas into words, signs, gestures or writing. Receptive language is the understanding side.

  • First words

    The first real words a baby says on purpose; CDC's checklists expect most children to try one or two words besides mama or dada by 15 months.

  • Speech delay

    When a child's talking develops more slowly than most children the same age, in making speech sounds, in using words, or both.

Parenting and child development

Sources

CDC, "CDC's Developmental Milestones"; CDC, "Key Points about CDC's Developmental Milestone Checklists"; CDC, "Milestones by 6 Months", "1 Year", "18 Months", "2 Years" and "5 Years"

Last updated .