Birth to 3 months

• Startles to loud, sudden sounds by crying or moving body

• Recognizes caregiver’s voice and quiets if crying

• Has different cries for different needs (e.g. pain versus hunger)

• Makes cooing sounds

• Smiles at people

​

3 to 6 months

• Moves eyes and/or turns head in direction of sounds

• Responds to changes in others’ tone of voice

• Shows delight when bottle or breast is presented

• Babbles and coos when alone and with others

• When babbling, uses consonant-vowel syllable (e.g. ba, pa, mi) and changes in intonation to sound speech-like

​

6 to 9 months

• Begins to understand and respond to simple words like “no” and phrases like “come here” and “want more?”

• Looks at family members when they are named and looks when caregiver points

• Babbles with rhythmic pattern; two or more syllables are often strung together to sound like words, like “mama,” although meaning is not typically understood yet

• Plays games like “pat-a-cake,” “bye-bye,” and “peek-a-boo”

• Shakes head to show “no”

• Uses sounds and gestures to get others’ attention

​

9 to 12 months

• Understands words for common items and people, like “cup,” “milk,” “daddy,” “ball;” understands that words represent objects

• Listens to stories and/or songs for a short time

• Immediately turns and looks directly at source of sounds

• Enjoys imitating simple sounds including animal sounds

• Jabbers loudly and will try to “talk” to others with intent

• Says one or two words, like “hi,” “uh-oh,” “mama,” “dada,” “dog”  

​

12 to 18 months

• Understands approx. 50-75 words

• Points to body parts or pictures in a book when asked

• Follows simple one-step directions (“Roll the ball”)

• Uses 3-20 “real” words, even if they are not produced correctly (e.g. opuh [open], tootie [cookie], baw [ball])

• Uses nonsense words and babbles while pointing

• Imitating words regularly

​

18 to 24 months

• Understands approx. 300 words

• May start to follow 2-step related directions (e.g. “Come here and give me the book.”)

• Can answer simple questions by pointing, shaking/nodding head and single word responses

• Uses approx. 50 words appropriately

• May start to combine two words together

• Starts to ask simple questions (e.g. “What’s that?”)

• Uses [p], [b], [m], [h] and [w] in words

​

2 to 3 years

• Understands approx. 900 words

• Understands 2-step directions and location words such as [in], [on], [under]

• Answers simple WH questions like [what], [who] and [where] about common knowledge or books

• Uses approx. 500 words and likely has a word for almost everything

• Uses 2- to 3 word phrases

• Uses [m], [p], [b], [h], [w], [y], [k], [g], [f], [t], [d], and [n] in words

• Participates in short conversations with others

• Play: Parallel play at 2 years old & more interactive play at 3 years old

​

3 to 4 years

• Understands approx. 1200 words

• Understands various concepts including: colours and shapes,

• Understands negation (e.g. “Which one isn’t on the table?”)

• Follows simple plot in child’s storybook

• Uses approx. 800 words

• Uses 4 words together; may still make mistakes (e.g. “I runned to the park.”)

• Uses various pronouns such as: [I], [me], [you], [they]

• Asks many questions, sometimes the same question over and over

• Speech is understood approx. 70-80% of the time

• Can initiate conversations and make comments or observations to some people

​

4 to 5 years

• Understands approx. 2500-2800 words

• Understands directions containing 3-4 important elements (e.g. “Find the green ball and put it in the closet.”)

• Understands most of what is heard at home and school

• Uses approx. 1,500-2,000 words

• Can retell and make up simple stories using pictures, books or with dolls

• Uses most speech sounds in words but may make some mistakes on [s], [z], [l], [r], [sh], [ch], [th], [j], [v]

• Speaks clearly 80-90% of the time

​

References:

• Super Duper Handy Handouts 

• Speech-Language & Audiology Canada - Milestones​​