“Is My Child’s Speech on Track?
Wondering if your child’s speech is on track or delayed? Read on for captivating information. :)
As a parent, it's natural to wonder whether your child’s communication skills are developing “on time.” Knowing what to expect at various ages—and when it might be time to seek help—can give you peace of mind and help you play an active role in your child’s speech-language journey.
The American Speech‐Language‐Hearing Association (ASHA) has published age-based milestone charts for hearing, speech, and language development. These are not diagnostic tools, but rather a way to know what is typical—and when you might want to consult with a professional. Below, you’ll find key milestones for children from birth through age five, grouped by age ranges, along with links to ASHA’s pages and PDF handouts.
**Remember—each child develops at their own rate—so if your child isn’t hitting every milestone, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem—but if you notice many that are missing or if you have concerns, it’s worth discussing with your pediatrician or a certified speech-language pathologist (SLP).
Birth to 1 Year
ASHA resource: Communication Milestones: Birth to 1 Year
Milestones to expect
Birth–3 months: Alerts to sound, quietly smiles when you talk, coos (oooo, aahh, mmmm), turns toward voices.
4–6 months: Laughs/giggles, responds to facial expressions, follows objects with eyes, vocalizes various vowel-sounds, “blows raspberries.”
7–9 months: Babbles long strings (mamamama, upupup), looks when you call their name, uses gestures, recognizes some names/objects.
10–12 months: Points, waves, gives objects, imitates sounds, responds to simple words/phrases, may say “mama,” “dada,” “hi,” “bye.”
Language Building Tips
Talk often: narrate what you’re doing, describe what your baby sees, responds to, and does.
Encourage turn-taking: When your baby coos or babbles, respond back. This builds conversational foundations.
Check hearing: If your baby isn’t turning toward sounds or voices, it’s worth mentioning to your pediatrician.
If your baby isn’t doing many of these by around 12 months (especially pointing, waving, responding to name), consider asking about a speech-language/hearing check.
13 to 18 Months
ASHA resource: Communication Milestones: 13 to 18 Months
Milestones to expect
Understands and uses words for common objects/actions/people.
Follows simple directions like “Give me the ball,” “Show me your nose.”
Points to request, to comment, or to get information.
Shakes head “no,” nods “yes.” Uses gestures (clapping, high-five) when excited.
Language Building Tips
Expand vocabulary: Name objects and actions in everyday routines (e.g., “You’re eating a banana,” “We’re going up the stairs”).
Use gestures and words together: When you say “bye-bye,” wave. Join gesture + word to support meaning.
Read together: Even just a few minutes a day helps build language awareness.
If your child is showing very few words, gestures, or responses by 18 months, mention it to your doctor.
19 to 24 Months
ASHA resource: Communication Milestones: 19 to 24 Months
Milestones to expect
Vocabulary growth: Your child starts naming many things, uses more words each week.
Combines words: Two-word combinations like “more juice,” “big truck,” begin to appear.
Understands more directions and responds to “who/what/where” questions.
Speech may still be unclear, but should be increasingly understandable to familiar listeners.
Language Building Tips
Model longer phrases: Even if your child says “truck go,” you might respond, “Yes, the big red truck is going fast!”
Encourage turn-taking during play: Ask simple questions, pause and give your child a chance to respond.
If your child has fewer than ~50 words and isn’t combining words by 24 months, it’s wise to talk with your pediatrician or SLP.
2 to 3 Years
ASHA resource: Communication Milestones: 2 to 3 Years
Milestones to expect
Uses phrases/sentences of 3-4 or more words: e.g., “I want cookie,” “Mommy read book.”
People beyond the family (e.g., daycare providers) can understand much of the child’s speech.
Uses pronouns (“me,” “you”), understands basic concepts (in/on/under), asks “what” or “where” questions.
Language Building Tips
Encourage story-telling: Ask, “What happened today?” Listen and expand on your child’s description.
Introduce more diverse vocabulary: Use words like “after,” “before,” “because,” “so.”
Engage in pretend play: This supports language use, storytelling, and complex sentences.
If your child has very limited phrases, uses mostly single words, or is difficult to understand even by familiar adults, consider an evaluation.
3 to 4 Years
ASHA resource: Communication Milestones: 3 to 4 Years
Milestones to expect
Communicates easily with other children and adults, tells stories, uses sentences of 4–5 words or more.
Answers “who,” “what,” “where,” and “when” questions; understands more complex concepts (e.g., same/different).
Speech is mostly clear to strangers.
Language Building Tips
Ask open-ended questions: “What do you think will happen when…?”
Expand past simple play: Encourage plans (“Let’s build a house for the dinosaurs”), explanations (“Why do you think the plant needs water?”).
Make sure your child interacts with peers—social language practice is key.
If your child rarely uses sentences, is hard to understand, or avoids talking, reach out for guidance.
4 to 5 Years
ASHA resource: Communication Milestones: 4 to 5 Years
Milestones to expect
Uses longer, more complex sentences (5–8 words or more).
Understands and uses past/future tenses.
Speech is clear, vocabulary is growing, uses language to reason, describe, explain.
Can tell a short story, retell parts of a book, maintain conversation with peers and adults.
Language Building Tips
Read more advanced picture books and ask your child to retell the story in their own words.
Introduce games that involve describing, predicting, reasoning (e.g., “What will happen if…”).
Help your child expand vocabulary: talk about emotions (“frustrated,” “excited”), time (“yesterday,” “next week”), size (“tiny,” “huge”), position (“between,” “behind”).
If you find that even familiar adults have trouble understanding your child, or your child seems to avoid talking or has difficulty following multi-step directions, seeking an SLP evaluation may be helpful.
A Few Closing Thoughts
Keep in mind that these milestone ranges are guidelines, not strict deadlines. Some children may reach certain milestones early, others later, and still be developing typically. ASHA emphasizes that “each child develops uniquely, even within the same family.” Language development benefits from rich interaction: talking, reading, playing, narrating everyday routines, listening and responding to your child, and using your strongest language (or languages) at home.
If many milestones in an age range are missing—or if you notice concerns with hearing, social interest in communicating, or your child’s speech is far behind peers—it’s best to speak with your pediatrician for a hearing screening or a speech-language pathologist for a language screening.
*Remember Early Intervention matters. The sooner you identify and act on communication challenges, the better chances of helping your child succeed. Contact us for a free consultation over the phone or email, if you’re not sure: 385-246-2684 or info@coppermountainspeech.com