Speech and Language Developmental Milestones for Normally Developing Children (Birth to 1 Year)

Birth to 3 months, the child...

• Startles to loud sound
• Visually tracks sound source
• Attends to and turns head towards voice and/or source of sound
• Smiles reflexively
• Coos back and/or ceases activity to familiar voice

4 to 6 months, the child...

• Raises arms when mother reaches towards him/her
• Reacts to family members when they are named ("mommy", "daddy")
• Explores vocalization by growling, yelling, squealing, making "raspberries"
• Begins to babble, produces double syllables ("mama"), produces vowels

7 to 9 months, the child...

• Looks towards common objects when they are named
• Understands "no"
• Uses gestural language - plays pat-a-cake, peek-a-boo
• Produces various sound combinations and intonation patterns
• Imitates various intonation patterns and speech sounds
• Variegated babbling - produces sound sequence repeatedly ("mabamaba")

10 to 12 months, the child...

• Understands up to 10 words ("no", "bye-bye"); understands simple one-step commands especially with a gesture ("sit down")
• Relates symbol to object
• Produces jargon (babbling that sounds like adult-like speech)
• Gives object upon request
• Understands and follows simple directions
• Indicates needs with gestures and/or vocalization
• Turns and attends instantly to own name
• Produces first true word besides "mama" and/or "dada"

_{Courtesy of Pro-Ed, 8700 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78757-6897}