| Birth to 3 months |
- Reacts to familiar sounds or voices. For example, calms down when hearing parent’s voice.
- Reacts to sudden loud sounds. May blink, startle, or cry.
- Makes vocal sounds other than crying.
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| 3 months to 4 months |
- Looks in the direction of a sound to see where it’s coming from.
- Makes sounds back when you talk to them.
- Makes sounds, such as “oooo” and “ahhh” (cooing).
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| 4 months to 6 months |
- Laughs.
- Takes turns making sounds with you.
- Makes squealing sounds.
- Blows “raspberries” (sticks tongue out and blows).
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| 6 months to 9 months |
- Babbles, making repetitive sounds, such as “mama” and “baba.”
- Looks when you call their name.
- Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo.
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| 9 months to 12 months |
- Understands "no."
- Waves "bye-bye."
- Calls a parent "mama" or "dada" or another special name.
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| 12 months to 15 months |
- Tries to say 1 or 2 words besides “mama” or “dada,” like “ba” for ball or “da” for dog.
- Follows simple directions when given with both a gesture and word. For example, they give you a book when you hold your hand out and say, "Give me the book."
- Looks at a familiar object when you name it.
- Points to ask for something or get help.
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| 15 months to 18 months |
- Tries to say 3 or more words besides “mama” or “dada.”
- Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you an object when you say, “Give it to me.”
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| 18 months to 24 months |
- Combines at least 2 words into short phrases, such as “more cookie” or “want milk.”
- Points to at least 2 body parts when you ask them to show you.
- Uses more gestures than just waving and pointing, like blowing a kiss or nodding yes.
- Points to things in a book when you ask, like “Where is the fish?”
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| 24 months to 30 months |
- Says about 50 words.
- Says 2 or more words, with one action word, like “Doggie run.”
- Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
- Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we.”
- Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “It’s clean-up time.”
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| 30 months to 3 years |
- Talks with you in conversation using at least 2 back-and-forth exchanges.
- Asks “who,” “what,” “where,” or “why” questions, like “Where is my ball?”
- Says what action is happening in a picture or book when asked, like “swimming,” “eating,” or “walking.”
- Says first name, when asked.
- Talks well enough for others to understand, most of the time.
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| 3 years to 4 years |
- Says sentences with 4 or more words.
- Says some words from a song, story, or nursery rhyme.
- Talks about at least 1 thing that happened during their day.
- Answers simple questions like “What is a pencil for?”
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| 4 years to 5 years |
- Tells a story they heard or made up with at least 2 events. For example, a dog was lost and a friend found it.
- Answers simple questions about a book or story after you read or tell it to them.
- Keeps a conversation going with more than 3 back-and-forth exchanges.
- Uses or recognizes simple rhymes (bat-cat, ball-tall).
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