Is your baby not talking yet?
By. Rachel Koshy MS, CCC-SLP
So, your little one is approaching the stage where those first words should start emerging. It's an exciting milestone, but let's be real – it comes with a side of nerves. You catch yourself thinking, 'Wait, why isn't my baby talking yet?' and questioning if they should be by now. The comparison game begins – the glances at other babies in the park, the playdates turned into mini speech assessments. Sound familiar?
Take a deep breath because you're not alone. Moms everywhere go through this, and it's okay to wonder. In this guide, we'll navigate this journey together, helping you figure out if your baby is on the right track.
Pre-talking skills:
From the moment your little one arrives, they bring with them a remarkable gift – the innate sponge-like ability to soak in the world of spoken language. Research tells us that even in those early days, newborns are finely tuned to the subtle nuances of speech sounds, especially those coming from their favorite people – you and other caregivers!
Ever notice how your baby seems to light up at the sound of your voice? Well, that’s because they're wired to prefer the sound of your voice and the familiar melody of their native language. These inborn skills, coupled with your loving support, lay the groundwork for the language journey ahead.
Before your baby utters that first word, they're already mastering the building blocks for their future chatter—let’s call it their 'pre-talking' skills. Think of it as their rehearsal for the big talking toddler debut.
Now, let's dive into some 'pre-talking' skills. As you go through the following list, remember that these age ranges are approximations and may vary among children.
Milestones in Pre-Talking Skills:
Early Smiles: Your baby begins flashing those heart-melting smiles as early as one month. At around 2-3 months get ready for the enchanting sounds of coos and giggles. And by the 3-month mark, you'll experience the joy of responsive grins. These smiles and grins aren't just adorable; they signify that your baby is already coordinating attention with you, and this connection is crucial for their language development.
Turning Heads: By 3 months, your little explorer also turns their head at the sound of your voice, a clear sign they're tuning into the language around them.
Vocal Playtime: Between 6 to 12 months, you'll witness your baby engaging in vocal play with you and others, creating a delightful dance of connection and turn taking. You’re in for a treat as your baby discovers and practices all the different sounds they can make with their voice and mouth.
Babbling: Between 6 and 12 months, your tiny chatterbox begins the babbling journey, weaving together vowel and consonant speech sounds.
Imitates Sounds and Gestures: By 9 months, your baby becomes a little copycat, imitating your gestures and silly sounds with enthusiasm.
Shared Attention: Between 6 to 9 months, your baby masters the art of shared attention. When you gaze at or point to an object, your baby follows suit, looking at the same thing, then back at you, creating a delightful back-and-forth of shared attention.
Social Gestures: Also around 6 to 9 months, observe as your baby begins to use social gestures, such as reaching out their hand, pointing, clapping, and waving. During this period, your little one will vocalize and point to both capture and guide your attention. This ability is a promising predictor of language comprehension as they continue to develop.
Follows Simple Directions: As your little explorer hits 9 to 12 months, they begin to understand and follow some simple verbal directions, such as 'come here,' 'give me’ and 'clap hands.' They may still need the help of visual cues from you to fully understand at this early stage.
Responds to Their Name: Picture this around 9 to 12 months – your baby responds more consistently to their name when you call, marking another milestone in their growing awareness.
So there you have it, moms! Enjoy the ride as your little one's unique communication journey unfolds, one milestone at a time. These are some of the main ‘pre-talking’ skills that we expect to see before your baby starts talking. If your baby meets many or all of these milestones, then they are on the way to talking and saying their first words around twelve months of age. If, after reviewing the list, you think your baby or toddler has taken a pause on the road to first words, there’s still lots you can do to help them catch up. Reach out to your pediatrician and share your concerns about your child's speech development. They can offer guidance or refer you to a pediatric speech and language pathologist if needed. Connecting with a professional can provide valuable insights and support for your little one's communication journey.
I am a speech and language pathologist but I am not your child's speech and language pathologist. This content is general in nature and does not constitute medical advice. You should consult with medical professionals before relying on this content. Learn more in our Terms of Use.
References:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Social communication benchmarks. Retrieved from https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/social-communication-disorder/social-communication-benchmarks/
Owens, Jr., R. E. (1996). Language Development: An Introduction (4th ed.). Allen & Bacon, a Simon & Schuster Company.
Watt, N., Wetherby, A., & Shumway, S. (2006). Prelinguistic predictors of language outcome at 3 years of age. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 49(6), 1224-1237.