Early speech and language milestones: What to expect from birth to 3 years

By Emma O’Dwyer, Speech and Language Therapist & IBCLC
Baby Speak | Speech and Language Therapy, Harley Street, London

Understanding Early Communication

Every baby develops language in their own way but there are key milestones that help us understand how communication typically unfolds in the first three years.

As Speech and Language Therapists, we use these milestones to guide parents in recognising what’s developing well and where extra support might help.

At Baby Speak, we believe early communication starts long before your child says their first words; it begins through connection, eye contact, and responsive interaction.

Birth to 6 Months - Building the Foundations

In the first six months, babies are learning that their voices matter.
They communicate through crying, cooing, facial expressions, and shared attention.

What to look for:

• Turns towards familiar voices and sounds

• Smiles in response to your voice

• Makes cooing sounds like “oooh” or “ahhh”

• Starts to recognise routines and tone of voice

• Uses eye contact and body movements to communicate needs

Speech and Language Therapists call this “pre-linguistic communication” - the building blocks of all language.

How you can help:

• Talk to your baby often, using warm, animated expression

• Respond to their sounds - it teaches them that communication is two-way

• Sing, read, and copy their coos or babbles

Learn more about our Speech and Language Therapy services in London

6 to 12 Months - Babbling and Understanding

Between 6–12 months, babies experiment with babbling - the earliest stage of speech.

Common milestones:

• Babbling strings of sounds: “ba-ba”, “da-da”, “ma-ma”

• Recognises their name

• Looks toward familiar people when named

• Enjoys turn-taking games (peekaboo, clapping)

• Begins to understand familiar words like “milk” or “bye-bye”

How to support this stage:

• Label everyday objects and routines (“Here’s your spoon”, “Daddy’s shoes”)

• Play interactive games with repetition and fun sounds

• Reduce background noise so your baby can focus on your voice

Read more about how feeding supports communication development

12 to 24 Months - First Words and Simple Phrases

This is an exciting stage where your toddler begins to use words intentionally and understand more complex instructions.

Typical milestones:

• First words around 12–15 months

• Understands simple questions (“Where’s your cup?”)

• Uses gestures with words (“up”, “more”, “bye-bye”)

• Follows short instructions (“Get your shoes”)

• By 24 months, may use 50+ words and start to combine two words (“more milk”, “mummy go”)

How to help:

• Model simple sentences during play (“Push the car”, “Teddy’s sleeping”)

• Expand what they say: if your child says “car”, you can add “big car!”

• Give choices to encourage communication (“Do you want apple or banana?”)

If you’re unsure about your child’s progress, a speech and language assessment can offer reassurance and practical guidance.
Find out about private speech and language assessments in London

24 to 36 Months - Building Sentences and Social Skills

By age 3, children are learning how to combine language and play.
You’ll see rapid growth in vocabulary, imagination, and conversational skills.

Typical milestones:

• Vocabulary grows to 200–500 words

• Uses short sentences (3–5 words)

• Begins to use grammar (“I want juice”, “Daddy’s car”)

• Understands simple concepts (big/little, up/down)

• Enjoys pretend play and taking turns in conversation

• Strangers can understand most of what they say

Support ideas:

• Read short books daily and ask open-ended questions

• Talk about what you’re doing together (“We’re cutting the apple”)

• Praise all communication attempts, even gestures or sounds

See how our SLTs support toddlers and preschoolers in communication and play

When to Seek Support

Every child develops at their own pace, but early intervention can make a big difference.
Consider contacting a Speech and Language Therapist if your child:

• Isn’t babbling by 9–10 months

• Uses fewer than 10 words, signs or gestures by 18 months

• Isn’t combining words by 2½ years

• Rarely points, gestures, or shows you things

• Doesn’t respond to their name or simple instructions

At Baby Speak, we offer home visits across North, Central, West and East London, as well as sessions at our Harley Street clinic and online.

Evidence-Based Practice: Why Early Support Matters

Early communication skills are strongly linked to later language, literacy, and social-emotional outcomes.
Research shows that responsive interactions, when parents respond to their child’s communication attempts, significantly enhance language growth.

“Language learning begins in the first year of life through social interaction. Early caregiver responsiveness predicts later vocabulary size.”
- Tamis-LeMonda et al., 2001; Rowe, 2012

Early identification and intervention can help prevent later difficulties and support smoother transitions into nursery and school.

Supporting Families, Building Confidence

At Baby Speak, our team of experienced paediatric SLTs work collaboratively with parents to create fun, engaging, and goal-focused therapy - helping every child find their voice.

Learn more or book an appointment: www.babyspeak.co.uk

References

• Tamis-LeMonda, C.S., Bornstein, M.H., & Baumwell, L. (2001). Maternal responsiveness and children’s achievement of language milestones. Child Development, 72(3), 748–767.

• Rowe, M.L. (2012). A Longitudinal Investigation of the Role of Quantity and Quality of Child-Directed Speech in Vocabulary Development. Child Development, 83(5), 1762–1774.

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). (2023). Typical Speech and Language Development.

• NHS. (2024). Speech and Language Development in Children. www.nhs.uk

Emma O’Dwyer

Speech and Language Therapist, IBCLC Lactation Consultant and Founder of Baby Speak