When do babies start talking?
By Emma O’Dwyer, Speech and Language Therapist, IBCLC Lactation Consultant and Founder of Baby Speak
Wondering when your little one will say their first words?
Babies start developing the foundations for communication long before they begin to talk, even before birth.
Research shows that the structures of the cochlea (part of the inner ear) are well formed by around 15 weeks gestation and fully functional by 20 weeks. This means your baby can begin hearing and responding to sounds while still in the womb (Graven & Browne, 2008).
After birth, babies quickly recognise familiar voices, particularly their mother’s (Kisilevsky et al., 2003). From only a few days old, they start building early social communication through eye contact, facial expressions, and imitative movements like sticking out their tongue or pouting.
When Do Babies Understand Their Name?
Babies understand speech before they can talk. Around 3 months, your baby will begin to respond to tone of voice - smiling, quieting, or laughing when you speak gently or playfully.
By 9–12 months, most babies can:
Understand familiar words such as car, drink, and dog
Follow simple instructions like “give it to mummy”
Respond when their name is called
You can support your baby’s understanding by talking throughout the day and naming everyday objects - something our Speech and Language Therapists encourage as part of early communication routines.
When Do Babies Start Babbling?
From birth, babies make a variety of sounds - crying, cooing, grunting, or sighing. These early noises are how your baby learns to control air, vocal cords, and mouth muscles, all essential for speech later on.
4–8 months: Babies begin cooing - using single vowel sounds such as ahh or ooh.
7–9 months: Babbling begins - combining consonants and vowels, like dad-dad or mum-mum.
Babbling is an important developmental stage, and it’s also your baby’s first attempt at a “conversation.” Encourage it by copying their sounds and responding warmly.
When Do Babies Say Their First Words?
Most babies say their first recognisable words between 12–18 months. Common first words include mama, dada, baba (for ball or bottle), or bye-bye.
Even if words aren’t pronounced perfectly, your baby will use them in the right context. Fun fact - babies often say “dada” before “mama” because the “d” sound is easier to produce!
How to Encourage Your Baby to Talk
You can support your baby’s speech and language development every day through play, routines, and responsive interactions.
Talk to your baby - Use different tones and facial expressions. Short, simple sentences (2–3 words) work best.
Teach new words - Name familiar toys, foods, or daily routines like bath, nappy, or milk.
Respond to cries - Comfort and respond consistently; this builds trust and helps your baby understand communication.
Copy your baby’s sounds - When you imitate your baby, they learn that sounds have meaning and can take turns “talking.”
Play together - Peek-a-boo and sensory play encourage attention, turn-taking, and social connection.
Read books - Choose colourful books with large pictures and simple words. Reading builds listening and vocabulary.
Sing nursery rhymes - Songs with gestures like Incy Wincy Spider or Five Little Ducks link words with actions.
For more tips on encouraging early language, read our blog on Early Language Development Milestones.
When to See a Speech and Language Therapist
You may want to consider a Speech and Language Therapy assessment if your baby is:
Not babbling by 6 months
Not making eye contact by 12 months
Using few sounds or gestures by 12 months
Not understanding simple commands like “no” or “stop” by 18 months
Losing skills they previously had, such as babbling or pointing
Early support can make a significant difference in developing communication skills and preventing frustration for both baby and parent.
What Does a Speech and Language Therapist Look For?
At Baby Speak, our specialist Paediatric Speech and Language Therapists assess all areas of communication, including listening, understanding, speech sounds, and social interaction.
We consider potential factors such as:
Speech or language delay
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
Verbal dyspraxia
Hearing loss
Speech sound errors
Dysfluency (stammering)
Autism or social communication differences
Global developmental delay
Following assessment, our team provides evidence-based, family-centred therapy - tailored to your child’s needs.
We offer home visits, nursery and school sessions, and clinic appointments in Harley Street, London.
If you’re concerned about your child’s communication, book an appointment with one of our experienced SLTs today.
References
Graven, S.N. & Browne, J.V. (2008). Auditory development in the fetus and infant. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews, 8(4), 187–193.
Kisilevsky, B.S. et al. (2003). Effects of experience on fetal voice recognition. Psychological Science, 14(3), 220–224.
Sheridan, M., Sharma, A. & Cockerill, H. (2014). From Birth to Five Years: Children’s Developmental Progress. London: Routledge.
Emma O’Dwyer
Speech and Language Therapist, IBCLC Lactation Consultant and Founder of Baby Speak
