What age first word

From coos to growls to sing-songy combinations of vowels and consonants, your baby’s vocalizing and verbal experimentation may sound just as adorable as it is nonsensical. But listen closely and one day you’ll hear it: the first real word.

By 9 months, your baby will probably start stringing together «ma-ma» and «da-da» sounds without necessarily knowing what they mean. But when those sounds start to transform into words with meaning, it’s a milestone that feels like magic.

When do babies start talking?

Babies start talking — that is, attempt to express themselves in words with meaning — anywhere between 9 and 14 months. But babies start learning how to speak right after they’re born, mainly by watching and listening to you and other people.

Here’s a timeline of how baby’s speech will typically progress:

By the end of month 4

From birth, babies listen to the words and sounds all around them and begin to sort out their meanings, the first step in language acquisition. 

At 4 months, your baby will likely babble or even copy some of the babbling sounds he’s heard you make. His cries may also sound different, depending on whether he’s hungry, tired or in pain.

By the end of month 6

By about 6 months, your baby is picking up on the idea that the jumble of sounds he’s hearing every day include individual words. He may even understand a few of them, such as his name, and the names of other people and familiar objects. He may also make some sounds himself, and may string together a few vowels when he babbles, such as «ah,» «eh» and «oh.» Consonants like «m» and «b» may also appear too.

By the end of month 9

Your baby is starting to experiment with making sounds of his own — including some impressively long ones, like «ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma» and «ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba.»

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He may also start to mimic other people’s sounds and gestures, and understand what «no» means (whether he’ll listen is another thing altogether). All of this brings him closer, day by day, to saying his first word.

By the end of month 12

By the time your child is 1 year old, he can likely say at least one word like, «mama,» «dada” or «uh-oh.» He may also try to say the words he hears you say, as well as change the tone of his words — all of which is starting to sound something like real speech! 

When do babies say their first word?

Babies often say their first word around the age of 1, but it can vary from child to child. 

Some perfectly normal babies don’t say a recognizable word until 18 months, whereas some babies begin to communicate in word-sounds (like «ba-ba» for bye-bye, bottle or ball and «da-da» for dog, dad or doll) as early as 7 months.

«Da-da» seems to be slightly easier for babies to say than «ma-ma,» so don’t be surprised if it’s your baby’s first «real» word. Other popular first words include «uh-oh,» «bye-bye» and, around 18 months of age, «no.»

How to teach baby to talk

The best way to help your baby say his first words is to talk to him —  a lot! Your baby will be eager to pick up on your verbal cues. 

Narrate your day, describing what you’re doing as you dress your baby, cook dinner or walk down the street. Speak the names of objects and people. Read to your baby, pointing out objects and their names in the pictures he sees.

Ask questions, hold one-sided conversations — and listen if he answers. When he does vocalize, be sure to smile, make eye contact and show him that you’re listening. He’ll be encouraged by your attention — and excited to try again.

More ways to encourage a baby to talk:

• Speak slowly and clearly, and focus on single words. There’s no need to resort to caveman-speak all the time around your baby, but slowing the pace as you flip through a picture book, or explaining in clear, simple language what you’re doing as you put the book back on the shelf, helps your child understand and focus on individual words. 
• Use names rather than pronouns. Whenever possible, name the people you’re talking about rather than using the shorthand of a pronoun: «This is Mommy’s coffee» or «Here is Sarah’s bear» are both clearer and easier for babies to understand than «This is my coffee» or «Here is your bear.»
• Sing songs and rhyme rhymes. Your baby will learn valuable language skills from the simple rhythms and silly repetitions of nursery rhymes and songs.
• Repetition is your friend. Repetition is your friend. (Get it?) Saying things not once but twice, singing the same songs over and over, pointing out the same flower pot every time you pass it on the street … all that repetition, boring as it may seem to you, is incredibly interesting to your little one, since it helps reinforce your child’s growing understanding of how a particular sound attaches to a particular thing — in other words, what individual words really mean.

What not to worry about

When it comes to speech, the window of what’s considered «normal» is wide open. Your child may start to use sound-words like «mi» for «milk» or «dat» for «that» (as in, «I want that!») as early as 7 months. Or your child might not start to say words or word-sounds until as late as 18 months. 

Believe it or not, it’s just as appropriate to hear a child’s first words at either end of that age range — or at any age in between. Every child develops at his own pace. 

When to talk to your doctor

If you notice any of the following signs in your baby, it’s a good idea to check in with your pediatrician:

• Not babbling at 4 to 7 months
• Only making a few sounds or gestures by 12 months
• Not saying simple words like «ma-ma» or «da-da» by 12 to 15 months
• Not understanding simple words like «no» or «stop» by 18 months. 

These can sometimes signal something’s up. Here’s what your pediatrician will look for:

• Hearing loss or hearing difficulties, which can occur at birth or develop in infancy or toddlerhood. If there’s a family history of hearing loss, tell your pediatrician. Hearing problems can make it difficult for children to learn how to speak. Your pediatrician may be able to treat mild hearing loss that results from, for example, fluid that has accumulated in the inner ear, or can refer you to an ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist).
• Language delays, which affect about 1 out of 5 children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Sometimes, this delay is only minor, and may resolve itself with a little extra attention from a parent or caregiver. In other cases, children may benefit from working with a speech and language therapist.
• Autism, a spectrum disorder (also called autism spectrum disorder, or ASD), can result in social or language delays. Let your pediatrician know if your child doesn’t respond to his name by 9 months or if he doesn’t make eye contact when you speak to him.

In general, the earlier a speech delay is detected, the sooner you’ll be able to address it. 

What’s next for baby

Long before he speaks his first words, your baby will learn to understand words, but understanding concepts and directions takes a little longer. 

Sometime around the first birthday, most toddlers can begin following simple commands «like give me that» or «put that down,» but only if they’re issued one step at a time. Your toddler’s vocabulary will likely begin to explode around month 18, and he may string a few words together by age 2.

Every baby develops at his own pace, but if you have any concerns about your child’s development, don’t hesitate to check in with your pediatrician sooner rather than later.

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When do kids say their first words? This is a question that many parents are curious about. The answer varies from child to child, but there are some general trends that can be observed.

In this blog post, we will take a look at when most kids say their first words, and what factors might influence when they do. We will also discuss some of the common milestones associated with speech development.

One of the many joys of parenthood is to look forward to your baby’s first words. New parents may wonder when they will hear their child’s first words will be. It is one of the biggest milestones in a baby’s life, right up there with their first steps.

It is important to remember a child’s development is on their own time frame. What is “normal” for one is not necessarily “normal” for another. There are however things you can do to help a baby’s speech development.

There are so many baby milestones that we watch out for, and often ask our child’s doctor if they are hitting all of the correct milestones and when the next one will happen.

Studies have shown that most kids will say their first words between 10 and 14 months of age. So, on average you should definitely be listening out for these baby’s first words around the first birthday.

In the second half of first year is when they are typically babbling, cooing, making sounds, and reacting to sounds.

By the time a child is 18 months old, many toddlers will have said at least 50 words or more, and are quickly adding new words. If you don’t have any words at all by 18 months it is worth mentioning this to your paediatrician.

There are many factors that can influence when a child says their first words. Some of these include:

Genetics

Children who have parents or siblings with a speech delay may be more likely to develop a similar delay themselves. This is not always the case and does not mean that a child who has a parent or sibling with a speech delay will necessarily have one as well.

Parental interaction

Parents who talk and read to their children more often tend to have kids with better language skills. This can include reading books, singing songs, or just having conversations with your child.

Environmental factors

Other environmental factors that can affect when a child says their first words include exposure to different languages or dialects and being around other children who are talking.

Hearing Problems

If your toddler has glue ear, this can block the ear making it harder for your little one to hear clearly. Naturally, this makes it harder to learn to talk. Sometimes this resolves naturally, or your child may need grommets inserted.

Overall, when it comes to when kids say their first words, there is no one answer that fits all. Your child’s development will depend on a number of factors and is unique to them. However, by looking out for some common milestones in language development and interacting with your child frequently, you can help them reach their potential when it comes to speech.

What are some language milestones to look for?

Some common language milestones to look for when assessing your child’s speech development include:

• Learning the different sounds and meanings of words.
• Starting to use two-word sentences (e.g., “mommy go”)
• Learning new vocabulary and expanding on their existing vocabulary
• Using correct grammar when speaking, including using plurals and past tenses when appropriate.

While there is no “correct” age to say your first words, it is important to be aware of the milestones associated with speech development. By actively engaging with your child and looking out for these common language milestones, you can help them reach their full potential when it comes to language.

What are Some Common Baby’s First Words?

Some common first words include “mama”, “dada”, “hi”, and “bye”. Other common words that babies might say when they are starting to talk include things like their own name, the names of other important people such as family members and friends, simple objects around them and animals like duck or ball, and simple commands or phrases.

Some of the most common first words for babies and toddlers between 12-24 months are

• Mama or Mommy
• Dada or Daddy
• Milk
• Juice
• Cat
• Dog
• Duck
• Ball
• Car
• Up
• All Gone
• Bye Bye
• Vroom vroom
• No
• Woof Woof
• Hi
• Nana
• Ta (for thank you)
• Uh Oh
• Baba or Baby

It is important to remember that every child develops at their own pace, so it is not necessarily “normal” when a child says their first words.

This is when their first words that are a recognizable word. This is always an exciting time for parents. As a force of habit, we tend to use baby talk when speaking to young children. Using proper words and talking to them a songy combinations of vowels does help with normal speech. It is important to not use baby talk for a long time though.

If you are concerned about your child’s speech development, it is best to talk to your pediatrician or seek out the advice of a speech-language pathologist. If your child has specific difficulties such as apraxia of speech then he or she will need extra support to help them reach their milestones.

With early intervention and support, most kids can reach their full potential when it comes to speech. However, it is important to remember that your child’s development is unique and will happen at different rates than other children’s.

What is the number of words a child typically knows in the first year of life?

There is no set number of words that a child typically knows in the first year of life. Some children may know just a few, while others might have many more. This depends on a number of different factors, including genetics, environmental factors, parental interaction, and developmental milestones for speech and language.

Overall, it is important to be aware of your child’s speech and language development, as this can help you understand when they might say their first words. With early intervention and support, most kids can reach their full potential when it comes to speech.

How can you help your child’s language development?

There are a number of things that you can do to help your child’s language development, including:

• Talking and reading with your child frequently. Here’s a list of some of our favorite books for toddlers.
• Recite nursery rhymes for them or play simple games with musical shakers
• Direct eye contact when you are speaking to them so they can see your mouth as you speak
• Engaging them in conversation and asking questions about the world around them
• Encouraging their interests and providing opportunities for new experiences
• Seeking out the advice of a speech therapist or speech-language pathologist if you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development.

Overall, it is important to support your child’s language development in a variety of ways as they grow and learn. By engaging with them regularly and providing opportunities for new experiences, you can help them reach their full potential when it comes to speech.

What is language acquisition?

Language acquisition refers to the process by which children learn and develop language skills, including speech and vocabulary. This can be influenced by a number of different factors, including genetics, environmental factors, parental interaction, and developmental milestones. There is no one “correct” age when it comes to language acquisition, as every child develops at their own pace.

Is baby babble a sign of the first real word?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as the development of language and speech in babies varies from child to child.

Some experts believe that baby babble, or repeated sounds and vocalizations, may be a sign of the first actual words for some babies. If your child uses the same sound, with meaning, consistently, then you can count that as a word.

For example if your little one says wa-wa each time they want water, you can count this as a word because the meaning and consistency is there. This is a word that your baby is using to communicate with you, even though the pronunciation is not quite there.

Overall, there are many different milestones associated with speech and language development in babies, and it is important to be aware of them when looking for signs of the first real word.

When does a child talk in full sentences?

There is no set age when a child talks in full sentences, as this can vary depending on a number of different factors. Typically, children will begin to use short phrases and simple sentences when they are around 2 years old, with more complex language development continuing into their preschool years and beyond.

What are some important things to do to help a baby’s language skills?

Some important things that you can do to help your baby’s language skills include talking and reading with them frequently, engaging them in conversation and asking questions about the world around them, encouraging their interests, and providing opportunities for new experiences.

By supporting your child’s language development in a variety of ways, you can help them reach their full potential when it comes to speech.

Is it important to concentrate on correct pronunciation?

Some experts believe that it is important to focus on correct pronunciation when working with young children, as this can help them develop strong communication skills and become comfortable using language in a variety of different situations. However, others may argue that it is more important to simply support your child’s language development in general, without focusing too much on correct pronunciation. Ultimately, the best approach will depend on your child and their individual needs.

Whatever approach you take when supporting your child’s language skills, it is important to remember that early intervention can be crucial for reaching their full potential when it comes to communication. With the right support and guidance, your child can become a confident and successful speaker.

What are Some Signs of Delayed Speech?

Some signs of delayed speech in children can include difficulties with pronunciation, problems understanding and using vocabulary, difficulty putting words together to form sentences, and an overall lack of interest in communicating or interacting with others.

If you are concerned about your child’s speech development, it is important to consult a speech therapist or speech-language pathologist for advice and support.

Early intervention can be key when it comes to helping your child build strong communication skills and reach their full potential when it comes to speech.

At any age, it is important to be aware of your child’s speech and language development. Whether they are just learning their first words or speaking in full sentences, there are a number of things that you can do to support and encourage their communication skills.

This may include talking and reading with them frequently, engaging them in conversation, providing opportunities for new experiences, and seeking out the advice of a speech therapist or speech-language pathologist when needed.

With early intervention and support, most kids can reach their full potential when it comes to speech. Ultimately, your goal as a parent is to help your child thrive and grow into a confident communicator.

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