Child Speech Development Milestones and More

Keep in mind that each child develops at his or her own pace. Find answers to common questions about speech development.

Contributor

Debra Barra-Stevens, M.D.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

A child’s first word, whether it’s “mama,” “dada” or the family pet’s name, is one of parents’ most eagerly anticipated milestones. One word usually leads to many others, and soon parents are enjoying the creative ways their little ones are communicating. But what if a child experiences speech issues, such as delayed speech or stuttering?

Debra Barra-Stevens, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, knows the question, “Is my child normal?” all too well.

“Keep in mind there’s a wide range in what is considered normal speech development,” she says. “Just as each child has a unique personality, each child also has his or her own pace for learning to speak.”

African American Father and daughter reading

Speech Development Milestones

The timing of speech development is indeed very individual, but in general, some of the stages are:

6 to 12 months — Your baby will probably be babbling and showing signs of wanting to communicate with you by making many different sounds.
12 months — Among the babble, your child’s first simple words, such as “mama” and “dada” will start to emerge.
18 months — Your little one will likely be able to say several stand-alone words. She will be able to understand a lot more than she can say.
2 years — Your toddler will be putting two to four words together to talk to you in short sentences, along with a lot of repetition of words and phrases. He may be bubbling over with enthusiasm as he explores and learns this new way to communicate.

Many kids are late bloomers but still end up with excellent speaking and communication skills. When evaluating a late bloomer, Dr. Barra-Stevens looks for signs of non-verbal communication skills. Pointing, gesturing and making eye contact with parents and others are just some of the ways children that are not yet speaking are still communicating in healthy and normal ways.

“While you should always voice your concerns with your doctor, if your child responds to you and to what’s going on in the outside world, for example by pointing at a train going by or a plane in the sky, chances are that all is well,” she says.

Ways to Encourage Talking

Once Dr. Barra-Stevens is able to reassure parents that their child is developing normally, even if the child is not yet communicating with words, one of the next questions is what can be done to encourage speaking. She says there are several ways to encourage a child to talk and enjoy experimenting with speech:

Speak to your child often. When you are out and about, point out trees and plants at the park or different fruits and vegetables at the grocery store.
Be patient. Don’t rush in with the right word before your little one has a chance to try and verbalize something.
Avoid trying to make your child speak when he or she doesn’t want to talk.
Help your child improve. Ask questions like: “I know you want that. What is it?”
Read to your child regularly, using intonation and adding gestures, so your child hears a wide range of ways words and speech are used. Singing and saying rhymes are also good stimulation.

When To See a Doctor

Talking to your doctor if you are concerned about a delay in speech is wise. If there is a speech delay, it’s important to determine the reason for this so your child can get help quickly. Correcting an underlying issue, such as a hearing problem, as soon as possible may lead to better outcomes. In addition, it will reduce the frustration many children experience when they can’t communicate verbally.

If your doctor determines that your child’s speech might be delayed, your child will be referred to an audiologist and a speech therapist. “Your child will receive evaluations from these specialists, and if there is an issue, a treatment plan to help him or her,” Dr. Barra-Stevens says.

Stuttering Problems

Stuttering in children under age 4 is often part of normal speech development and is nothing to worry about, Dr. Barra-Stevens says. “Your child’s brain is developing so quickly and absorbing so many new words, phrases and expressions, the mouth and speech just can’t keep up,” she says. “Remember to be patient and let your child say what he or she wants to say, even if it takes them a little longer.”

Well-meaning parents often finish a stuttering child’s word or sentences, but this is unhelpful. Listen quietly instead, Dr. Barra-Stevens advises. If the stuttering continues for longer than six months, gets worse or is frustrating to your child, speak to your child’s doctor. If there is an issue, your doctor will refer your child to a speech therapist for help.

Mispronouncing Words is Normal

It’s quite typical for a young child who is learning to speak and form certain sounds to have difficulty with pronunciation, Dr. Barra-Stevens says. Typical difficulties might include saying certain letters (such as “r” pronounced as “w,” as in “wabbit” rather than “rabbit”) or a particular combination of sounds.

“Your child may leave out some of the letters in the middle of a word or simplify longer words to an easily managed one-syllable word,” she adds.

To improve pronunciation, keep modeling good speech and the correct pronunciation while your child hones his verbal prowess. As tempting as it can be to copy a child’s adorable mispronunciations, try to resist this impulse.

“If your child is still experiencing difficulties pronouncing certain sounds past the age of 5 or showing frustration with his speech, talk to your child’s doctor,” Dr. Barra-Stevens says.