Language Development Milestones
53 steps checklist for your baby

Child development usually occurs in stages, and language development is not the exception. Speech and communication can develop gradually, in stages as expected. There is some variability in terms of milestones, as some children will reach the later than others, but that variability occurs within a norm. There usually is a natural progression in relation to language development, allowing parents to monitor it with the help of a language development chart or another similar tool.

The first step towards language development is when the infant is able to recognize that crying will bring them a response. Infants also being to recognize and distinguish the speech sounds that surround them, recognizing important voices and distinguishing the speech sounds associated with the language spoken around them. This happens around 6 months.

At seven months, the child should be able to listen and understand some simple and common words. One-year-old children are able to respond to simple requests and usually have a couple of simple words in their vocabulary.

Children under two have a slightly bigger vocabulary and are able to formulate simple questions and sentences, usually with 1-2 words to them. Children at this age begin to enjoy simple stories and can respond to simple instructions.

Children between 2 and 3 years are able to talk about things and have a larger vocabulary. They usually speak in a way that is easy to understand. They can formulate more complex sentences and requests.

Children under four years can usually answer simple questions, talk about what they have done, and use more complex sentences, with four words or more.

At the age of 5, children usually can listen to short stories and pay attention to them. They can understand most conversations and talk like adults do, using adult grammar.

These are just a few of the many language development milestones parents, teachers, and specialists can use to assess the child's progress and determine whether the child needs extra support.

A common cause of delays in language development is hearing loss. Children who have hearing loss, which may not be obvious when the child is younger, might struggle with language development due to limited exposure to speech and sounds.

Some developmental disorders, like autism, can limit language development. Autistic children might develop language slower than their peers.

Another factor that can cause delays is that the environment the child lives in is not very stimulating. Maybe few people talk to the child or rarely talk to the child or around the child. It could be that the child is not receiving enough attention or that there should be more talking, reading of stories, etc. to stimulate language development.

Speech and language disorders can also be associated with delays in language development.

A parent can see a delay or a problem when the child is not meeting the developmental milestones or seems to be struggling with language more than expected. While children have individual differences, and baby milestones may vary from child to child, sometimes the delays are apparent. A parent can also note than the child seems to struggle with language more than with other aspects.

While seeing whether the child is meeting the expected milestones is important, useful information can come from other sources. Is the child's language development similar or close to the development of the child's peers? Are people like teachers or relatives commenting on the language development of the child?

It's important to note that some children simply take a bit longer than others without there being a disorder or bigger issue present. Some children will catch up by themselves, while others may need a certain degree of support.

If you have doubts about whether a child is experiencing delays, it's a good idea to consult with a professional. A professional can provide guidelines and orientation concerning what is expected and what is not and also indicate whether support or treatment is required.

A doctor can refer you to a speech-language pathologists who will perform the necessary tests, like speech tests and even hearing tests, to identify the problem. Sometimes, the pathologist will suggest specific activities you can do with the child and refer you to other specialists for evaluation or treatment.

There are several reasons why it is important to keep an eye on your child's milestones and see how they are doing with language development. Let's take a look at why this is.

Firstly, language development occurs over a critical developmental period. While there is a window of opportunity to help with language acquisition, missing this critical window can mean there are significant consequences for the language development process

Secondly, many issues can be easily corrected if they are detected quickly, but can be more problematic if more time passes. Catching a problem on time can save time, effort, money, and difficulties down the road.

It's true that some issues may be more difficult to deal with or can take longer. In those cases, it is also better to detect them early on, because this gives time to prepare and plan. Starting earlier on a more difficult issues, like a language or speech disorder, can also help alleviate its effects and make it easier for the child and parents later on.

Another reason to track milestones is that it allows you to keep a record of them and make memories. You can more easily catch your child's first words and observe the process of their development, a fascinating and rewarding experience.

While individual differences can make some children's development faster than others', tracking milestones can help see whether the child is on track or whether they might need a little more support or stimulation. It can help you catch problems as they develop and make a timely intervention that could be instrumental in helping your child's language development.

You can use the resources available to create a baby milestone chart and see how your child is going. An important aspect is, of course, to spend time with your child and to be aware of how language development progresses to make sure your expectations are aligned with the child's age. Involved parents can usually recognize something is off or may be off and consult with a specialist, but it's a good idea to have some form of aid to help you keep in mind the milestones for language development and your baby's progress too.