Birth–3 months
What to watch for
- Reacts to sounds and turns toward voices
- Calms or smiles when you talk
- Coos ("ooh," "aah") and makes different sounds when happy or upset
Milestones by therapy type
Is your child on track?
Most milestone charts are organized by age. Ours works both ways. If you already know what you're wondering about, how they move, how they talk, how they eat, pick that therapist below and see what most children can do at every age, all on one page.
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What are you wondering about?
Speech Therapy
Speech & language, at every age
Speech and language grow in a predictable order — sounds, then words, then sentences, then the language behind reading and friendship. Here's roughly when most children get there, and the points where our speech therapists would want to hear from you.
Who we see
Birth through teens
4–6 months
What to watch for
- Giggles and laughs
- Plays with vowel sounds, sometimes mixed with consonants ("ah-goo")
- Blows raspberries and notices toys that make sounds
7–9 months
What to watch for
- Looks at you when you call their name
- Babbles long strings like "bababa" or "mamama"
- Raises arms to be picked up and pauses when you say "no"
10–12 months
What to watch for
- Points, waves, and shows or hands you things
- Tries to copy sounds you make
- Understands simple phrases like "go bye-bye"
- Says one or two words, like "mama," "dada," "hi" or "bye"
13–18 months
What to watch for
- Follows simple directions, like "give me the ball" or "show me your nose"
- Points to ask for things, show you something, or get information
- Shakes head "no" and nods "yes"
- Understands and uses words for familiar people, objects and some actions
- Points to at least one body part when asked
19–24 months
What to watch for
- Uses and understands at least 50 words for food, toys, animals and body parts (some may not sound clear yet, like "du" for shoe)
- Puts two or more words together, like "more juice" or "go outside"
- Follows two-step directions, like "get your cup and bring it to me"
- Uses words like "me," "mine" and "help"
2–3 years
What to watch for
- Combines words often, and may sometimes repeat a word or phrase while getting started
- Asks "why" and "how" questions
- Says their own name when asked
- Uses plurals like "toys" and action words like "running"
- Says p, b, m, h, w, d and n clearly
- Speech is getting clearer, though people outside the family may not understand everything yet
3–4 years
What to watch for
- Compares things using words like "bigger" or "shorter"
- Retells a story from a book or show
- Uses location words like "in," "on" and "under," and small words like "a" and "the"
- Says t, k, g, f, y and "-ing" correctly in words
- Talks smoothly most of the time, and most people can understand what they say
- Tries sound blends like the "tw" in "tweet," even if not every sound is right yet ("spway" for spray)
4–5 years
What to watch for
- Speaks in longer, grammatically correct sentences
- Tells stories with characters, a setting and connected ideas
- Uses time words like "yesterday" and "tomorrow" correctly
- Understands location words like "behind," "beside" and "between"
- Follows simple game rules
- Recognizes 10 or more letters and can usually write their own name
- Notices rhymes and blends word parts ("cup" + "cake" = "cupcake")
- Says most consonant sounds correctly and is understood in conversation
5–13 years
What to watch for
- Says nearly all speech sounds correctly and is easy to understand
- Talks smoothly, without often repeating sounds or getting stuck on words
- Follows classroom directions and understands lessons
- Tells a story or explains an event in order, with detail
- Uses language to make and keep friends
- Reads with comprehension at grade level
- Gets thoughts onto paper in a structured way
- Uses language to negotiate, compromise and repair a conversation
These are general guidelines, not a diagnosis. Children learn on a wide range of timelines: a child who is a little behind on one skill is often right on track. Look at the age bands just before and after your child's age too.
Communication milestones are adapted from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Each range shows when about 3 out of 4 children have the skill, so it's normal for some children to reach it a little later.
Worth a closer look
Trusting your gut is never overreacting.
These are the patterns our speech therapy therapists would want to hear about. None of them mean something is wrong; they just mean it's a good time to ask.
If any of this sounds familiar, ask us about it.
Not sure this is the right therapist?
That's genuinely the most common thing parents say. A quick phone call with our office manager is usually all it takes to sort out.
(785) 831-3053Signs to mention, Speech Therapy
- No babbling, or very few consonant sounds, by 12 months
- Not using gestures like pointing or waving
- Fewer than 10–20 clear words by 18–24 months
- Not putting two words together by age 2
- Adults outside the family struggle to understand them at 3
- Speech is still hard to follow at 4–5
- Trouble with early reading, rhyming or letter sounds
- Repeats sounds or words often, or avoids talking altogether
If this sounds familiar
Or start with their age
Look at everything at once
If you'd rather start from your child's age than from a concern, the age pages cover speech, movement, feeding and sensory skills together, the way you actually see them day to day.
Not sure which therapist you need?
You don't have to figure that out first.
Milestones cross disciplines: a child who isn't talking might need speech, feeding, sensory support, or all three. Tell us what you're seeing and we'll point you the right way.
Speech therapy
Learn moreOccupational therapy
Learn morePhysical therapy
Learn moreFeeding therapy
Learn moreOrofacial myofunctional
Learn moreNot seeing your concern?
Tell us a little about your child and we'll point you in the right direction.
Get in touchMost evaluations booked within a week
Their next milestone is closer than you think.
Call, text or send us a message and you'll talk with our office manager about what you're seeing and what support would look like, before anything is scheduled.