It is normal for parents to wonder about their newborn’s speech development. It is an exciting time for parents when their babies start talking and they just can’t wait for their kids to utter their first word (even if it is meaningless). When do babies start talking? When do babies start talking words? When do babies start talking and walking? When do babies start talking clearly? These are common questions for new parents. But there are no clear answers to such queries.
Some babies talk sooner than others. But it is important to be aware of the general growth milestones, so that you can seek treatment for any speech delays or hearing problems, in a timely manner.
Speech Milestones from 3 to 18 Months
So, when do babies start talking? A baby usually starts to babble at around 3-4 months. Your baby may make sounds like ‘ya-ya’, ‘ba-ba’, ‘aa-aa’ or any other. You can expect the babbling to become clearer and varied at around 7-8 months. Many babies can begin to say ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ around this time.
The babbling can give way to words and then sentences. Parents must pay close attention to the babbles to make sure they don’t miss their baby’s first words. You can expect your baby to start forming words or even short sentences as your baby turns 1. But these sentences will be incoherent. Your baby may be babbling full sentences and you may not be able to understand a single word she says.
Usually, it takes somewhere around 1.5-2 years for babies to form full sentences and even understand your words perfectly.
Recommended Read: Understanding Baby Sign Language
When the babies are around 18 months, they can start using expressions along with their words. For example, your baby’s words might have a questioning tone when asking a question in the form of babbling.
See a doctor if –
If your baby’s babbles don’t give way to words by 15 months then it can be a cause for concern. In this case, you must see a pediatrician to see if there is a problem with your baby’s speech or hearing. Hearing problems can affect the way a baby learns words and it’s directly related to speaking. The reason is that only when babies hear will they be able to understand the words and speak. Try to be careful for this as it can often go undiagnosed until it is too late.
Speech Milestones from 18 to 36 Months
From 18 months onwards, a baby’s vocabulary begins to develop considerably.
So, when do babies start talking full sentences?
Even though your baby may understand the meaning of more words, she may not able to able to use them in speeches yet. Some kids can form small sentences at this stage containing two or three words. By 24 months, a baby should be able to speak short sentences with more ease.
And, when do babies start talking without any problems?
From 24 months onwards, your baby’s speech development can be really fast. She will have a clearer idea about pronouns and will begin to use them correctly. By the time she reaches 36 months, your baby will be able to carry full conversations using words and sentences with easy familiarity.
Recommended Read: Everything You Need to Know About Speech Delays
Consult a doctor if –
If a baby hasn’t learned to speak sentences by 36 months then parents must see a doctor and seek treatment for the same, in case there’s a problem that’s preventing her from speaking properly. Also, take the absence of your baby’s other growth signs along with speech development as a point of concern, such as not pointing at things when talking.
Between the ages of 24 to 36 months, your baby’s vocabulary should start to continually improve. If your baby’s speech development stalls after the babbling stage, your pediatrician may recommend a full evaluation of the child’s physical and mental growth.
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