## 0–12 months: Foundations of communication
**0–3 months**
- Startles to loud sounds; calms to a familiar voice.
- Cries differently for different needs (hungry, tired, pain).
- Coos and makes vowel-like sounds; vocalizes back-and-forth with a caregiver.
**4–6 months**
- Turns eyes-head toward sounds; responds to name by ~6 months.
- Babbles with single syllables (e.g., “ba, ” “da, ” “pa”) and laughs.
- Uses voice to show likes-dislikes; notices toys that make sounds and music.
**7–9 months**
- Understands common words (e.g., “cup, ” “daddy”) and simple phrases like “no, ” “bye-bye.”
- Babbles longer strings with intonation (“bababa, ” “dadada”).
- Uses gestures (reaching, waving) and may say “mama-dada” nonspecifically.
**9–12 months**
- Responds to simple requests (“come here, ” “give me”) and looks when name is called.
- Points to objects, shows them to others, imitates speech sounds.
- First true words often appear around the first birthday (e.g., “mama, ” “dada, ” “uh-oh”), though clarity varies.
## 1–2 years: First words to word combinations
**12–18 months**
- Follows 1-step directions with gestures (e.g., “Give me the ball”).
- Uses about 5–20 words; points to request and comment.
- Jargons (talks with speech-like rhythm) and uses words for wants-needs.
**18–24 months**
- Understands 200–300 words; points to body parts when named.
- Says 50+ words and starts combining two words (“more milk, ” “daddy go”).
- Speech is ~50% intelligible to unfamiliar listeners by age 2.
## 2–3 years: Sentences and questions
- Understands 2-step directions and concept words (“big, ” “on, ” “in”).
- Uses 2–3 word sentences; vocabulary grows to ~200–900 words by age 3.
- Asks simple questions (“What’s that?” “Go bye-bye?”).
- Strangers understand about 50–75% of speech by age 2–3.
## 3–4 years: Clearer speech and longer sentences
- Understands “who, ” “what, ” “where” questions and follows 2–3 step directions.
- Uses 4–6 word sentences; talks about activities at daycare-preschool.
- Speech is ~75–80% intelligible to strangers by age 3–4.
- Most sounds are correct, though some later sounds (e.g., l, s, r, sh, ch, th) may still be emerging.
## 4–5 years: Near-adult language and storytelling
- Follows 3-step directions; understands most of what is said at home and school.
- Uses complex sentences with many details; tells short stories that stay on topic.
- Communicates easily with children and adults; uses rhyming words; names some letters and numbers.
- Says most sounds correctly; a few (l, s, r, v, z, ch, sh, th) may still be inconsistent, but speech is 90–100% intelligible to strangers by age 5.
## Quick reference table (expressive milestones)
| Age | Typical expressive milestones |
|-----|-------------------------------|
| 0–3 mo | Cries with different patterns; coos and gurgles |
| 4–6 mo | Babbles single syllables; laughs; vocal play |
| 7–12 mo | Varied babble; gestures; first words near 12 mo |
| 12–18 mo | 5–20 words; points; simple requests |
| 18–24 mo | 50+ words; 2-word phrases; asks “What’s that?” |
| 2–3 yr | 2–3 word sentences; 200–900 words; asks “why?” |
| 3–4 yr | 4–6 word sentences; tells about day; mostly clear |
| 4–5 yr | Complex sentences; stories; near-adult grammar; very clear speech
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