What Are the Early Signs My Baby Will Talk Soon?
Understanding Your Baby’s Speech Journey from Birth to First Words (0–18 Months)
Did you know your baby is already communicating long before they say “mama” or “dada”? From their very first cry, your baby is learning the basics of communication—even without words!
Before Words (0–12 Months): The Secret Language of Babies
In the first year, babies express themselves through cries, coos, smiles, and gestures. This “prelinguistic period” is where they:
- Cry Differently to signal hunger, pain, or discomfort
- Make Eye Contact and follow your gaze
- Engage in “Protoconversations” — adorable back-and-forth coos and smiles
- Use Gestures like pointing or holding up toys to share messages
Around 8–12 months, their actions become more intentional—this is when communication truly takes off without words!
Warming Up to Talk: Baby Sound Stages
Your baby’s voice matures through stages:
- Reflexive Sounds (cries, burps)
- Cooing & Laughter (happy sounds)
- Vocal Play (experiments like “ba” and “da”)
- Babbling (“mama,” “dada”)
- Jargon Stage (babble with speech-like rhythm)
These playful sounds are critical for forming first real words!
The Magic of First Words (12–18 Months)
- Consistent, meaningful words
- Naming and describing their world
- Simple speech sounds like /b/, /m/, /d/, and /t/
That first “ball” or “no” is more than adorable—it shows real language! Even one word can mean many things based on how they use it.
Putting It All Together (18–24 Months)
Once vocabulary reaches about 50 words, toddlers start combining them into two-word sentences, such as:
- “More juice”
- “No toy”
- “Mama come”
This milestone shows your child is learning to express more complex ideas—and they’re just getting started!
🧩 Curious about your child’s speech development?
We help decode your baby’s language and guide you every step of the way.
Book a Consultation 👩⚕️ Edited by Ms. Shweta Sharma (Speech Therapist, DevineCare)