Baby's First Words: When to Expect Them and How to Encourage Speech

Hearing your baby say their first real word is a magical milestone. Whether it's "mama," "dada," or something unexpected like "dog," that first intentional word shows your baby is making a remarkable cognitive leap—connecting sounds to meanings. Here's everything you need to know about this exciting developmental stage.

When Do Babies Say Their First Words? AAP

The timing of first words varies considerably among babies:

Early talkers (9-10 months): Some babies produce recognizable first words around this age. These early talkers are often babies who have been very vocal and have had lots of language exposure.

Average range (10-14 months): Most babies say their first word somewhere in this window. The "average" is often cited as 12 months, but anywhere in this range is typical.

Later talkers (14-18 months): Many babies don't produce recognizable words until 14-18 months. This can still be completely normal, especially if they understand language well, use gestures, and babble with varied sounds.

Beyond 18 months: If your baby has no words by 18 months, this warrants discussion with your pediatrician. Many late talkers catch up completely, but early evaluation is important.

The most important thing to remember: Understanding language (receptive language) develops before speaking (expressive language). A baby who understands many words but doesn't speak yet is on a different trajectory than one who neither understands nor speaks.

The Stages of Language Development CDC

Language development follows a predictable sequence, though timing varies:

Cooing (2-4 months): Those first vowel-like sounds—"oooo," "aaah"—are your baby practicing using their voice.

Laughing (3-4 months): That first real laugh shows your baby is responding to stimuli and can produce complex sounds.

Babbling (4-6 months): Babbling starts with simple sounds and becomes more complex over time, including consonant sounds like "ba," "ma," and "da."

Variegated babbling (7-9 months): Babbling becomes more speech-like, with varied sounds and the rhythm of real conversation. "Bababababa" becomes "babadamama."

First words (8-14 months): First real words emerge—sounds your baby uses consistently to mean something specific.

Two-word combinations (18-24 months): Babies start combining words: "more milk," "daddy bye-bye," "want up."

Language explosion (18-24 months): Vocabulary grows rapidly during this period, with many toddlers learning several new words per day.

What Counts as a "First Word"? AAP

First words don't have to be perfect. A word "counts" when:

It's used consistently: Your baby uses the same or similar sound to mean the same thing repeatedly.

It has meaning: The sound refers to something specific—a person, object, action, or concept.

It's intentional: Your baby is trying to communicate, not just making sounds.

Early words may sound different from adult pronunciation. "Ba" might mean "ball," "wawa" might mean "water," and "dah" might mean "dog." As long as your baby uses the sound consistently and meaningfully, it's a word!

Common First Words CDC

Babies' first words tend to be:

Names for important people: "Mama," "dada," and names for siblings, grandparents, or pets are often among the first words because these people are important and their names are said frequently.

Social words: "Hi," "bye-bye," "uh-oh," and "no" are common early words because they're used in repetitive, interactive contexts.

Words for desired objects: "Ball," "more," "milk," "up," and words for favorite foods or toys often emerge early because babies are motivated to communicate about things they want.

Action words: Simple verbs like "go," "eat," and "up" (meaning "pick me up") help babies communicate needs.

Animal sounds: "Woof," "moo," and other animal sounds are often easier to produce than animal names and count as words!

How to Encourage First Words AAP

While babies develop language on their own timeline, you can support language development:

Talk constantly: Narrate your day, describe what you're doing, name objects, and talk about what your baby is looking at. This language input is essential for language development.

Read together daily: Reading exposes your baby to vocabulary and language patterns they wouldn't otherwise hear. Board books with simple pictures and words are perfect for babies.

Respond to all communication attempts: When your baby babbles, points, or gestures, respond as if they're communicating—because they are! This teaches them that communication works.

Wait and listen: After speaking to your baby, pause and give them time to respond. This teaches the rhythm of conversation.

Use parentese: That higher-pitched, exaggerated way most adults naturally talk to babies (parentese or "baby talk") actually supports language development. It captures attention and emphasizes language sounds.

Name things your baby looks at: When your baby points or looks at something, name it. This links words to objects at the moment your baby is most interested.

Sing songs and nursery rhymes: The rhythm and repetition of songs support language learning. Action songs (like "Itsy Bitsy Spider") are especially engaging.

Limit screen time: The AAP recommends avoiding screen time before 18 months (except video chatting). Screens don't support language development the way human interaction does.

The Relationship Between Gestures and Words CDC

Before babies speak, they communicate through gestures. These gestures are important precursors to verbal language:

Pointing is crucial: Pointing (both to request things and to share interest) is one of the most important pre-language milestones. It shows your baby understands that they can direct your attention.

Waving and clapping: These social gestures show your baby understands communication and wants to interact.

Reaching and giving: Reaching for things and offering objects to others are early communication attempts.

Shaking head: Understanding and using "no" through head shaking shows sophisticated communication.

Babies who use lots of gestures often develop verbal language well. If your baby doesn't use gestures by 12 months, mention this to your pediatrician.

Understanding vs. Speaking AAP

It's crucial to understand the difference between receptive and expressive language:

Receptive language (understanding): What your baby understands when others speak. This develops earlier and faster than speaking.

Expressive language (speaking): What your baby says. This lags behind understanding, sometimes significantly.

A baby who understands many words, follows simple instructions, responds to their name, and uses gestures is developing language normally even if they're not speaking yet. A baby who neither understands nor expresses is more concerning.

By 12 months, most babies:

• Respond to their name
• Understand "no"
• Recognize names of familiar people and objects
• Wave bye-bye
• Follow simple instructions
• Say 1-3 words

By 18 months, most babies:

• Understand many words
• Follow simple instructions
• Point to show you things
• Say 10-50 words

Late Talkers: When to Be Concerned CDC

Some babies talk later than others, and many late talkers catch up completely. However, certain signs warrant evaluation:

Red flags to discuss with your pediatrician:

• No babbling by 12 months
• No gestures (pointing, waving) by 12 months
• No single words by 16 months
• No two-word phrases by 24 months
• Loss of any language or social skills at any age
• Not responding to their name by 12 months
• Difficulty understanding simple instructions by 12-18 months

Early intervention for speech delays is very effective, which is why early identification matters. If you're concerned, don't wait—talk to your pediatrician.

Bilingual Babies AAP

If your family speaks more than one language, you might wonder how this affects first words:

Bilingualism doesn't cause delays: Babies can learn two or more languages simultaneously without significant delay. They might start speaking slightly later, but they catch up quickly.

Total vocabulary matters: When counting a bilingual baby's vocabulary, count words in all languages. A child who says 10 Spanish words and 10 English words has a 20-word vocabulary.

Language mixing is normal: Bilingual children often mix languages, especially when they know a word in one language but not the other. This is normal and isn't confusion.

Keep speaking your languages: Each parent/caregiver should speak the language(s) most natural to them. Consistent exposure to both languages supports bilingual development.

Common Myths About First Words AAP

Myth: "Mama" or "dada" is always first.
Reality: While these are common first words, some babies say "ball," "dog," or other words first. It varies!

Myth: Early words mean greater intelligence.
Reality: The timing of first words within the normal range doesn't predict later intelligence or language ability.

Myth: If they're not talking, they're not learning language.
Reality: Before speaking, babies are absorbing language at an incredible rate. Understanding always comes before speaking.

Myth: Baby sign language delays speech.
Reality: Research suggests baby sign language may actually support verbal language development, not delay it.

Myth: Boys talk later than girls.
Reality: On average, girls do speak slightly earlier, but the overlap is enormous. Most boys fall within the normal range.

The Bottom Line

First words are an exciting milestone, but they're just one part of a rich language development process. The most important things you can do are talk to your baby constantly, read together, respond to their communication attempts, and enjoy this amazing journey of emerging language.

Clara is here to answer questions about your baby's language development!