• Looks at you while getting fed • Quiets when hearing familiar voices and sounds • Makes cooing and gurgling sounds • Gets startled by loud noises
3 to 6 Months:
• Turns eyes or head toward sound • Responds to you by making sounds and/or moving arms and legs • Smiles and laughs • Begins to make speech-like sounds - buh, ma, boo
6 to 9 Months:
• Responds to hearing own name • Understands "No" • Looks at some common objects or family members when named • Babbles sounds in a series - bababa, dadada, mamama • Can say "Allah" at this stage clearly if taught
9 to 12 Months:
• Understands simple requests - "Give it to mommy", "Don't touch" • Understands simple questions - "Where's the ball?" • Uses gestures or sounds to let you know what he/she wants or needs • Says first word
12 to 18 Months:
• Follows simple spoken directions such as "Get the ball" • Points to people, body parts or toys when asked • Uses connected sounds that sound like sentences in a different language (jibberish) • Uses 10 or more words • Uses common expressions - oh no, all gone
18 to 24 Months
• Uses 20 or more words • Combines two or more words, such as more juice • Uses many different speech sounds at beginning of words such as p, b, m, t, d, n • Takes turns "talking" back and forth with you • Listens to simple stories and rhymes
Source: From the booklet "Ages and Stages" by Ontario Early Years.
