Speech and Language Milestones, Ages 1 to 3 Years

1-year-olds (12 months to 24 months):

• Learn that words have meaning.
• Usually recognize the names of family members and familiar objects.
• Understand simple statements such as "all gone" and "give me."
• Between 1 and 2 years, understand simple requests such as "give daddy the ball."
• By 18 months, know the names of people, body parts, and objects.

• Use gestures, such as pointing.
• Babble less than babies do.
• Often make one- or two-syllable sounds that stand for items they want, such as "baba" for "bottle," and point to things they want.
• Between 12 months and 18 months of age, may use their own language, sometimes called jargon, that is a mix of made-up words and understandable words.
• Between 1 and 2 years, usually can say between 20 and 50 words that are intelligible to family members.

2-year-olds (24 months to 36 months):

• Know the name of at least seven body parts.
• Increase their understanding of object names.
• Follow simple requests (such as "put the book on the table").
• When asked, point to a picture of something named (such as "Where is the cow?" or "Show me the airplane.")

• Continue to learn and use gestures.
• Sometimes talk a lot, although some are quiet.
• If quiet, develop a communication system using gestures and facial expressions.
• Usually can name some body parts (such as arms and legs), favorite toys, and familiar objects (such as cats and dogs).
• Use pronouns like "me" and "you," but they often get them mixed up.
• Can make phrases, such as "no bottle" or "want cookie."
• By age 3, usually can say between 150 to 200 words. Strangers can understand them about 75% of the time.^{footnote 1}