Baby's First Words: Speech Milestones | Parenting Hub
Most babies say their first word between 10–14 months. Learn babbling, first words, and how to support early speech — plus signs to mention to your GP.
Babbling, pointing, copying sounds — language starts long before the first 'real' word. Most babies say their first word around 10–14 months and have a handful of words by 18 months.
Typical timing
- 0–3 months: cooing, eye contact, turns to voices
- 4–6 months: laughs, starts babbling ('ba', 'ga')
- 6–9 months: babble strings ('bababa', 'mamama')
- 9–12 months: copies sounds, points, may say first word
- 12–18 months: 1–20+ words, follows simple instructions
- 18–24 months: starts joining 2 words ('more milk')
How to support early language
- Talk through your day — narrate dressing, feeding, the walk
- Read together every day, even short board books
- Sing nursery rhymes — repetition helps
- Get face-to-face — babies learn from watching mouths
- Limit background screens; they reduce parent-baby talk
- Pause and wait after asking a question — let them respond
Bilingual babies
Hearing two or more languages doesn't cause speech delay. Bilingual babies may have a slightly smaller vocabulary in each language but a similar total.
When to see a doctor
Check in with your GP or MCH nurse if your baby isn't babbling by 9 months, has no words by 18 months, doesn't respond to their name, doesn't make eye contact, or has lost words they used to say. A hearing test is usually the first step.
When to seek help
- Not babbling by 9 months
- No words by 18 months
- Doesn't respond to their name by 12 months
- Loss of language skills
- Limited eye contact or social engagement
Common questions
Does dummy use delay speech?
Prolonged dummy use during the day (over 12 months) can reduce babble practice and affect mouth muscle development. Try to limit dummies to sleep times after 12 months.
Should I correct mispronunciations?
No — just model the correct word back. If they say 'wawa', you say 'yes, water!' That teaches without discouraging.