When Do Infants Begin To Learn To Understand Language Or Words?
Quick Answer
Every child develops at their own pace, so don't panic if your baby isn't meeting exact timelines! Generally, babies should babble by 6-9 months, say first words like "mama" or "dada" around 12 months, and have 10-25 words by 18 months. Talk to your pediatrician if your child has no words by 18 months or isn't combining words by 2 years.
Language Development Milestones by Age
Watch: Always look for this early hunger cues.Do you feed your baby only after they start crying?
Birth to 3 Months
What's Normal:
Startles at loud sounds
Calms down when hearing parent's voice
Makes cooing sounds ("ooh," "aah")
Different cries for different needs (hunger, discomfort)
Smiles when spoken to
What You Should Do:
Talk to baby constantly during diaper changes, feeding, bathing
Sing lullabies (Indian lori work wonderfully!)
Respond to baby's sounds
Make eye contact while talking
3-6 Months
What's Normal:
Turns head toward sounds
Laughs and giggles
Babbles with consonant sounds ("ba," "ma")
Responds to tone of voice
Makes sounds to get attention
What You Should Do:
Repeat baby's sounds back to them
Read simple picture books
Narrate your activities ("Mama is making chai")
Play peek-a-boo with sounds
6-9 Months
What's Normal:
Babbles chains of sounds ("bababa," "mamama")
Understands "no"
Recognizes own name
Imitates sounds and gestures
Points at objects
What You Should Do:
Name objects: "Look, ball! Gol gol ball!"
Play "Where is...?" games
Encourage waving "bye-bye"
Sing action songs with hand movements
9-12 Months
What's Normal:
First meaningful words (often "mama," "dada," "papa")
Understands simple commands ("Give didi the ball")
Uses gestures to communicate
May have 1-3 words by first birthday
Responds to their name consistently
What You Should Do:
Celebrate first words enthusiastically
Ask simple questions and pause for response
Read interactive books with lift-the-flaps
Limit screen time
12-18 Months
What's Normal:
Vocabulary of 5-20 words
Points to body parts when asked
Follows simple instructions
Uses words and gestures together
May understand more than they say
What You Should Do:
Expand on what child says: Child: "Doodh." You: "Haan, garam doodh chahiye!"
Read books daily
Name everything you see outside
Play pretend games
18-24 Months
What's Normal:
Vocabulary explodes to 50-100+ words
Starts combining two words ("More doodh," "Daddy bye")
Asks simple questions ("What's that?")
Knows names of familiar people
Can follow two-step instructions
What You Should Do:
Have conversations, even if one-sided
Ask open-ended questions
Play with other children
Sing nursery rhymes together
2-3 Years
What's Normal:
Speaks in 2-3 word sentences
Strangers can understand about 50% of speech
Asks "why" questions (lots of them!)
Knows basic colors and numbers
Uses pronouns (I, me, you)
What You Should Do:
Read longer stories
Explain things in simple terms
Play word games
Encourage storytelling
3-4 Years
What's Normal:
Speaks in complete sentences
Tells stories
Strangers understand most of what they say
Uses plurals and past tense
Asks many questions
What You Should Do:
Have detailed conversations
Play imagination games
Start teaching letters and sounds
Read chapter books aloud
Tips to Boost Language Development (Bhasha Vikas)
1. Talk, Talk, Talk!
Bolte raho! The more words a child hears, the better their language develops.
Describe what you're doing: "Mama sabzi kaat rahi hai"
Talk during daily routines
Use simple, clear sentences
2. Read Every Day
Rozana padho!
Start with board books for babies
Point to pictures and name them
Let child turn pages
Make reading a fun ritual, not a chore
3. Sing Songs and Rhymes
Gaana gaao!
Indian songs that work:
"Nani teri morni"
"Machli jal ki rani hai"
"Lakdi ki kaathi"
Any family songs from your region
4. Limit Screen Time
Screen kam karo!
No screens under 18 months (except video calls with family)
18-24 months: Educational content only, with parent
2+ years: Maximum 1 hour daily
TV is NO substitute for real conversation
5. Bilingual Is Beautiful
Do bhasha achi hai!
Speaking Hindi at home and English elsewhere is great for development
Children can learn multiple languages simultaneously
Consistency matters: same person, same language
6. Respond and Expand
When child speaks, build on it:
Child: "Dog!"
Parent: "Yes! A big brown dog. The doggy is running fast!"
7. Give Wait Time
After asking a question, wait 5-10 seconds for response. Don't rush to answer for them.
When to Worry About Speech Delay
Red Flags by Age:
By 12 months:
No babbling
Doesn't respond to name
No pointing or waving
No interest in communication
By 18 months:
No words at all
Doesn't follow simple instructions
Doesn't point to show you things
Lost previously acquired words
By 24 months:
Fewer than 25 words
No two-word combinations
Strangers can't understand any words
Doesn't imitate actions or words
By 3 years:
Strangers can't understand most speech
Doesn't speak in sentences
Doesn't ask questions
Can't follow two-step commands
When to See a Specialist:
If you notice red flags, consult:
Pediatrician first - for overall evaluation
Speech-Language Pathologist - for detailed assessment
Audiologist - to rule out hearing problems
Developmental Pediatrician - if developmental delay suspected
Early intervention makes a HUGE difference! Don't "wait and see" if you're concerned.
Expert Insight: As our pediatricians remind parents: 'Milestones have wide ranges. Focus on progress, not comparison.'
FAQs
Q: My 15-month-old only says "mama" and "dada." Is this normal?
A: This can be normal, as some children are late talkers. However, look at the full picture: Does baby understand instructions? Point at things? Communicate with gestures? If yes, they may just need more time. If concerned, consult your pediatrician.
Q: We speak Hindi at home and English at school. Will this confuse my child?
A: No! Bilingual children may have a slightly smaller vocabulary in each language initially, but their TOTAL vocabulary is often larger. Bilingualism has many cognitive benefits. Continue with both languages.
Q: My toddler understands everything but won't talk. Should I worry?
A: Understanding language is a good sign! Some children are "late talkers" who suddenly burst into speech. However, if your child has fewer than 50 words by 2 years or no two-word phrases, consult a speech therapist.
Q: Screen time helps my child learn words from cartoons. Is that okay?
A: Research shows children under 2 learn language much better from real people than screens. While they may repeat words from shows, they don't learn to USE language properly. Face-to-face interaction is essential.
Q: My child was talking fine, but suddenly stopped. What should I do?
A: Loss of previously acquired language is a red flag and needs immediate evaluation. See your pediatrician as soon as possible.
Q: At what age should I start reading to my baby?
A: From birth! Babies benefit from hearing language even before they understand words. Reading creates bonding, introduces vocabulary, and establishes a lifelong love of books.
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This article was reviewed by a pediatrician and speech therapist. Last updated: January 2025
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