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

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

Concerned about your child’s speech development? Chat with Babynama’s pediatricians on WhatsApp for guidance.

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