#asktheexpert at what age child starts speaking

A. Children typically begin speaking their first words around 12 months of age. However, speech development can vary widely among children. Here is a general timeline for speech development milestones: - **6-9 months:** Babbling and making repetitive sounds (e.g., "ba-ba," "da-da"). - **9-12 months:** Understanding simple words like "no" and "bye-bye" and may say a few simple words such as "mama" or "dada." - **12-18 months:** Saying a few words and understanding more. Vocabulary may expand to 10-20 words. - **18-24 months:** Vocabulary rapidly increases, and they begin to combine two words to form simple sentences (e.g., "more juice"). - **2-3 years:** Using two- to three-word sentences and having a vocabulary of about 200-300 words. They start using pronouns and can follow simple instructions. - **3-4 years:** Speaking in more complex sentences, asking questions, and having a vocabulary of about 1,000 words or more. If you have concerns about your child's speech development, it is a good idea to consult with a pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist. Early intervention can be beneficial if there are any delays or issues.