School Learning Disabilities Signs of Speech and Language Delays in Infants By Ann Logsdon Ann Logsdon is a school psychologist specializing in helping parents and teachers support students with a range of educational and developmental disabilities. Learn about our editorial process Ann Logsdon Fact checked by Fact checked by Cara Lustik on September 13, 2020 linkedin Cara Lustik is a fact checker and copywriter. Learn about our editorial process Cara Lustik Updated on September 13, 2020 Print Westend61/Getty Images Are you concerned about your child's speech and language development? If so, you're not alone. Most parents are concerned about their children's developmental stages in all areas. As in other areas of development, children develop speech and language skills at different rates. Developmental delays in communication skills are not absolute signs of a speech or language disability. Speech and language development should be thought of as occurring within a range of time rather than by exact ages. However, there are common signs of potential speech and language delays that you can watch for. Infants Birth to 18 Months The first stages of speech development involve behavior cues such as looking at or turning toward sound, meeting a caregiver's gaze, and making babbling noises. As the baby continues to develop, she will begin to mimic the movements and sounds of others around her. Around the age of twelve months, a baby begins to learn that his caregivers have associated specific sounds with objects and people. He begins to utter words such as da-da, ma-ma, and ba for bottle. During this period, delays may be a concern if the child: Has limited eye contact or does not respond to sounds in her environmentDoes not babble or make buzzing, bubbly noises with lipsDoes not respond to sing song play with othersDoes not appear to listen or be concerned with words of caregivers or siblingsDoes not make common gestures such as pointing toward a wanted object, waving bye or in greetingAppears uncomfortable, crying often in a whining manner Toddlers 18 to 24 Months Toddlers at this stage should begin to watch others in their environment. They develop the ability to show emotion in their body language and babbling. They will begin to show understanding, or receptive language skills by pointing to objects when asked to do so or by following simple directions. During this period, delays may be a concern if the child: Continues to show little eye contact with caregivers and other childrenAppears to show a limited range of emotionsHas not begun to say single words for common people and objectsCannot point to two or three major body parts such as his head, arms, feet, or legsDoes not point to familiar objects or people when asked or cannot point to pictures of common objects when askedSeems uninterested in her environmentDoes not try to get others' attention or interaction Toddlers 24 to 36 Months By this age, children typically begin singing simple nursery rhyme songs or imitating tunes by humming. They begin to show early expressive language skills. They can name several familiar objects in their homes or daycare settings and can make simple two- to three-word sentences. During this period, delays may be a concern if the child: Cannot point to or say the names of common objects in her environmentDoes not say simple sentences such as "want milk," "Da-da's home," or "not time go bed"Does not enjoy listening to stories or following along in a bookIs not interested in children's television showsIs more difficult to understand than other children his age Where to Turn for Help If you suspect your infant or toddler may have speech and language delays, you can get free screenings through early childhood programs in your area. Your child's pediatrician can help you get a referral to these services, or you may contact area early intervention services. Causes of Toddler Speech Delays Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Important Milestones: Your Child By Eighteen Months. Updated September 15, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Important Milestones: Your Child By Two Years. Updated June 9, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Important Milestones: Your Child By Three Years. Updated June 9, 2020.