When do babies start talking?

From babbling to words

Talking by age, and who says so
Age	What the checklists include	Source
By 1 year	Babbling with rising and falling tones, and at least 1 word	AAP
15 months	Tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada”	CDC
18 months	Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”	CDC
2 years	Says at least two words together, like “More milk”	CDC
By 2 years	About 50 to 100 words and several 2-word phrases	AAP

By about 4 months, babies start to babble, with pitch that rises and falls like speech. After 6 or 7 months, they begin to copy the sounds they hear. Syllables like “ba”, “da” and “ma” follow.

First words don’t have to be proper English. A sound your baby uses every time for the same thing counts as a word. Babies also understand far more than they can say.

What can help

Talk through what you’re doing at bath time, changes and meals.
Use simple words, and name familiar things the same way each time.
Read picture books with large pages.
Ask questions, wait for a response and repeat your baby’s sounds back to them.

When to ask

The AAP says to let your pediatrician know if your baby doesn’t babble or copy any sounds by their seventh month, so their hearing and speech can be checked. If you have any questions about your baby’s development, it says to ask, the sooner the better.

Sources

This guide is for information only and is based on CDC and AAP guidance. It isn’t medical advice and doesn’t replace a doctor. Guidance can differ between countries, so follow your doctor’s advice and your local health service. If you have any concern about your baby’s health, always contact your doctor. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. Babies develop at their own pace. If you’re worried about your baby’s development, contact your pediatrician.