Category: Parent Resources

Written by: Alexis Bullock, CF-SLP | Carolina Therapy Connection

Every baby develops at their own pace, especially when it comes to communication. Still, it’s natural for parents to wonder whether their little one is on track—or if it might be time to seek support. Understanding early speech and language milestones can make a big difference in catching concerns early and getting the right help when it matters most. 

If you’ve ever wondered…

• “Should my toddler be saying more words by now?”
• “Why isn’t my baby babbling yet?”
• “Is this normal… or is it something I should check on?”

…you are not alone.
Many parents worry about whether their child’s communication is developing as expected — and with so much mixed information online, it can be overwhelming to know when to seek help.

Here’s the good news:
Babies and toddlers learn language through everyday interactions — playing, watching, listening, and connecting with the people around them. Early intervention can make a big difference if communication delays are present, and getting answers sooner helps reduce worry and set your child up for success!

This guide will walk you through:

• ✔ Expected speech and language milestones
• ✔ Signs your child may need speech therapy
• ✔ How early intervention can help
• ✔ Simple ways to support communication at home
• ✔ Where to get help in Greenville, New Bern, Goldsboro, and Morehead City, NC

What’s “Normal” Speech Development?

Every child develops differently, but guidelines from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) help us understand typical communication milestones. These ranges are approximate, but helpful for spotting patterns.

Birth to 3 Months

• Responds to sounds in their environment
• Turns toward noises
• Coos with single vowel sounds (ex: “ooo,” “aaa”)
• Makes different cries depending on needs (hungry, tired, uncomfortable)

4–6 Months

• Laughs and giggles
• Watches caregivers’ faces
• Vocalizes when playing
• Combines vowel sounds (ex: “ah-oo”)
• May blow raspberries

7–9 Months

• Looks when name is called
• Babbles strings of sounds (ex: “bababa,” “mamama”)
• Shows affection and seeks comfort
• Responds to “no” or pauses in routine

10–12 Months

• Waves, points, claps
• Imitates sounds and gestures
• Responds to simple routine phrases (ex: “bye-bye,” “look”)
• Says 1–2 first words (ex: mama, dada, ball)

13–18 Months

• Follows simple 1-step directions (“come here,” “give me”)
• Uses gestures to make requests
• Uses at least 10–20 meaningful words
• Identifies familiar people and objects
• Imitates sounds and actions

19–24 Months

• Uses and understands at least 50 words
• Combines two words (ex: “more milk,” “mommy help”)
• Follows 2-step directions
• Begins using pronouns (me, mine, you)

2–3 Years

• Talks in short phrases or early sentences
• Asks “what,” “where,” or “why”
• Uses plurals and early grammar forms (-ing, -ed)
• Speech becomes easier to understand
• Correctly produces sounds like: p, b, m, h, w, d, n

🚩 Signs Your Child May Need Speech Therapy

If you notice one or more of the following, it may be time to get support:

• ❌ No babbling by 6–7 months
• ❌ Doesn’t respond to their name by 9 months
• ❌ Fewer than 5–10 words by 15–18 months
• ❌ Fewer than 50 words or no word combinations by 2 years
• ❌ Hard to understand compared to same-age peers
• ❌ Limited eye contact, gestures, or imitation
• ❌ Frustration when trying to communicate
• ❌ History of frequent ear infections

Parent tip: If you’re wondering whether to wait or start services, trust your gut — early support never hurts and often helps significantly.

How Early-Intervention Speech Therapy Helps

Speech therapy helps toddlers:

• Build vocabulary
• Improve speech clarity
• Strengthen social communication
• Reduce communication frustration
• Support feeding, gestures, and language processing

Research shows that birth to 3 years is the most powerful window for developing speech and language because the brain is rapidly forming neural pathways.

Easy Ways to Support Language at Home

Try these simple routines throughout your day:

1. Respond to all communication attempts (pointing, babbles, gestures)
2. Expand what they say → “Dog!” → “Yes! A big brown dog!”
3. Read daily — point to pictures and label objects
4. Narrate routines → “We’re putting on shoes… one… two…”
5. Ask open-ended questions instead of yes/no
6. Reduce screen time and increase interaction
7. Use songs, finger plays, and rhymes
8. Pair words with gestures or signs
9. Create opportunities to request (pause with snacks or toys)
10. Wait and give time — silence encourages speech!

Don’t Forget About Hearing

Hearing is directly connected to speech development. If you have any concerns or if your child has chronic ear infections, check with your pediatrician or schedule a hearing screening.

📞 Ready for Help? We’re Here For You!

If something doesn’t feel right — you’re not being “dramatic,” you’re being a great parent.

Carolina Therapy Connection offers play-based, research-backed speech therapy for infants and toddlers in:

📍 Greenville
📍 Goldsboro
📍 New Bern
📍 Morehead City

👉 Click here to request a free consultation or evaluation.

Early support builds confidence, connection, and communication — and we’re honored to walk this journey with your family!