Life of a Baby from Birth to 24 Months

Birth to 3 Months:

– Looks at you while getting fed
– Quiets when hearing familiar voices and sounds
– Makes cooing and gurgling sounds
– Gets startled by loud noises

3 to 6 Months:

– Turns eyes or head toward sound
– Responds to you by making sounds and/or moving arms and legs
– Smiles and laughs
– Begins to make speech-like sounds – buh, ma, boo

6 to 9 Months:

– Responds to hearing own name
– Understands “No”
– Looks at some common objects or family members when named
– Babbles sounds in a series – bababa, dadada, mamama
– Can say “Allah” at this stage clearly if taught

9 to 12 Months:

– Understands simple requests – “Give it to mommy”, “Don’t touch”
– Understands simple questions – “Where’s the ball?”
– Uses gestures or sounds to let you know what he/she wants or needs
– Says first word

12 to 18 Months:

– Follows simple spoken directions such as “Get the ball”
– Points to people, body parts or toys when asked
– Uses connected sounds that sound like sentences in a different language (jibberish)
– Uses 10 or more words
– Uses common expressions – oh no, all gone

18 to 24 Months

– Uses 20 or more words
– Combines two or more words, such as more juice
– Uses many different speech sounds at beginning of words such as p, b, m, t, d, n
– Takes turns “talking” back and forth with you
– Listens to simple stories and rhymes

Source: From the booklet “Ages and Stages” by Ontario Early Years.