Toddlers are closer to having full conversations with us than they were as babies, but when it comes to language development, patience is still a virtue. There are several milestones a parent can look out for, and we have some advice on how you can help your child reach them between the ages of one and three.

As we cover in Unii’s Baby Speech Journey, babbling is an essential precursor to speech development. It usually starts when your baby is around six months old and begins repeating consonant-vowel syllables like ma-ma and ba-ba. So cute, but also a sign of real progress. Babbling allows your little one to practise moving their jaw, tongue, and lips efficiently, as well as to experiment with sound production.

At about the eight-to-10-month mark, your baby should be able to understand simple words and sentence fragments. They might know and respond to their name and be able to follow instructions like “Wave bye-bye.” This milestone is called receptive language, as children are receptive to language even though they cannot yet produce it.

A toddler should be able to say about ten words by 18 months of age, according to the National Childbirth Trust. At this stage, they’re making one-syllable efforts but should still be praised and encouraged when they say a word correctly. As their vocabulary grows and they learn to move their jaw, lips, and tongue more effectively, they may say two-word phrases. This stage is called expressive language, as your toddler can now express themselves verbally.

Between the ages of two and three, toddlers begin to use more complex sentence structures and can express more nuanced ideas. They may also start understanding basic grammar rules like plurals or verb tenses, as well as using pronouns aloud. With their language skills expanding, you should be able to have longer conversations with them.

However, remember that these milestones are just general guidelines. Please don’t worry if your toddler is not hitting them at the age or exactly in the way that we’ve described. Your child is unique. Try not to compare your child’s development with anyone else's, especially while they can hear you. If you feel there is a problem, your GP should be the first person you ask.

Here are some ways you can support your toddler’s language development.

Keep talking to your little one. You and your partner are your toddler’s favourite confidantes. Discuss the world around you, ask them about their day, and find other ways to engage in spirited back-and-forth conversation.

Read to your child to teach them new words and ideas. Choose toddler-friendly texts with lots of pictures and simple language your little one can repeat.
Praise communication. Ask your child open-ended questions and follow up when you hear them express themselves. Mistakes really don’t matter at this stage, but articulating themselves correctly should also be applauded.
Put the devices away. Even educational screen time can interfere with language development. Limit your child’s exposure and prioritise interactive pursuits like talking.

What are the milestones of language development?

On Unii’s Toddler Speech Journey, we hit upon the milestones of language development.