12 Month Old Milestones: Communication

February 2, 2022 Stephanie Keffer

Milestones are used for monitoring development.

As a parent, it’s natural to track and celebrate your little one’s accomplishments. But it’s important to know that milestones alone cannot diagnose a speech or language disorder or delay.

As you read this post, remember that if your 12-month-old is behind on one or more milestones, it doesn’t automatically mean they have a delay or disorder. My goal is to help you feel confident about when it might be a good time to discuss your child’s communication development with their pediatrician. I don’t want you to panic—I’ve been there as a mom, and I know how overwhelming that can be. So, take a deep breath, and let’s dive into 12-month communication milestones together!

Plus, you can download the PDF checklist for free!

Communication Milestones Checklist for 12-Month-Olds

References are posted at the end of the blog.

Expression Skills

How does your baby "tell" you things?

▢ You can tell when they’re happy or frustrated based on the sounds they are making. [5]

▢ They reach to grab something they want. [2]

▢ They copy and use gestures - like waving, clapping, or giving a high five. [2]

▢ They try to mimic some sounds that you make - like “yum,” “uh-oh,” or “moo.” [6]

▢ They may have said their first word (**Listen for the first word by 14 months). [4]

Understanding Skills

What words does your baby know?

▢ They understand their name - they’ll look at you when you call their name. [6]

▢ They understand what "no" means, even if they don’t always listen [1]

▢ They know the names of several things they see every day - When you say the name of a familiar object or person, they look toward it [3]

▢ They understand what “give me” means [5]

Pronunciation Skills

Which sounds should I be listening for?

▢ Babbling - which may sound like: “Ma-ma-ma”, “Pa-pa-Pa”, and/or “Na-na-noo” [1,5]

▢ Crying

▢ Laughing [1]

Social Communication Skills

How does your little one play and interact with others?

▢ They smile and laugh when playing with their parents [1]

▢ They watch familiar people who are talking to them [1]

▢ They enjoy playing little games with you, like Peek-A-Boo [1]

▢ They enjoy music and/or dancing [5]

Download a printable copy of the checklist now ↓

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Now, let’s take a moment to talk a little more about some of the most common questions related to 12-month-old milestones.

How many words should a 12 month old say?

A 12-month-old may say a handful of words or none at all. Both would be expected for their age. Babies say their first word between 10 and 14 months. So, if your baby hasn’t said their first word by their first birthday, there’s no need to panic!

If you are looking to support your baby in saying their first word, check out this free lesson , which will teach you 3 great speech therapy tips you can use to encourage first words.

How do 12-month-olds tell you what they want or need?

At this age, babies use gestures and tone of voice to let you know what they need. They might hand you things when they want help or show what they want by pointing or grabbing.

While 12-month-olds may not be saying many words yet, they’re making sounds and babbling. Pay attention to how they change their tone when babbling—it’s a way for them to express whether they’re happy or upset.

What do 12-month-olds understand?

One of the most impressive skills at this age is the number of words your baby can understand. Their brains are like sponges! You’ll notice your baby recognizing the names of familiar people and objects they interact with regularly.

At 12 months, babies will show their understanding by looking at the person or object when you say the name.

At Home Speech Activities for 1 Year Olds

Grow Your Baby's Talking Skills Using Sound Effects

Now is a fantastic time to encourage your child to make silly sounds, animal sounds, vehicle sounds, and exclamatory remarks.

When playing with your child, make as many sound effects as you can. Here are some examples:

Wow!
Pop!
Yum!
Uh-Oh! Or Oh-No!
Moo-Moo, Ba-Ba and other animal sounds
Brmmm (car sound)
E-oo-E-oo (ambulance sound)
Beep-Beep!
Ahh-choo (fake sneeze)

Even if your child is not yet copying your sounds, they are listening to you! Listening is the first step towards imitation. Your child will imitate you as they are ready.

When playing with sound effects, look for your baby to:

▢ Watch your face as your make sound effects

▢ Imitate or copy sounds that you make

▢ Look for a toy that corresponds to a sound you make (if you say "moo" they may pick up the cow)

References:

Coplan, J., Gleason, J. R., Ryan, R., Burke, M. G., & Williams, M. L. (1982). Validation of an early language milestone scale in a high-risk population. Pediatrics, 70(5), 677-683.
Crais, E., Douglas, D. D., & Campbell, C. C. (2004). The intersection of the development of gestures and intentionality.
Fenson, L., Dale, P. S., Reznick, J. S., Bates, E., Thal, D. J., Pethick, S. J., ... & Stiles, J. (1994). Variability in early communicative development. Monographs of the society for research in child development, i-185.
Fenson, L., Marchman, A., Thal, D., Dale, P., Reznick, J. S., & Bates, E. (2007). MacArthur
Communicative Development Inventories: User's guide and technical manual. Paul H. Brookes.
Roseberry-McKibbin, C., Hegde, M. N., & Tellis, G. M. (2019). An advanced review of speechlanguage
pathology: Preparation for the Praxis SLP and comprehensive examination. PRO-ED, Incorporated.
Sheldrick, R. C., Schlichting, L. E., Berger, B., Clyne, A., Ni, P., Perrin, E. C., & Vivier, P. M. (2019). Establishing new norms for developmental milestones. Pediatrics, 144(6).