Language begins long before the first word. Babies are listening, watching mouths, and learning that sounds get a response — months before they can answer you. The good news for tired parents: you don't need flashcards or apps. You need ordinary, responsive moments, repeated. Here is how that grows, stage by stage.

0–2 months

  • Talk constantly — narrate what you're doing; babies absorb sound early.
  • Hold eye contact and use your face — it builds attention to speech.
  • Respond to cries and coos — this teaches that communication gets a response.

2–4 months

  • Imitate your baby's sounds — it teaches turn-taking, the root of conversation.
  • Use "parentese" — a warm, sing-song, slightly high-pitched voice helps learning.
  • Smile, then pause — give your baby a chance to "reply".

4–6 months

  • Name objects, often — "bottle", "mama", "toy" builds word association.
  • Use gestures — pointing and waving link actions to meaning.
  • Encourage babbling — react with delight when sounds appear.

6–9 months

  • Read picture books daily — point and label simple images.
  • Play sound games — "ba-ba", "ma-ma" strengthens the muscles of speech.
  • Keep passive screen time low — real back-and-forth is what grows language.

9–12 months

  • Encourage pointing — ask "Where is the ball?" to build understanding.
  • Expand sounds into words — if your baby says "ba", say "ball".
  • Use simple instructions — "give me", "come here" builds comprehension.

12–15 months

  • Celebrate first words — encouragement invites more attempts.
  • Offer choices — "milk or water?" prompts a word.
  • Model clearly, don't correct harshly — just say the word the right way.

15–18 months

  • Expand single words — your baby says "dog", you say "big dog".
  • Sing songs with actions — rhythm, memory and speech together.
  • Ask simple questions — invite a verbal reply.

18–21 months

  • Encourage two-word phrases — model "want milk", "go outside".
  • Narrate playtime — describe what you're doing together.
  • Pause on purpose — let your baby try to fill in the word.

21–24 months

  • Build short sentences — grow "more juice" into "want more juice".
  • Correct by modelling, gently — repeat it correctly without saying "wrong".
  • Play pretend — it stretches imagination and language at once.

None of this is a test, and no two babies keep the same timetable. If something feels off about your child's hearing or speech, your paediatrician is the right person to ask. The rest is just this: talk, pause, listen, and delight in whatever comes back.