Language Development Guide For Babies & Toddlers
This page will help you understand:
- Why it’s important to talk with your baby/toddler
- Some things your baby can probably already do!
- Activity ideas to do with your baby/toddler as they approach 12 months and beyond
Why is it important to interact & talk with your baby?
Babies want to interact with other people and they do this before they start saying words!
Babies will learn language from people they spend a lot of time with.
Babies’ brains are ready to learn. Lots of a child’s language development happens in the first 2 years.
Babies in their first year
Since your baby was very little, you will probably have noticed they are really interested in you and want to interact!
They have probably:
- Made lots of noises like cooing and blowing raspberries.
- Said repeated sounds like bababa, dadada, mama! This is known as babbling.
- Followed you around the room with their eyes.
- Looked at you when you spoke to them.
- Giggled/laughed when you have done something fun like tickle them.
Activity Ideas
Click on the links for fun activities to keep trying with your baby/toddler as they grow.
Back and forth games: Using a teddy for turn taking games - BBC Tiny Happy People
Baby Babble: Responding to one-on-one 'baby talk' - BBC Tiny Happy People
Get interactive!
How many interaction top tips can you do?
- Chat to your baby about what they’re interested in, then watch and wait for their ‘answer’.
- Turn off the TV and put down your phone to chat with your child.
- Talk about what you are doing! That might be looking at books, toys or washing up!
- Use simple talk – just one or two words together.
- Copy back the sounds your baby makes.
- Give babies’ sounds a meaning.
- If your toddler says a word – say it back and add another.
- Make screen time a shared experience.
- If you speak more than one language, speak the one you are most comfortable speaking in. Or if you are confident in them all - use them all!
Get dummy smart!
Long term (over 12 months) & overuse may impact speech. Please click the link below for more detailed information.
Dummies and weaning: How and when to stop dummy use - BBC Tiny Happy People
What next?
There are many useful websites with more information and activity ideas to help you support your child’s speech & language development.
The Balanced System tool will help you gather lots of advice together from various sources, including local and national websites.
The Balanced System® speech, language and communication pathway
For information on all areas of child development, milestones, tips and advice go to BBC Tiny Happy People:
If you would like to check the progress of your child’s speech & language development, the Progress Checker from the link below may be useful. This will also signpost you to other resources if your child needs support.
Child's Progress checker - Speech & Language UK (speechandlanguage.org.uk)
Need more support?
If you have any specific questions or concerns relating to your child’s development, including speech & language milestones, please contact your Health Visitor.
You can also read some more information in our leaflet below: