Babbling and cooing are the first stages of language and speech development, providing an indication that the child is using her voice to interact with her surroundings. Babies will begin to vary the pitch and volume of their coos as time progresses.
From around 9 months of age babies will start joining together different vowels, consonants and tones to say words like "dada" and "mama." By the age of one year babies begin to understand common words and gestures as well as the names for objects in their daily lives.
Parents of children in this age group who are not reacting to sounds or having frequent ear infections should seek advice.
By this age, babies have developed a wider range of sounds and will try imitating words that they hear. Babbling will include various sounds and tones, sounding very much like the child is speaking in a language of his own. First words are also beginning at this age, such as common nouns like "ball" and "dog."
Babies in this age group should be saying a few simple words, understanding simple commands and questions, be sociable, attempting to verbally communicate to indicate when they need something and be using gestures like waving, pointing and shaking their heads.
During this period, a toddler's vocabulary will expand from around 20 to 50 words so that by two years of age she is combining words to make short sentences. Understanding a wider range of words, following directions and asking for things are all indications that the child's communication skills are developing well.
If a toddler is using gestures rather than words, is not using a range of words and sounds or isn't imitating words and actions, speech therapy may be required to assist her development.
This age group undergoes a rapid expansion of language and comprehension skills, with most children now having the ability say a larger range of words and longer sentences, as well as developing a better understanding of the meaning of words, instructions and concepts.
If understanding the child's speech is difficult, if he is unable to construct simple two- to three-word sentences, if he is showing signs of frustration when attempting to speak, he cannot name common objects or body parts or if he not asking questions, parents should take these as warning signs that their child may require treatment.