The baby years are filled with cute precious moments, but it gets even cuter as they start to speak and their personality starts to shine through. Toddlers typically start talking between the ages of 12 and 24 months. However, the exact age at which a child begins to speak can vary widely, and some children may start talking earlier or later than this range.
In the first year, infants begin to develop their communication skills by cooing, babbling, and making other sounds. They also start to respond to and recognize familiar words and phrases.
Around 12 months of age, many toddlers will say their first words, such as "mama," "dada," or other simple words for objects, people, or actions. They will also begin to understand simple commands, such as "come here" or "give me."
As they approach 18 to 24 months of age, toddlers' language skills typically begin to develop rapidly. They may start to combine words to form simple phrases or sentences, and may be able to name many familiar objects and people. They may also begin to ask simple questions, such as "what's that?" or "where is it?"
By the 2 years old, most toddlers will have a vocabulary of several hundred words, and will be able to use simple sentences to express themselves. They will also begin to engage in more complex conversations, and may be able to express their thoughts and feelings with more detail.
It is important to remember that every child's language development is unique, and some children may start talking earlier or later than others. If parents are concerned about their child's language development, they should talk to their pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist to determine if there are any underlying issues that need to be addressed.