A baby's first word is a simple sound like "mama," "dada," "ball," or "bye" that is said intentionally, consistently, and in the correct context, even if it's just part of the word (e.g., "ba" for bottle). It shows meaning, not just random babbling, and usually happens between 9 and 18 months as part of early language development, alongside gestures and understanding simple requests.
Babies often—but not always—say their first real word at 11–14 months. Some wait until they're 16 months or more. Girls on average begin to talk a little earlier than boys. A first word may not be a real word, but simply a sound a baby consistently uses to mean a particular object, person or action.
Generally infants do Dada/Mama non specific (just babbling) between 6-9 months, and then Dada/Mama specific (using it correctly) sometime between 7 and 14 months.
Children usually say their first word at around 12 months old. For some kids it may be a little earlier, and for others it's a little later. By 18 to 24 months, your toddler should have at least 5 to 10 words that they use regularly.
According to research, babies who experience language development earlier than average grow up to have higher IQ levels. This is mostly noticeable during adulthood. That being said, language delay is also the most common developmental delay experienced by children under the age of 3.
If your child consistently struggles to understand what you're saying, it might be a red flag. Speech Difficulties: If your child's speech is unclear or difficult to understand by age 3, it could be a sign of a speech delay.
SIDS is less common after 8 months of age, but parents and caregivers should continue to follow safe sleep practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death until baby's first birthday. More than 90% of all SIDS deaths occur before 6 months of age.
Hold your baby until they're in a deeper sleep. Babies start in 'active sleep' (with faster, uneven breathing) and move into a deeper sleep after about 20 minutes. That's a good time to transfer them into their sleeping place. Many babies don't like being put down into a cot.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
Some babies' first words come from the animal kingdom - in Spain, the most uncommon first word is 'panther' while in Canada it's 'goose'! The most obscure first word for Australian babies is 'country' - which is even more unusual than 'jam' as their most popular first word!
Gifted children tend to be larger and more fully developed as infants than other children (Hitchfield, 1973; Terman, 1925). They may need less sleep than other children (Gaunt, 1989), which can be distressing to the parents. They may be quite active or “hyperactive,” rocking or moving excessively.
6 to 12 months
What Are the Signs of a Speech or Language Delay?
Research has shown that girls say their first words and first sentences at a younger age than boys. They also have larger vocabularies in their early communications than boys do. So it is true that boys tend to start talking later than girls.
A 10-year study by LENA researchers confirms that the amount of talk with adults that babies experience in the first three years of life is related to their verbal abilities and IQ in adolescence.
On the legitimacy of the 8-minute nap, he says “sleeping with your legs elevated can help improve sleep onset and quality as it allows blood to flow more easily throughout the body. This is the sleep science behind the 8-minute Navy Seal nap, but that's not the only thing that makes this nap potentially effective.”
The "5-3-3" baby sleep method is a sleep training strategy where a baby sleeps for 5 hours, stays awake for 3 hours, then sleeps for another 3 hours, often used around 4-6 months to encourage independent sleep by reducing nighttime feeds and establishing routine, but it requires strict adherence and consulting a pediatrician, as it might be too rigid for some babies or caregivers.
You'll want to give the same food every day for about three days to ensure baby doesn't have a reaction like diarrhea, a rash or vomiting. “I always recommend starting with vegetables first and then introducing fruits that can be a bit sweeter,” Dawkins says.
Infants are at the highest risk for SIDS during their first 6 months of life. Most SIDS deaths occur when babies are between 1 and 4 months of age.
Tummy Time for a Healthy Baby. Babies need tummy time! Although it does not directly reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), tummy time is an important way to help baby grow and develop.
Globally, infectious diseases, including pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria, remain a leading cause of under-five deaths, along with preterm birth and intrapartum-related complications. The global under-five mortality rate declined by 61 per cent, from 94 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 37 in 2023.
Indicators that a child might be experiencing expressive language delay include: Not using words by age 16-18 months. Difficulty following simple instructions by 18 months. Not pointing to objects or body parts by age 18 months.
Here's a list of seven symptoms that call for attention.
Simplified Words: Toddlers with apraxia often use simpler words and might avoid complex sounds or word combinations. Groping Movements: Visible struggle or groping movements of the mouth, lips, or tongue as the child tries to form words.