Communication, month by month
12 months
Gestures & first little words
Source window: 10–12 months. Skills emerge across this range, not on a monthly deadline.
What communication can look like
- Points, waves, and shows or gives objects.
- Copies sounds and joins gesture games such as peek-a-boo.
- Says one or two words, such as mama, dada, hi, or bye, across this ASHA range.
Everyday examples
hi · bye · a wave
Illustrative sounds, words, or phrases—not a required vocabulary list. Welcome gestures, AAC, and home languages too.
A little moment to try
Wave and say ‘bye’ during an everyday goodbye. Welcome a look, sound, gesture, or word without pressure.
Ask Joey AI
A little card to share
Explore cards inspired by the CDC 12-month checkpoint. One card is free; subscriber extras are coming soon.
Explore family cardsGrounded in published guidance
Milestone lists describe common skills, not an assessment or diagnosis. AI can be imperfect. For individual concerns, speak with a speech-language pathologist or pediatrician. For adults only; no personal child details or saved conversations.