Communication, month by month
17 months
Gestures meet early words
Source window: 13–18 months. Skills emerge across this range, not on a monthly deadline.
What communication can look like
- Points to request, comment, or get information.
- Understands and uses words for familiar people, objects, and actions.
- Follows simple directions and identifies a body part.
Everyday examples
ball · up · more
Illustrative sounds, words, or phrases—not a required vocabulary list. Welcome gestures, AAC, and home languages too.
A little moment to try
Offer a choice between two familiar objects. Welcome a point, look, sound, word, or AAC response.
Ask Joey AI
A little card to share
Explore cards inspired by the CDC 15-month checkpoint. One card is free; subscriber extras are coming soon.
This is the latest published checkpoint before this month, not a new monthly milestone.
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.