Speech, Language, Oral Motor & Feeding

Milestones

To accomplish each developmental milestone, whether gross and fine motor, speech or oral motor and feeding, a child needs the right combination of muscular strength, coordination, sound development and especially determination. While every child is unique, if your child is not reaching some of the below milestones, early intervention is encouraged. Early intervention into your child’s developmental delay is critical. If you recognize that your child is not reaching the below milestones, contact Speech Castle.

Adorable baby lying on a white blanket, wearing a white knitted hat with pink bunny ears, and holding a plush toy.

By Three Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Establishing a feeding routine that is typically stress free and showing adequate weight gain.

Language

  • Briefly gazes at people.

  • Quiets when picked up.

A baby with a white hat and clothing lying on a white surface, being gently examined or dressed by an adult's hands.

By Six Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Enjoys mealtime.

  • No longer loses liquid during sucking from bottle or breast.

  • Showing interest in others food.

Language

  • Babbles for attention.

  • Turns and looks in direction of sound.

  • Makes many different sounds.

A young child with short black hair and wide eyes being fed with a spoon, with some food on his lips and chin.

By Eight Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Has begun taking soft solids from a spoon.

  • Is using a primitive chewing pattern with soft foods.

  • Can be fed sitting with some support.

Language

  • Responds to name.

  • Produces 4 or more different sounds.

  • Listens to own vocalizations.

  • Tries to imitate sounds.

A smiling baby sitting in a high chair with a bib, surrounded by food on the tray, in a home setting.

By Twelve Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Liquids are primarily from a cup even though may still be breast or bottle feeding.

  • Eating coarsely chopped table foods, including easily chewed meats.

  • Enjoys cookies, crackers and cereals for snacks.

Language

  • Using 2-6 words other than Mama and Dada.

  • Imitates familiar words.

  • Understands simple instructions.

  • Recognizes word/object relationship.

Smiling toddler with messy food on face sitting in a high chair with a wooden bowl of chopped food in front.

By Fifteen Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Sitting unsupported for meals.

  • Foods now include most meats and many raw vegetables and fruits.

  • Drooling is not a problem unless teething.

Language

  • Word usage is increasing.

  • Asks for “more”.

  • Waves bye-bye.

  • Begins to point to pictures.

Young boy with short dark hair and big eyes sitting at a table in a restaurant, drinking from a glass with a straw, with a plate of fries in front of him. A person in the background blurred out.

By Eighteen Months

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Enjoys most table foods safely.

  • Self feeding with some assistance.

  • Drinking from an open cup with some assistance with minimal loss of liquid.

Language

  • Uses 10-20 words, including names.

  • Points to toes, eyes and nose.

  • Imitates words and sounds more precisely.

Child with curly blonde hair walking on a cobblestone street in an urban area, wearing a white t-shirt, yellow shorts, and sneakers, with buildings and narrow alleyways on either side.

By Two Years

Oral Motor Feeding

  • No loss of liquid when drinking and cup is removed.

  • Chews and swallows with no food or saliva loss.

  • Swallows solid foods, even those with combinations of texture with lips closed.

Language

  • Has about a 300-word vocabulary.

  • Listens for the meaning of words.

  • 2-3 word sentence length.

  • Asks “What” and “Where” questions.

  • Asks for drink, toilet or food.

Young boy playing with a wooden sandbox and toys on a white table in a neutral-colored room.

By Two and Half Years

Oral Motor Feeding

  • Eats the same foods as the rest of the family.

  • Drooling is not present.

Language

  • Has a 450 word vocabulary.

  • Gives first name.

  • Uses past tense.

  • Likes to hear the same story repeated.

  • Talks to children and adults.

  • Can name common pictures and things.

Young girl in a green jacket playing with soap bubbles in a park.

By Three Years

Language

  • Has a 1000 word vocabulary.

  • Uses 3-4 word sentences.

  • Can relay or tell a story or idea.

  • Can stay on task for 8-9 minutes.

Child's hand in a blue sleeve creating colorful abstract art with paint, brushes, and bottles of paint on a messy white table.

By Four Years

Language

  • Uses 4-5 word sentences.

  • Asks “who” and “why” questions.

  • Identifies some colors and shapes.

  • Stays on task for 11-12 minutes.

Child playing in water with sunlight creating a golden background and water droplets in motion

By Five Years

Language

  • Uses 5-6 word sentences.

  • Knows full name and address.

  • Uses all speech sounds correctly.

  • Asks questions to get information.

  • Uses all types of sentences.

  • Understands spatial relationships.

Young girl with braided hair reading a colorful children's book titled "HOP ON POP" by Dr. Seuss at a wooden table.

By Six Years

Language

  • Has correct articulation for speech sounds.

  • Uses adult grammar in conversation.

  • Beginning to read simple words.

  • Names days of the week in order and counts to 30.

  • Asks loads of “Why,” “What,” and “How” questions.