When will my baby start to talk?

Language is early!: A baby's language development begins with their first cry. That first 6-8 weeks crying is their only way of communicating or "talking" with you. After that they begin to coo and ohh and ahh. Then comes babbling and finally the long awaited first word- around 1 year of age.

Around age 12 months: Normal babies can say "dada" around age 1 year, but there can be several months variation among babies. The doctor will ask what a baby is saying, at each check-up, to keep track of the progress.

12 months: Children can usually say mama and dada and be specific around 12 months of age. They should have 3-5 words by 15 months and 15-20 words by 18 months.