By 12 months, most children point to objects and use at least 6 of the conventional gestures listed. By 19 to 20 months, most children nod their head to indicate yes. A child's ability to use sounds is the strongest predictor of language skills a year later. Most children use sounds to get attention or help by 8 to 9 months. Many sounds at this age are only vowel sounds, but most parents report that their child uses 1 or 2 consonants and sometimes strings consonant sounds together by 8 to 9 months.
Children usually understand more words than they can say.
The first word that children usually recognize is their name. Most parents report that by 8 to 9 months their child often looks or turns toward them when they call their child's name. Parents can reliably report how many words their child understands if given a list of words to choose from. Children usually use their first word around their first birthday and can use dozens before their second birthday . Parents can reliably report how many words their child uses if given a list of words to choose from.