Every parent asks: "What words should my toddler know?" While every child develops differently, there are certain words that typically emerge first — and having a checklist can help you track progress and celebrate milestones.
This comprehensive list of 100 common first words is organized by category and perfect for sharing with pediatricians, speech therapists, or simply tracking your child's amazing vocabulary journey.
🖨️ Printable Version Available
Save or print this checklist to track your toddler's vocabulary growth offline.
Download PDF📋 How to Use This Checklist
💡 Tracking Tips
- Count approximations: "baba" for bottle or "wawa" for water definitely count!
- Include consistent sounds: If they always say "moo" for cow, that's a word
- For bilingual families: Count words in any language your child speaks
- Don't stress timing: This is a guide, not a rigid timeline
📅 Typical Age Ranges
12-18 months: 1-20 words from this list
18-24 months: 20-50 words
24-30 months: 50-100+ words
30-36 months: 100+ words plus many more specific vocabulary
👶 The Complete First Words Checklist
🎯 Making the Most of This Checklist
Beyond Just Counting Words
While tracking vocabulary is valuable, remember that communication is about more than just word count. Pay attention to:
- How they use words: Do they communicate needs? Express emotions?
- Understanding: Do they respond when you use these words?
- Combinations: Are they starting to put words together?
- Social use: Do they use words to interact with others?
🌟 Celebrate Every Word!
Each word represents your toddler's growing ability to communicate their thoughts, needs, and feelings. Whether it's their first "mama" or their 50th word, every addition to their vocabulary is worth celebrating!
Tips for Encouraging First Words
Narrate your day: "Now we're putting on your shoes. Red shoes!"
Read together daily: Books expose children to vocabulary they might not hear in everyday conversation.
Follow their interests: If they love trucks, learn truck words together!
Give them time to respond: Count to 5 after asking a question.
Expand on their words: When they say "ball," you say "Big, blue ball!"
For Bilingual Families
If your family speaks multiple languages:
- Count words in all languages: "Water" and "agua" both count!
- Look for translation pairs: Knowing both versions shows advanced language skills
- Don't worry about mixing: "I want agua" shows sophisticated language use
- Celebrate cultural vocabulary: Family-specific words are just as important
⚠️ When to Consult a Professional
While this checklist provides helpful guidance, consult your pediatrician or a speech-language pathologist if:
- Your 18-month-old has fewer than 10 words
- Your 24-month-old has fewer than 50 words
- Your child stops using words they previously knew
- You have concerns about their communication
- Family members frequently can't understand your child
👩⚕️ Professional Insight
"This checklist is a wonderful starting point, but remember that children develop at their own pace. What matters most is that your child is communicating effectively and continues to grow their vocabulary over time." — Dr. Amanda Chen, Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist
📱 Digital Tracking Made Easy
While this printable checklist is perfect for offline tracking, digital tools can offer additional benefits:
- Automatic progress charts: Visual representation of vocabulary growth
- Milestone reminders: Gentle prompts about what to look for next
- Family sharing: Let caregivers contribute to tracking
- Pediatrician reports: Easy sharing with healthcare providers
Your toddler's vocabulary journey is unique and wonderful. Use this checklist as a guide to celebrate their progress, but remember that every child develops at their own pace. The most important thing is that your little one is learning to communicate and express themselves — and that's something to celebrate every single day!
Track Every Word with WordSprout 🌱
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