First-words questions, answered
Practical, research-backed articles on your baby's language milestones — timelines, speech worries, bilingual families, and keeping the words you'd otherwise forget. Written for real families, sourced from the CDC, ASHA and current research.
How many words should a toddler say?
Word counts from 12 to 36 months, why the averages mislead, and the three floor numbers that actually matter.
MemoryWhen do babies start forming memories?
They start earlier than anyone thought, and neither of you will keep them. A 2025 Yale study, infantile amnesia, and what it means for first words.
KeepsakesThe baby memory book you'll actually finish
Why most baby books die half-filled in a drawer, physical vs digital, and the one-tap habit that survives real life.
First wordsThe most common first words, in every language
Mama, mamá, maman, māma. Why babies everywhere reach for the same 25 words first, whatever language they hear.
Speech worries18 months and not talking yet?
What the CDC actually expects at 18 months, the five skills that matter more than words, and when to check in.
Speech worriesUnderstands everything, says almost nothing
Why strong comprehension is the good version of the worry, and what to do while the words catch up.
MilestonesWhen do babies say their first words?
The typical timeline from babbling to first words, and why the "normal" range is wider than you think.
ReferenceBaby first-words milestone chart by age
What the CDC and ASHA each expect from 12 to 30 months, and why their word counts disagree.
BilingualRaising a bilingual baby: first words tips
Bilingual babies are not slower to talk. What the research shows, and how to count words across two languages.
Keep the words, not just the worry
Saylings is a private journal for your baby's first words in every language — each word with a photo and your child's voice.
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