Keep a record of every word and sign your little one picks up. For each one, log three stages as they happen - when they understand it, when they can copy it, and when they use it in context - each with a date. Signs count as words, sounds count as words, and words in every language count together. This is a keepsake, not a test - see the Baby Milestone Checker for development guidance.
Add the languages spoken at home, then pick one from the dropdown for each word. Every language counts towards their vocabulary.
You can fill in the three stage dates now or add them later as your baby progresses.
Counts each word or sign in the month of its chosen stage date. Blue = words & sounds, gold = signs.
Understands is when your baby shows they know what a word or sign means (they look, respond or do the action). Can copy is when they can imitate it if you prompt them. Uses in context is when they say or sign it themselves, meaningfully, without a prompt. Understanding almost always comes first, often long before talking.
There's a wide, normal range. Many babies say their first clear word around their first birthday, but anywhere from roughly 9 to 15 months is common - and understanding words comes months before saying them. A later first word on its own is often nothing to worry about, but if you'd ever like reassurance, speak to your health visitor or GP. For age-by-age guidance, see the Baby Milestone Checker. NHS: first words.
As a rough guide only - children vary enormously, and understanding always runs well ahead of talking. The "says" figures below come from Speech and Language UK and the NHS. The worth a check column is the point where a friendly chat with your health visitor is a good idea - it's not a pass or fail.
| Age | Words understood (typical) | Words said: worth a check if under | Words said: typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~12 months | Familiar names & everyday words | first words often not here yet | 1-3 words |
| 18 months | Many everyday words | some first words by 18 months | up to about 20 words |
| 2 years | At least 200 words | 25 words | 50+ words; joins 2-3 words |
| 3 years | At least 300 words | still only single words | hundreds of words; 4-5 word sentences |
There's no reliable "minimum" or average count for words understood - comprehension runs far ahead of talking and isn't something that can be counted at home (research tools only measure it up to about 18 months), so that column is a typical guide only. Sources: Speech and Language UK - Ages and stages and NHS Best Start in Life. Bilingual children spread these words across their languages, so count the total across all of them.
Early words are usually the people, things and actions your baby sees most: mama and dada, names for pets, bye-bye, more, milk, no, ball, dog (or "woof"), cat, banana, up and all done. A consistent sound like "woof" or "brmm" counts as a word when it's used for the same thing. Every baby's first list is their own.
Yes. A signed word counts the same as a spoken one, and a consistent sound your baby uses for something (like "woof" for the dog or "nana" for banana) counts too. Tag each entry as a word/sound or a sign so you can filter, but they all add to their vocabulary.
That's the same word growing up, not a brand-new one, so just rename the existing entry rather than adding a duplicate - tap the word to edit it and change "nana" to "banana". This keeps the original date, so your record still shows when they first started using it. If you'd love to remember the early baby version, pop it in the meaning box (like "banana - was 'nana'"). A clearer pronunciation of a word you already track doesn't count as an extra word.
No. Reviews of the research have found no evidence that using baby signs delays or harms spoken language - and no strong evidence that it speeds it up either. A systematic review of 17 studies (Johnston, Durieux-Smith & Bloom, 2005) and a later review (Fitzpatrick et al., 2014) both concluded that signing doesn't interfere with learning to talk, and a controlled trial (Kirk et al., 2013) found no harm. So sign away - it's a lovely way to communicate before words arrive. Hanen Centre summary · Fitzpatrick 2014 review.
Every language counts together. Add the languages you use at home (up to six), then pick one from the dropdown for each word. Growing up bilingual is not a delay - children simply spread their early words across their languages, and their total across both is what matters. Hanen: bilingualism, fact vs fiction.
Two. A word your baby uses in each language (like dog and perro) counts as two words - these are called translation equivalents, and they're a normal, healthy part of bilingual development (Bosch & Ramon-Casas, 2014). Researchers call the running total across both languages the total vocabulary, and the number of separate concepts the conceptual vocabulary. This tracker counts each language's word separately, so add both. Bosch & Ramon-Casas (2014).
Completely free, and everything stays in your browser. Use "Save a backup" to download a copy, and "Restore a backup" to load it again or move it to another device.
Yes - use "Add a child" at the top to keep a separate list for each little one.