What Speech Sounds Should My Child Be Saying by Age 3?

Your child's first word gets all the attention, but communication starts long before that. From the first cry to babbling to "more milk," every stage is building toward something. So are the sounds. Not all speech sounds develop at the same time, and there's a reason your three-year-old can say "mama" but not "s." Their mouth just isn't ready yet. Here's what's typical at age three, and two simple tools you can use today — no drilling required.