A baby understands instructions as simple as ‘give me the ball’ at around 12 to 15 months, when the words come with a gesture. At around 18 months, they follow a one-step instruction without the gesture. Two-step instructions, such as ‘put the toy down and close the door’, tend to come at around two and a half years.
These ages are guidelines, not tests. Between two children of the same age, a gap of several months is common and means nothing.
Understanding before speaking: how comprehension develops
Understanding language always comes before producing it. A 12-month-old understands far more words than they can say. They first recognise very familiar words, then short phrases linked to daily routines.
At first, they rely heavily on context. ‘Time for your bath’ is understood because the bathtub, the time of day and your tone of voice all signal what comes next. It is not yet the sentence alone that carries the meaning. Leaning on context takes nothing away from the skill: this is simply how understanding takes shape.
Even before words, your baby responds to their name and to the tone of your voice. Our article on when a baby responds to their name looks at this first step in detail.
At what age does a baby understand instructions?
The guidelines below are based on the milestones published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They describe what at least three out of four children do at the age given.
Around 15 months: an instruction with a gesture
At this age, your child looks at a familiar object when you name it. They follow an instruction given with both a gesture and words, for example handing you a toy when you hold out your hand and ask for it. The gesture still carries much of the message.
Around 18 months: a one-step instruction, no gesture
Your child can now follow a simple instruction without any gesture, such as bringing you the toy when you say ‘give it to me’. The sentence alone is enough, as long as it is short and concrete. This is also the age when they point to more and more things on request, such as parts of their body.
Around 30 months: two actions in a row
At around two and a half, your child follows a two-step instruction, such as ‘put the toy down and close the door’. They have to keep the first action in mind while carrying out the second. This small feat draws on attention and working memory.
Understanding an instruction is not the same as obeying it
A child who has understood may well not do what you ask. They are absorbed in their play, testing the rule, or simply asserting their own will. This gap between understanding and doing is normal, especially between 18 months and 3 years.
We cover this in our article on when a baby understands ‘no’. To find out whether your child has understood, watch their eyes instead. If they turn towards the object you named, the understanding is there, even if they don’t act on it.
How to help your baby understand instructions
- Get their attention first. Come closer, get down to their level, say their name, then make your request.
- One action at a time. ‘Give me the shoe’ rather than ‘go and get your shoes and come and sit down’.
- Concrete words. Name the object and the action, and avoid ‘that’ and ‘over there’.
- Gestures as support. Point, hold out your hand, then gradually reduce the gesture once the sentence alone is enough.
- Time to respond. Wait a few seconds before repeating yourself: your child needs time to process the sentence.
- Positive wording. ‘Walk slowly’ is easier to understand than ‘don’t run’.
Shared pointing lays the groundwork for all this. When your child follows your finger with their eyes, they learn to link a word to a target. Our article on pointing in babies explains why this gesture matters so much.
Routines: the perfect training ground
The moments that repeat throughout the day offer the best opportunities. At nappy changing time, ‘give me your foot’. At bath time, ‘take the flannel’. At mealtimes, ‘put your spoon down’. The situation is predictable, so is the instruction, and your child often succeeds. That success encourages them to try again.
Games that build understanding
- ‘Go and get it’: a familiar object placed in sight, then in another room.
- Guided tidying: ‘put the ball in the basket’, one object after another.
- Picture books: ‘where’s the dog?’, letting your child point.
- Action rhymes, which pair a word with a movement.
Imitation also plays a big part: your child copies what they see you do before doing it on request. Our article on imitation in babies shows how to use it day to day.
When should you talk to a professional?
Talk to your child’s doctor if, at around 18 months, they do not respond to any simple instruction, even with a gesture. The same applies if they do not turn round when called, or seem to be losing skills they had already acquired. The Haute Autorité de santé (the French National Authority for Health) points out that early identification of unusual development allows for more effective support.
The first step is often to check their hearing. A child who doesn’t hear well doesn’t understand well, without anything showing it in daily life. Our article on how hearing develops sets out the signs to look out for.
A space that makes instructions easier
An instruction is easier to follow when the surroundings are easy to read. A small number of toys, always put away in the same place, lets your child know where to go when you ask for something. A clearly defined play area on the floor serves this purpose, as we explain in our article on language development from 0 to 3 years.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Learn the Signs. Act Early. Milestones by 15 months, 18 months and 30 months, 18-month page reviewed on 16 May 2026.
- Haute Autorité de santé, Troubles du neurodéveloppement : repérage et orientation des enfants à risque, good practice recommendation, February 2020.
