Talking Toddlers with Erin Hyer

Episode 131: This ALWAYS Happens Before Babies Say Their First Word (Every Parent Misses This One)
Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Erin Hyer, a seasoned speech-language pathologist, uncovers the vital—but often overlooked—developmental stage that consistently precedes babies’ first words: gesturing. She breaks down why gestures are not simply cute milestones but a foundational piece that predicts and supports later speech and language development. Through practical examples, personal experience, and scientific insight, Erin empowers parents to shift their focus from counting words to understanding the deeper, interconnected processes behind early communication.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Underlying Process Before Words

• Language development is likened to the way bamboo grows: slow, unseen progress, then a rapid burst.
  • Quote: "Words develop a lot, like bamboo grows. It's slow for a long while and it's really happening under the ground. And then all of a sudden, it's everywhere." (00:00)
• The "language explosion" at 18–24 months is the result of the motor system and symbolic understanding coming together, but gestures are the crucial, hidden stage that happens first.

2. Common Parental Misconceptions

• Parents are often told to focus on word counts and worry if their toddler isn’t talking by a specific age.
• Erin critiques guidance from organizations like the CDC, which recently shifted the 50-word milestone from 24 to 30 months.
  • Quote: "No speech language pathologist worth their salt agrees with that shift. No one." (07:40)
• The danger in such delays: it prevents early identification and timely support for kids who need it, rather than alleviating parental anxiety.

3. What Actually Comes Before Words?

• Development is not a checklist but an overlapping process involving:
  • Noisy babies: Crying, cooing, squealing, raspberries, giggles—these early sounds aren’t random but foundational.
    • "These are not random noises. These are your child demonstrating how he or she is learning in real time." (12:30)
  • Vocal play: Practicing breath control, back-and-forth timing, and attention-getting—essential for both communication and motor skill.
  • Motor coordination: Speaking involves coordinating over 100 muscles, an immense feat for a toddler.
    • "Talking is a fine motor task, and motor means muscle, right? These fine motor skills develop over time with lots and lots of practice." (14:10)

4. The Crucial Role of Gestures

• Gestures (waving, pointing, reaching, shrugging) are not simply cute extras—they’re milestones signaling readiness for spoken words.
  • "Gestures are what we look at as symbolic communication, which is the same mental process, the same understanding as how words are used." (22:30)
• Gestures show symbolic thinking, intent, and cognitive awareness.
• Erin references the "16 by 16" guideline: By 16 months, toddlers should have at least 16 gestures.
  • "If gestures are missing, words will be challenging. Like I said, it's not theory. This has been studied and consistently reinforced." (29:04)

5. Movement, Play, and Brain Wiring

• Movement (crawling, climbing, playing) directly supports language development by building the same neural pathways for speech.
  • "Movement wires the brain... gestures prepare that motor system for talking." (31:20)
• Gestures and babbling start to “dance together” between 8–12 months, with shared interest, imitation, and purposeful engagement becoming more apparent.
  • "And so I look at it as...the engine of their language system is really coming online, really starting to wire up and connect and firing." (36:10)

6. Early Precursors and Mirror Neurons

• Even before gestures, things like face attention, simple imitation, and turn-taking are crucial.
• Erin introduces mirror neurons—special brain cells that fire when imitating or observing actions—facilitating this back-and-forth and priming the developmental pump.
  • "There are certain brain cells that activate when you perform an action, but they also activate when we watch somebody else perform that same action." (43:50)
  • Babies “stick out their tongue when you stick out your tongue”—this is a reflexive, not conscious, first step in imitation.

7. Gestures Across Cultures: Songs, Rhymes, and Routine

• Across cultures, rhymes and hand motions help teach language rhythm and patterns.
• Gestures are “movement with meaning,” and are deeply wired into human communication.
  • "This is why toddlers who move more tend to talk more." (50:12)
• Parents can use daily routines, songs (“Wheels on the Bus,” “Itsy Bitsy Spider”), and shared play as powerful tools for building these skills.

8. Practical Guidance: What to Look For and Foster

• Red flags:
  • Minimal or late babbling
  • Lack of gestures by 12–16 months
• Strong advice: Don’t wait until 24 or 30 months to notice a problem; early markers allow early support.
• Suggestions for parents:
  • Model and celebrate gestures: wave, point, clap, reach, blow kisses, thumbs up, high fives, fist bumps.
  • Pair gestures with spoken language—gestures support, not replace, words.
    • Quote: "Don’t stop talking. Right? And so we want the physical gestures or sign to support the spoken words." (01:07:32)
  • Use familiar routines and favorite activities/nursery rhymes to encourage gesture imitation.
  • Baby signs are fine, especially when paired with words, but don’t use them to replace speech.

9. Summary Insight

• Reviewing a child’s history of gestures, babbling, imitation, and play offers a much richer understanding of their communication pathway than just counting words.
• Focus on simple daily habits using movement, song, and shared attention to naturally scaffold language.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Early Signs:
  "Your toddler not using many words is not the first sign there could be a problem—not even close. There's a step, a hidden step that shows up months earlier." (03:15)

• On Gestures:
  "Gestures are what we look at as symbolic communication, which is the same mental process, the same understanding as how words are used." (22:30)

• On CDC Guidelines:
  "No speech language pathologist worth their salt agrees with that shift..." (07:40)
  "That child needed support a year ago. The fact is, parents, you are told to look at the wrong signs." (09:02)

• On Parental Empowerment:
  "You don't need a therapist and you don't need a label and you don't need an evaluation. You can take this information...You can make a difference today." (01:11:00)

• On Practical Action:
  "Model gestures and see how they use them...Wave and point and clap and reach and shrug, blow kisses, thumbs up..." (01:12:11)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–03:15 — Introduction; bamboo metaphor for language growth; overview of episode theme
• 07:40–09:45 — Critique of CDC milestone changes and their implications
• 12:30–14:10 — Noisy babies and early sounds as foundational communication
• 22:30–29:04 — Defining gestures as symbolic communication and their developmental importance
• 29:04–31:20 — Missing gestures as a red flag; the need for movement in language wiring
• 36:10–38:56 — The dance between gestures and babbling; when it emerges
• 43:50–47:00 — Mirror neurons, reflexive imitation, and the roots of back-and-forth communication
• 50:12–55:10 — Gestures through interactive songs and movement in daily life
• 01:07:32–01:13:00 — Pairing gestures with words; details on modeling and supporting gestures at home
• 01:11:00–01:13:30 — Final encouragement and practical advice for parents

Conclusion: Erin's Take-Home Message

• Communication is more than counting words; it’s a rich, multi-layered process beginning with movement, noise, and gesture.
• Gestures are the missing signpost for parents—spotting and fostering them empowers you to support your child before speech truly takes off.
• "Simple daily habits create a powerful language foundation. You can help them build that foundation for real communication that supports everything that they will do." (01:14:10)

For further practical guidance, Erin invites listeners to her December workshop, but her clearest advice is to observe, enjoy, and nurture your child’s movement, gestures, and joyful noise—because that’s where real communication begins.

End of Summary