Which of the following abilities is NOT typically present in a 10‑month‑old infant?

A 10-Month-Old Child Cannot Speak Their First Real Word

Based on established developmental milestones, a 10-month-old child typically cannot yet speak their first real word—this milestone occurs at 12 months of age. 1

Developmental Milestones at 10 Months

According to the comprehensive developmental milestone table from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the following abilities are expected at 10 months:

• Follows one-step command without gesture (e.g., "Give it to me") - Average age: 10.0 months 1
• Says "mama" or "dada" - This represents monosyllabic babble, which begins at 6.0 months 1
• Points to objects - Thumb-finger grasp develops at 8.0 months, enabling pointing behaviors 1

The Key Distinction: Babbling vs. Real Words

At 10 months, infants are in the verbal receptive language phase where they understand commands without gestures, but they have not yet crossed into expressive language with true labeling. 1

• Monosyllabic babble (including "mama" and "dada" sounds) emerges at 6 months as experimentation with sound and tactile sense
• First real word (beginning of labeling) occurs at 12 months 1

The critical difference is that "mama" or "dada" at 10 months represents babbling sounds rather than intentional, meaningful words used consistently to label specific people or objects.

Clinical Reasoning

The developmental progression follows this sequence:

1. 7 months: Follows one-step command WITH gesture (nonverbal communication)
2. 10 months: Follows one-step command WITHOUT gesture (verbal receptive language)
3. 12 months: Speaks first real word (beginning of labeling)
4. 15 months: Speaks 4-6 words 1

Answer: D - Speaks first real word is the ability NOT typically present at 10 months.