Late Talkers — What's Normal and When to Check

Broadly: a first word around 12 months, a few dozen words by around 18 months, and two words combined around 24 months ("more milk," "daddy go"). That's an average path with wide margins on both sides.

Understanding matters more than output at this stage. A child who says little but follows instructions, points at what you name, and trades expressions and gestures with you is usually on a path that catches up.

Later first words are common with additional siblings, and growing up with two languages is not considered a cause of language delay. Counting words in only one language can make a bilingual child look behind when the combined total isn't.

No babbling and no gestures — pointing, waving — by 12 months. No single words by 18 months. No two-word combinations by 24 months. Any of these is a reason to ask.

Regardless of age: inconsistent response to their name, limited eye contact, or losing words and skills they previously had. Losing ground is the one to raise soonest rather than watch.

Start with your pediatrician, who can refer on to a hearing test or a speech-language evaluation. Checking early and finding nothing is a much better outcome than waiting and finding something late.

Back-and-forth exchanges do more than anything else. Your child makes a sound or points, you respond to that specific thing, then you wait. The number of these round trips is what moves language forward.

Narrate instead of quizzing. "You're drinking water, that looks cold" gives your child language attached to the moment, while "What's this?" asks them to perform. Same words available, very different pressure.

Expand what they give you by one step. Child says "car," you say "red car." Child says "car go," you say "the car is going fast." You're not correcting — you're adding a layer they can copy when ready.