Children learn to talk at different rates and some focus on learning other skills first. As a guide, children often say their first words at around 12 months. They start trying to join in with conversations by around 18 months and can usually use two-word phrases by two years. Even if your toddler isn't talking yet, there will probably be signs they understand what you're saying, such as following simple instructions. If your child is a late bloomer when it comes to talking it shouldn't affect their future development. Find out about speech delay in toddlers – what it is and when to seek help.
What is delayed speech in a toddler?
It's not always easy to tell when your toddler has a speech delay. There is a wide range in the age at which your child might be expected to talk and how much, because very young children learn skills at their own pace (SL UK nd). For example, some toddlers concentrate on other skills first and move on to talking later. While others hold off talking until they're more confident and then suddenly catch up with their peers.
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However, some toddlers have difficulty making the physical movements needed to form sounds and words. The root cause of this sort of speech delay can vary so is best assessed by a speech and language therapist (Sharma et al 2022). It's also possible for very young children to have problems understanding words and spoken language. This is called a language delay (Sharma et al 2022).
You won't be the only parent worrying about their little one's talking. It's common for toddlers and young children to have some struggles with speech, language or communication (Sharma et al 2022). Usually, they are temporary challenges that get better with the right sort of support (Sharma et al 2022). Your GP or health visitor can refer you to a speech and language therapist who is specially trained to help.
What are the signs of a speech delay?
Most children follow a broad timeline of expected milestones for talking. For example, most children say their first words at around 12 months (Feldman 2019). Ideally, by 18 months, your child should be trying to say at least three words other than "mummy" or "daddy", and understand many more (CDC 2021a). They'll often try to join in with conversations using words rather than babbling by 18 months too (Feldman 2019).
Have a chat with your health visitor or GP if your toddler:
- Isn't babbling with meaning, such as pointing at something and making a sound for it, by 15 months (Sharma et al 2022, SL UK nd a).
- Hasn't said their first word by 18 months (SL UK nd a).
- Doesn't seem to understand what you're saying to them by 18 months (SL UK nd a).
- Is not able to follow simple instructions by 2 years (SL UK nd b).
- Is not saying 25 recognisable words (SL UK nd b) or isn't saying at least two words together, such as "more milk" by 2 years (CDC 2021a, Feldman 2019).
It’s probably the case that they just aren't quite there yet, but if there is a problem, getting help early is a good idea.
Your health visitor or GP may, for example, advise you to get your child's hearing checked. Hearing loss can make it difficult to learn to talk, so it's always worth ruling this out (Feldman 2019).
Occasionally, a delay in learning to talk, combined with limited or repetitive behaviours or not responding to those around them, may be a sign of an autism spectrum disorder (Feldman 2019, Micai et al 2020). Talk to your GP or health visitor if you are worried.
In many cases though, all that's needed is a little extra support and reassurance from your health visitor or a speech and language therapist. Toddlers learn to talk at their own speed, and many who start later than their peers catch up well as they grow (Sharma et al 2022).
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My toddler's not talking but understands. Is this normal?
Yes, toddlers often understand many words before they start talking. There are plenty of signs to look out for, besides talking, that show your toddler is taking everything in and eager to communicate:
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- When they want something, they'll point to it (CDC 2021b). This is a clear sign that they want to communicate with you.
- They should be able to follow simple instructions from you, such as "Pick up your teddy." Your toddler will hand you their teddy when you ask for it (CDC 2021a, NHS 2023).
- They will understand lots of single words, and perhaps some two-word phrases, such as "shoe on" or "give me". They may try to copy words you say and gestures you make.
- When you're reading a story with them, your toddler may recognise and point to objects and pictures in the book, if you prompt them. They'll also enjoy nursery rhymes and may even try to join in when you sing them (CDC 2021b, NHS 2023).
- While they play, they'll babble to themselves. This will sound like speech, because they'll use rhythm and vary how loudly they talk to convey meaning (Feldman 2019).
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How can I encourage my toddler to talk?
There are lots of things you can do to encourage your toddler's speech. Giving them plenty of opportunities to communicate with you is a great first step. Try to limit your screen time when you're with your toddler to maximise these opportunities and your ability to respond to them (CDC 2021a).
Talk to them as you do everyday activities such as washing dishes or changing their nappy. Point out things you see when you're out and about. If you ask your toddler a question, leave a good pause to encourage them to respond.
Visual cues will also help your toddler to understand what you are saying to them. For example, if you want them to come to you, holding out your hand to them will help them realise what you mean when you say "come over here, please".
When they use words, give them lots of praise and let them know when they've got it right. For example, "Yes, that's right, it is a spoon! Well done!"
Repeat back what you hear your toddler trying to say to you, even if they don't say it clearly. Expand on what they say. So if your toddler says "nana" when they want a banana, you could say "Yes, here's a banana."
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Don't worry too much about how your toddler pronounces their words. It's more important that they feel you understand what they're trying to tell you. And whose heart hasn’t melted at the sound of their little one saying "pasgetti" instead of "spaghetti"?
Remember, the more opportunities your toddler has to play with and listen to you and other people, the more they will learn, including how to talk (CDC 2021a, Feldman 2019). It's a good idea to limit your toddler's screen time so they can listen and try talking without distraction, especially while they are under two years of age (CDC 2021a, NHS 2023).
If your toddler is watching TV, or something on a tablet or your phone, it's best to be with them so you can talk to them about what's happening on the screen (Feldman 2019). Or use screens for face time with close friends or relatives (CDC 2021a).
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Our family is bilingual. Will this affect my toddler's talking?
If your toddler is learning more than one language (bilingual) it's likely to be an advantage to them in the long run (NHS 2023).
Initially, they may have fewer words in each language than children learning only one language (monolingual). But they'll have a similar number of words altogether across both languages (Feldman 2019). To begin with, they may also get confused between the two languages to begin with (Feldman 2019). Or they may tend to use one language more than the other.
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Rest assured that this won’t affect their ability to learn to talk, even if they have a disability like Down's syndrome (Feldman 2019). Over time, they'll learn to speak the two languages separately (Feldman 2019). In some bilingual families, one parent uses one language to speak to their child while the other parent uses the other. If you decide to take this approach, your toddler is likely to adapt to it very well (NHS 2023).
What should I do if my toddler has a stutter?
All toddlers stumble over their words from time to time. If, by the time they're two years old, your toddler stutters for more than a few months, or their stutter seems to be getting worse, ask your GP or health visitor for advice. They may be able to refer you to a speech and language therapist or you could refer yourself (NHS 2023).
More on your toddler's speech
- Get tips on ways to encourage your toddler to talk.
- See your child's full talking timeline from birth to four years.
- Learn more about how your little one's language skills develop.
- Discover how repetition and reading with your toddler can help their language skills.
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