Speech & Language Milestones by Age: When Should You Be Concerned?
That moment when your child says their first word is one you won't forget. But as they grow, it's natural to start wondering are they on track? Is this normal? Should I be doing something?
Speech milestones by age give you a general guide to what's typical, and a way to spot when your child might benefit from a little extra support. Here's what to know.
A Quick Snapshot of Speech Milestones by Age
Every child develops at their own pace. These milestones aren't strict deadlines, they're just general guidelines. What matters is that your child is continuing to progress.
0–12 months
Cooing and gurgling from around 2 months
Babbling (baba, dada) from around 6–9 months
Responding to their name and familiar voices
Using gestures like pointing or waving by 12 months
Saying 1–2 words (often "mama" or "dada") by 12 months
12–24 months
10–20 words by 18 months
Starting to combine two words ("more milk," "daddy go") by 24 months
Around 50 words by age 2
Strangers can understand about 50% of what they say
2–3 years
Using short sentences of 3–4 words
Vocabulary growing quickly (often called the "language explosion")
Strangers can understand them most of the time by age 3
3–5 years
Telling simple stories with a beginning, middle, and end
Answering "why," "when," and "how" questions
By age 5, almost anyone should be able to understand your child clearly
Signs of Speech Delay in Toddlers
You don't need a diagnosis to reach out for support. If any of these signs of speech delay in toddlers sound familiar, it's worth a conversation with a professional:
Not babbling by 12 months
No single words by 16 months
Not combining two words by 24 months
Losing words or skills they previously had
Difficulty being understood, even by family
Not following simple instructions ("get your shoes")
Limited interest in communicating or interacting with others
One of these on its own doesn't automatically mean there's a delay – but it's always worth checking. You know your child best.
When to See a Speech Pathologist
Here's the thing about knowing when to see a speech pathologist: earlier is almost always better.
The first five years of life are when the brain is most adaptable. Children who receive support during this window tend to make faster progress – and those gains carry through into school, friendships, and beyond.
You don't need a referral to book an assessment. You don't need to be certain something is wrong. If you're noticing gaps between your child and their peers, or your gut is telling you something's off – that's enough reason to reach out
Our speech pathology team at EveryKid sees children from babies right through to school age. Assessments are done through play, so your child doesn't need to "perform" – they just need to show up.
What Happens in a Speech Pathology Assessment?
A speech pathology assessment looks at two things: what your child understands (called receptive language) and what they can say or communicate (expressive language).
Your speech pathologist will:
Talk with you about your child's development and history
Observe how your child communicates through play
Assess vocabulary, sentence structure, clarity, and comprehension
Give you a clear picture of where they're at – and what, if anything, would help
From there, they'll recommend a therapy plan tailored to your child's needs. If your child would benefit from more intensive support, our intensives program is designed to fast track progress in a short period of time.
Ready to Get Some Answers?
Wondering whether your child's speech is on track is one of the most common concerns we hear from parents. There's no such thing as reaching out too early.
Book a free discovery call with our speech pathologists. It's a no pressure conversation to talk through what you're noticing and whether an assessment makes sense for your child.