Between 1 and 3 years, most children go from a word or two to chatting in short sentences. The CDC's checklists show that by 12 months most toddlers wave bye-bye and call a parent "mama", "dada" or another special name. By 18 months most try 3 or more words besides those, and by 2 years most say two words together, like "more milk". By 30 months the CDC lists about 50 words, and by 3 years most children can hold a short back-and-forth conversation and are understood most of the time.
The range of normal is wide, and understanding and gestures usually run ahead of spoken words. What matters most is steady progress. If your toddler loses words or skills, or misses a milestone, the CDC's advice is not to wait: talk to your GP or child-health nurse, and ask about a hearing check and a speech pathology assessment. For the months before the first birthday, see first words.
What do toddlers understand and say from 12 months to 3 years?
In February 2022 the CDC revised its "Learn the Signs. Act Early." checklists. Its key points page explains that each milestone now sits at the age by which at least 75% of children show it, so even one missing milestone is a reason to ask about screening rather than "wait and see". Many children do these things earlier.
| By about | Understanding and gestures (CDC) | Talking (CDC) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | Understands "no" (pauses or stops); waves bye-bye | Calls a parent "mama", "dada" or another special name |
| 15 months | Looks at a familiar object when you name it; follows directions given with a gesture and words; points to ask for something or for help | Tries one or two words besides "mama" or "dada", like "ba" for ball |
| 18 months | Follows one-step directions without gestures, like "Give it to me"; points to show you something interesting | Tries three or more words besides "mama" or "dada" |
| 2 years | Points to things in a book and to at least two body parts when asked; blows a kiss or nods yes | Says at least two words together, like "More milk" |
| 30 months | Names things in a book when you point and ask "What is this?" | Says about 50 words; joins two or more words with an action word, like "Doggie run"; uses "I", "me" or "we" |
| 3 years | Says what's happening in a picture, like "running" or "eating" | Has a conversation with at least two back-and-forth exchanges; asks "who", "what", "where" or "why"; says their first name; is understood by others most of the time |
If your toddler was born more than 3 weeks early, the CDC's online checklist says to use their corrected age, and to use the younger checklist if their age falls between two.
How many words should my toddler say at 18 months, 2 years and 3 years?
The sources set their markers differently. The CDC uses the age most children (75% or more) have reached, while Australia's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby speech guide gives "rules of thumb" for typical children.
| Age | Pregnancy, Birth and Baby rules of thumb |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Understands about 10 words; responds to their name; says a few words and babbles |
| 18 months | Understands about 50 words; says 6 to 20 words; can name a few body parts |
| 2 years | Follows 2-part instructions; says more than 50 words on their own; puts 2 words together; uses "no" |
| 3 years | Says 4 to 5 words in a sentence; asks "what", "where" and "who" questions; talks about something in the past |
So Pregnancy, Birth and Baby puts more than 50 words at 2 years, and the CDC puts about 50 words at 30 months. Both agree that joining two words around age 2 is the key step. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's 18–24 month page adds that toddlers may try between 1 and 7 new words a week, and may start saying "no" and "why".
How clear should my toddler's speech be?
Early words rarely sound perfect. KidsHealth's guide to delayed speech says parents and regular carers should understand about 50% of a child's speech at 2 years and about 75% at 3 years. By 4 years a child should be mostly understood, even by people who don't know them.
Why does understanding come before talking, and why do gestures matter?
Toddlers understand far more than they can say. KidsHealth separates what a child understands (receptive language) from what they can say (expressive language), and both count. A toddler who follows "Get your shoes" without you pointing is showing real language, even with only a few words.
Gestures are an early form of language too. The CDC checklists move from waving at 12 months, to pointing to ask at 15 months, to pointing to share something interesting at 18 months, to blowing kisses or nodding at 2 years. KidsHealth suggests checking with your doctor if a child isn't using gestures such as pointing or waving by 12 months, or if by 18 months they prefer gestures to sounds and words.
Does learning two languages slow toddlers down?
No. Australia's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby bilingual guide says bilingual children have the same milestones as children who speak one language and learn to speak just as quickly. While they learn, they may mix up their languages or go quiet for a time, which is normal. If there is a real language problem, it shows up in both languages.
- Use the language that feels natural. The NHS guide to helping your child talk says to talk in whatever language feels comfortable to you, and ASHA's Identify the Signs campaign says it is good to teach your child a second language.
- Keep your home language going. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says not to stop speaking your child's first language while they learn another.
- Count every language. When you think about how many words your toddler has, include the words in all the languages they use.
How can I help my toddler talk more?
You don't need flashcards or apps. Everyday chat works best. These ideas come from the CDC's tips for 1- to 2-year-olds and 2- to 3-year-olds, the NHS, KidsHealth and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby.
- Talk through your day. KidsHealth suggests naming foods at the shops, describing chores and pointing out things you see, keeping language simple.
- Build on their words. The CDC suggests adding to words your toddler starts, such as answering "baba" with "bottle". NHS Start for Life's 2–3 year page suggests answering "Bird" with "Yes! A little bird is flying!"
- Say it back, don't correct. The NHS says not to criticise or tell your child off for getting a word wrong; just say it back the right way.
- Offer choices. NHS Start for Life's 1–2 year page suggests asking "apple or orange?", and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says choices encourage more words.
- Read every day. The CDC suggests reading to your toddler daily. The NHS says you don't have to read the words; just talk about the pictures, and give your toddler time to point and talk.
- Sing and play. The CDC suggests simple songs and rhymes, and naming body parts and objects in games.
- Turn off background TV. The NHS says background noise from the TV or radio makes it harder for your child to listen to you. The AAP's screen time page says regularly having a TV on in the background has been linked with lower language skills. NHS Start for Life suggests avoiding screen time for toddlers under 2 and keeping it to no more than 1 hour a day from 2 to 5. See screen time.
- Keep dummies for sleep. The NHS says it's hard to learn to talk with a dummy in your mouth. See dummies.
When should I get my toddler's speech or hearing checked?
Get medical help today if
- your child suddenly seems unable to hear in one or both ears, their hearing gets worse over days or weeks, or hearing loss comes with earache or discharge from the ear. The NHS hearing tests page advises an urgent GP appointment or a health advice line (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 in Australia, NHS 111 in the UK, your pediatrician's after-hours line in the US) for these.
Talk to your GP or child-health nurse soon (don't wait for the next check) if
- your toddler stops using words, gestures or other skills they had before. Every CDC checklist says to act early if a child "has lost skills he or she once had", and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby lists lost skills at 2 years as a reason to see your doctor or child-health nurse.
Talk to your GP or child-health nurse if
| By about | Worth raising if your toddler |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Isn't using gestures such as pointing or waving (KidsHealth) |
| 18 months | Prefers gestures to sounds and words, or has trouble copying sounds (KidsHealth) |
| 2 years | Says only a few words, doesn't join two words, doesn't seem to understand what others say, only copies rather than making up their own words, can't follow simple directions, or has a raspy or nasal voice (CDC, KidsHealth, ASHA) |
| 2 to 3 years | Has speech that is unclear even to family, or isn't starting to put words into sentences (ASHA) |
Also raise it if your toddler misses any milestone in the CDC table, has tantrums because they aren't understood, or you're simply worried. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says to see a speech pathologist as soon as you notice a stutter.
What happens next
The CDC says to share your concerns with your child's doctor and ask about developmental screening, and to ask for a referral to a specialist if you're still concerned. In the US, the CDC also suggests contacting your state's early intervention program. In the UK, NHS Start for Life notes a health and development review at about 2 to 2½ years.
- Hearing test. KidsHealth says an audiologist should test a child's hearing whenever there's a speech concern. Australia's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby hearing loss page says a doctor may refer your child to an audiologist, paediatrician or ear, nose and throat specialist, and that some hearing loss is missed at newborn screening.
- Speech pathology. In Australia, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby says you don't need a referral to see a speech pathologist, though a referral may help with Medicare costs. The NHS says UK parents can refer their child to a speech and language therapist themselves.
What's worth writing down?
Keep a running list of your toddler's words in every language, the date each appeared and the gestures they use. Note new two-word phrases, and anything they used to say but have stopped. A short video of your toddler talking and playing can help your GP, child-health nurse or speech pathologist see what you see.
