speech assessment 18 months

18 Month Speech Milestones and 5 Strategies to Help

Tate Strack

You are at a playdate with a friend, and you realize that your 18 month old is not talking as much as your friend’s child. Do not worry – you are not alone! It is so important to remember that all children develop at different rates . Just because your child is not exhibiting a certain skill now, does not mean they will not achieve the milestone later. Speech and language pathologists can evaluate your 18 month old and treat early communicators, helping to support you along the way. 

18 Month Speech Milestones

At 18 months old (or within the 12-24 month range) your child should be able to hear and understand the following: 

• Points to a few major body parts when asked, such as tummy, feet, nose, mouth. 
• Follows simple 1-step directions, such as “take it out” or “kiss the baby” 
• Shows understanding of simple questions, such as “Where is the ball?” or “Who’s that?” 
• Enjoys listening to stories, songs, fingerplays and nursery rhymes 
• Understands some early prepositions, such as in, on, out, off
• Chooses familiar objects from a group on request 
• Understands familiar action words, such as jump, clap, swing 

How Much Should an 18 Month Old Talk?

Each child develops speech and language skills at their own pace, so these 18 month old speech milestones are approximate and will look different for each child. At 18 months old (or within the 12-24 month range) your child should be able to use the following words and expressive language skills: 

• Imitates play sounds and words 
• Uses true words within jargon or babbling 
• Uses a variety of speech sounds such as, p, b, m, h, w  
• Starting to name familiar objects 
• Uses gestures to communicate with intention 
• Uses language to have needs met, such as asking for ‘more’ 
• Asks simple questions, such as “What’s that?”, or “Where’s daddy?” 
• Begins to put two words together, such as “more eat”, “mommy go”, and “no bed” 

18 Month Old Not Talking? Try These 5 Strategies

Wondering how to get an 18 month old to talk? These are some of NAPA’s speech therapist’s favorite strategies to create a language rich environment for your child and motivate them to use their voice!

1. Parallel-Talk or Self-Talk :

Parallel-talk and self-talk are both quick and easy ways to expose your child to more language 

• Parallel-Talk: narrating what you are doing during the day, such as “Put ball in”, “Car goes up!”, or “Open the book” 
• Self-Talk: narrating what your child is doing during the day, such as “Pop the bubbles”, “Turn the page”, or “Take cookie out” 

2. Gentle Sabotage:

Refers to withholding motivating materials and/or activities to support initiation of expressive language, such as waiting for your child to use a word or word approximation to request before rolling the ball back to them

3. Recasting: 

Repeating something your child says with more detailed or grammatically correct language.

• For instance, if your child says “more” – you could say, “I heard you telling me you want more!” followed up with “more cookie” or “I want more” 

4. Helping Phrases:

Sing or speak a familiar verbal routine or song and intentionally pause; the pause provides your child the opportunity to “fill in the blank” with verbal approximations or words. Y ou can do this with a variety of repetitive routines:

• Some of NAPA speech therapist’s favorites is with music, pausing to complete the verse of a repetitive song – such as E-I-E-I… wait for “OH” 

5. Expectant Pause:

A way to prompt for communication without doing anything! The absence of verbal or gestural prompting gives your child the time to initiate and communicate when they are ready 

• This may seem uncomfortable, and we often find ourselves wanting to fill the silence – when you feel the urge to say something, wait three more seconds before prompting! 

Again, each child develops speech and language skills at their own pace, so these 18 month speech milestones are approximate and will look different for each child.

For a more individualized understanding on why your 18 month old is not talking or just babbling, schedule a speech and language evaluation or consult with a speech language pathologist for further assistance!  

Find Additional Resources and Activities in the NAPA Speech Therapy Blog:

• 5 Tips to Help Your Toddler’s Speech, Language, and Communication Development
• Pre-Intentional and Prelinguistic Communication 
• Strategies for Non-Verbal Children 
• Speech Therapy Toys We Love
• 5 Great Language Development Activities
• Speech Therapy for Children: What are the Benefits?

About the Author: 

Tate Strack is a pediatric speech language pathologist at NAPA Center Boston. When she’s not in a speech session, you can find her working out, binge watching a wide variety of TV series or eating dessert for dinner.  

About NAPA Center

At NAPA Center, we take an individualized approach to pediatric speech therapy because we understand that no two children are alike. We provide the best and most innovative therapies from around the world all under one roof at our multiple clinics located throughout the US, UK, and Australia.

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• Infant and toddler health

Language development: Speech milestones for babies

Babies' first words are music to parents' ears. But how can you tell if a child's speech and language skills are on track?

Children learn to speak at their own pace. But markers, known as milestones, can be a guide to a child's ability to talk. These milestones help health care providers know when a child might need extra help.

By the end of 3 months

By the end of three months, your child might:

• Smile when you appear.
• Make cooing sounds.
• Quiet or smile when spoken to.
• Seem to know your voice.
• Have different cries for different needs.

By the end of 6 months

By the end of six months, your child might:

• Make gurgling sounds when playing.
• Babble and make a range of sounds.
• Use the voice to show likes and dislikes.
• Move eyes toward sounds.
• Respond to changes in the tone of your voice.
• Notice that some toys make sounds.
• Notice music.

By the end of 12 months

By the end of 12 months, your child might:

• Try copying speech sounds.
• Say a few words, such as "dada," "mama" and "uh-oh."
• Understand simple commands, such as "Come here."
• Know words for common items, such as "shoe."
• Turn and look towards sounds.

By the end of 18 months

By the end of 18 months, your child might:

• Know names of people, objects and body parts.
• Follow simple commands that are given with gestures.
• Say as many as 10 words.

By the end of 24 months

By the end of 24 months, your child might:

• Use simple phrases, such as "more milk."
• Ask one- to two-word questions, such as "Go bye-bye?"
• Follow simple commands and understand simple questions.
• Speak about 50 or more words.
• Speak well enough so that you or another caregiver can understand at least half the time.

When to check with your child's health care provider

Talk to your child's care provider if you're worried that your child has a speech delay. Speech delays occur for many reasons. These include hearing loss and other developmental issues. Your child's care provider might refer your child to a hearing specialist, known as an audiologist, or a specialist in speech and language, known as a speech-language pathologist.

If your child hears or speaks two languages, a bilingual speech-language pathologist can test your child in both languages.

To help your child talk, talk to your child. Talk about what you're doing and where you're going. Sing songs, read stories and count together. Teach your child to copy actions, such as clapping, and to make animal sounds.

Show that you're pleased when your child speaks. Repeat the sounds your child makes. A little "baby talk" is OK. But keep in mind that your child learns to speak by copying you.

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• Kliegman RM, et al. Language development and communication disorders. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 9, 2023.
• Birth to one year: What should my child be able to do? American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/01/. Accessed Feb. 9, 2023.
• Kliegman RM, et al. The second year. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 9, 2023.
• One to two years: What should my child be able to do? American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/12/. Accessed Feb. 9, 2023.
• Speech and language developmental milestones. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/speech-and-language. Accessed Feb. 9, 2023.
• Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 22, 2019.

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• Second Opinion

Age-Appropriate Speech and Language Milestones

The ability to hear is essential for proper speech and language development. Hearing problems may be suspected in children who are not responding to sounds or who are not developing their language skills appropriately. The following are some age-related guidelines that may help to decide if your child is experiencing hearing problems.

It's important to remember that not every child is the same. Children reach milestones at different ages. Talk your child's healthcare provider if you are suspicious that your child is not developing speech and language skills correctly. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and other experts list the following age-appropriate speech and language milestones for babies and young children.

Milestones related to speech and language

Related Links

• Speech-Language Pathology
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• Pediatric Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery (ENT)
• What Is Airway Reconstruction?
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Age-Appropriate Speech and Hearing Milestones

Hearing Problems and Speech and Language Milestones

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Dr. Mary Barbera

18 Month Old Not Talking? 5 Action Steps for Speech Delays

Is your 18 month old not talking? In this podcast episode, we will address the concerns and questions surrounding speech delays in 18-month-old children.  Whether you are a parent, caregiver, or professional working with children, these action steps can provide valuable guidance in supporting your child’s language development. Our goal is to take proactive measures and ensure the best outcomes for children facing speech delays or other developmental concerns. So, if your 18-month-old is not talking yet or if you are unsure how many words they should have, this episode is for you!

Let’s get started…Here are the 5 action steps we discuss if your 18 month old is not talking or talking enough.

Action Step 1: Stay Calm and Realistic

One important aspect to remember when dealing with a potential speech delay in your 18-month-old is to remain calm and approach the situation realistically. It is natural to feel concerned, but panicking will not help the process. Instead, let’s focus on accurately assessing your child’s abilities. Avoid inflating language skills, and strive for an objective understanding of your child’s developmental progress. If your 18-month-old is not talking, it might be an indication of a speech delay. Let’s explore the next steps together.

Action Step 2: Familiarize Yourself with the CDC Act Early Milestones

To gain insights into your child’s development, it is beneficial to familiarize yourself with the milestones typically achieved by 18-month-old children. The CDC Act Early Milestones is a great resource for parents and professionals. These milestones encompass speech development, social-emotional skills, physical movement, and imitation abilities. By comparing these milestones to your child’s progress, you can assess whether intervention may be needed. Remember, your 18-month-old not talking is a situation we can address together.

“How many words should an 18-month-old say?”

This is a common question parents ask when facing speech delays. Typically, by this age, children should have around three words besides “mama and dada.” However, if your child has not reached this milestone, it may indicate a speech delay. Understanding the expected language development at this stage can guide our approach.

Speech Delay vs. Autism

Speech delay and autism are two distinct developmental challenges that can affect young children. A speech delay refers to a delay in the development of language skills, where a child may have difficulty expressing themselves verbally or using age-appropriate words. On the other hand, autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by a range of social, communication, and behavioral challenges. Children with autism may have difficulty with social interactions, exhibit repetitive behaviors, and show restricted interests. Understanding the differences can help parents and caregivers seek appropriate evaluations and early intervention services to support children effectively and provide the best possible outcomes.

Action Step 3: Learn the Early Signs of Autism

While speech and language delays can occur independently, it is important to be aware of the early signs of autism. Recognizing these signs can provide a deeper understanding of your child’s overall development. In particular, pay attention to the lack of pointing at 18 months old, as it can be a sign to consider. Resources such as the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT) and the book “Turn Autism Around” can assist you in gaining further insights. By differentiating between speech delays and autism, we can approach the situation effectively.

Action Step 4: Utilize the Digital Autism Assessment Tool

To evaluate your child’s abilities in self-care, language and learning skills, and problem behaviors, we have developed a free digital assessment tool. This ten-minute assessment will provide scores in these areas, allowing us to identify specific areas that may require additional support or intervention for your 18-month-old not talking as expected. Utilizing this tool can provide valuable insights into your child’s development.

Action Step 5: Seek Professional Guidance

While this podcast episode offers guidance, it is essential to seek professional guidance as well. Reach out to your child’s pediatrician and early intervention services for further evaluation and support. Additionally, consider exploring resources such as our book, “Turn Autism Around,” and our online toddler-preschooler course, which provides comprehensive guidance tailored to parents and caregivers. By taking these steps, you will be well-equipped to navigate the challenges of speech delays effectively.

Remember, you are not alone on this journey. Our expertise in the field of autism and language development aims to provide valuable insights to support you and your child. By following these five action steps, you can take proactive measures to address speech delays in 18-month-old children. Together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of children with speech delays and their families.

YOU’LL LEARN

• How many words 18-month-olds should say.
• 18 month old milestones
• 5 actionable steps to support speech delays
• Differences between speech delays and autism in 18 month old children
• Importance of early intervention 
• Importance of support and education for families of 18 month olds not talking
• Workshops – Dr. Mary Barbera
• Free Digital Assessment
• Is it speech delay or autism? – video blog

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Baby talk: speech development from 12-18 months

Read time 6 minutes

Find out when your child might first start talking, and what you can do to help along their first attempts at communication.

You can expect to hear pearls of wisdom – or at least recognisable words – from your baby around the 12 to 18 month mark.

Encourage these first tentative words by chatting to your baby yourself, listening and answering back when they ‘talk’. It can also help if you can recognise child language stages and when they might reach them. You obviously won’t be expecting the sonnets of Shakespeare when they’re still in nappies, for example.

When will my baby talk?

Eager as you might be to hear your baby talk, there’s no set time for when to whip out your phone to capture their first words.

By 12 to 18 months, your baby will start to use language in a more recognisable way and you may start to hear them talking. You might find at first that only you and a few of your baby’s favourite people can make out what they’re saying. But it’s wonderful after all this time to hear them finally get across what’s been going on in their little heads.

Your baby will also become more sociable at this age. You might have a chatterbox on your hands.

Singing nursery rhymes with actions like ‘incey-wincey-spider’ will help connect words to actions. It’ll also help your child to understand and remember words. Aha, so that’s why nursery rhymes have been such a hit for centuries.

Baby speech development by 18 months

Toddlers develop skills at different rates, and to begin with their speech might only be recognisable to adults who often spend time with them. But by 18 months, their language will be rapidly improving and there are a few things you would expect them to be able to do:

• Enjoy playing games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake.
• Have fun playing with toys that make a noise.
• Start to understand a few simple words, like ‘drink’, ‘shoe’ and ‘car’.
• They might recognise simple instructions like 'kiss mummy', 'kick ball' and 'give me’.
• Point to things when asked, like familiar people and objects such as ‘book’ and ‘ball’.
• Use up to 20 simple words, such as 'cup', 'daddy' and 'dog'.
• Gesture or point, often with words or sounds to show what they want.
• Copy lots of things that adults say and gestures that they make.
• Start to enjoy simple pretend play, for example pretending to talk on the phone.

(Talking Point, 2013a)

Speech and language skills usually develop from a very early age. Some children don’t develop the early skills they need and you should speak to a GP or paediatrician if you are concerned.

Parents should speak to a GP, health visitor or speech and language therapist if:

• Their child has not started to babble to communicate by 12 to 15 months.
• They are not saying their first words by 18 months.
• They do not respond well to language, such as not following simple instructions like ‘kick ball’.

(Talking Point, 2013b)

How can I help my toddler talk?

Your baby will develop at their own rate, and you can’t force them to articulate words before they’re ready. But there are lots of things you can do to encourage your child’s fledgling communication.

Nursery rhymes with actions 

Ones like ‘incey-wincey-spider’ are not only fun, but help your child associate words with actions. They’ll also help your child understand and remember words. Ditto games like ‘pat-a-cake’ and ‘peek-a-boo’.

Games with 'more' or ‘again'

These can also help attention and communication as your child comes to know what to expect.

Toys and objects that make a noise

Beeping cars or fire engine sirens, can encourage children’s attention and listening skills. Noisy books and tapes are good too, and something you can both do together.

Try to tell your baby what you’re doing 

When your child starts communicating, you might be tempted to ask them lots of questions. (You have been waiting a long time to find out if they really like Mr Quackers or Little Bunny best after all.)

But bombarding them with questions can feel like you’re testing them. So boost communication instead by telling them about what you’re doing, such as ‘daddy is putting shoes on’. This will help them to connect words to the world around them.

Describe the objects your child points to

This could be their toys, clothes, parts of their body or household objects. To us it’s very obvious what a chair is, but your child doesn’t yet know the name of this big thing that people sit on.

If they try to say the word, repeat it to them 

The more your child hears a word, the quicker they will remember it. When they do start saying words regularly, repeat the words back to them when they mispronounce them. This will happen a lot.

(I Can, 2010; NHS, 2017)

It’s incredible the information that your child is absorbing, so try not to rush them. You can both enjoy the wonderful moments when your child starts talking more and more.

This page was last reviewed in July 2018.

Further information

Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: 0300 330 0700.

You might find attending one of our NCT New Baby  groups helpful as they give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area.

Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area for support and friendship by seeing what NCT activities are happening nearby .

I Can. (2010) Talk together. http://www.talkingpoint.org.uk/sites/talkingpoint.org.uk/files/Talk%20together%202010.pdf [Accessed 1st October 2018]

NHS. (2017) Help your baby learn to talk. Available from: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/helping-your-childs-speech.aspx [Accessed 1st October 2017]

Talking Point. (2013a) 12-18 Months. Available from: http://www.talkingpoint.org.uk/ages-and-stages/12-18-months [Accessed 1st October 2017]

Talking Point. (2013b) Things to look out for. Available from: http://www.talkingpoint.org.uk/ages-and-stages/12-18-months/things-look-out [Accessed 1st October 2017]

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What Are 18-month-old Communication Milestones?

How do I know if my 18-month-old child is on track when it comes to communicating? What is a reasonable expectation? Are there specific activities I can do encourage more talking?

Such good questions! We understand that you want to give your little one a strong start, and we’re here for you every step of the way. Please use the following milestones as a general guideline to help you along the way.

‍ COMMUNICATION MILESTONES – 18 MONTHS

• Say at least 10 words
• Point to wanted objects
• Imitate a word after your model
• Recognize names of familiar people and objects
• Follow simple directions, such as “Go get the ball.”
• Identify a few body parts

A milestone indicates what MOST children (approximately 90%) are doing at a given age. This information is a rough guide to help you gauge your child’s speech and language development. Remember, not every child is the same. Children reach certain skills at different ages, but they do develop in certain predictable ways, giving us some developmental milestones to help determine whether they’re on track or may need extra support and attention. ‍

For a more comprehensive communication milestone guide, please check out our FREE Communication Milestones Checklist .

We’ve also created two online courses to help YOU know how to help your child meet their communication milestones. Learn more .

STRATEGIES TO HELP YOUR CHILD TALK:

‍ The number of words that speech therapists look for in 18-month-old children varies greatly. According to toddler talk, the range can be from 20 words to 200 words! Why is there such a big range?

Many speech professionals believe that some toddlers focus on communication while others spend their energy on developing motor skills. Some evidence suggests that boys tend to develop motor skills early on while girls focus on communication.

If you’d like to engage more actively in helping your toddler talk, here are a few suggestions:

• Use focused stimulation by naming the object or action over and over. The continual repetition of specific words will help your child remember.
• Use face-to-face communication. Your child will imitate your speech by observing what you’re doing with your mouth. For example:  Hold your child on your lap, facing you, and try to find your nose, mouth, eyes, etc.
• Ask fewer questions. Instead of asking questions, talk about what you’re doing by using statements. Rather than asking, “Are you hungry? Do you want an apple?” say, “It’s time for a snack! Let’s eat an apple!” If you do ask a question, be sure to answer it if your child doesn’t respond first.
• Follow your child’s lead in play, then introduce a new action to your play. For example, if he’s pushing his car along and making noises, you do the same. Then add a step: have your car go under a bridge or pass by a big truck.

IMPORTANT: If you’re concerned that your child may not be meeting speech and language milestones, we recommend following up with your pediatrician and an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist, who can assess your child’s receptive (listening/understanding) and expressive (talking/communicating) language skills. If it is determined that a delay is present, they will give recommendations on how to proceed with an early intervention treatment plan if needed.

To learn simple and effective strategies to help get your little one talking, check out our Talk on Track (newborn-14 months) and Time to Talk: Toddler Course (15-36 months). We’d love to equip you to experience the joy of your little one talking to you! If you’ve ever asked the question, “does my child need speech therapy?” you can check out our free 45-min webinar here !

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18 Months to 3 Years of Age

Early intervention is the key to a child's communicative success..

Children with communication delays can be identified as early as 18 months of age because they are not meeting their developmental milestones. There is a range of accepted communication milestones, but there are certain stages of development for which each child should progress.

The following represents the typical stages of development:

At 18 months of age, your child should:

• respond to his or her name consistently
• say at least 10 familiar words
• produce four or more different sounds (ba, da, na, ma)
• imitate familiar sounds (such as car or animal sounds)

At 21 months of age, your child should:

• say 15 to 20 words
• hand you a toy or other object on request
• understand common directions (such as "sit down" or "come here")

At 24 months of age, your child should:

• follow directions involving prepositions ("put it on the table")
• recognize objects by function ("show me what you can ride")
• say a minimum of 50 words
• put two words together ("more milk" or "go mommy")
• produce six or more different sounds (pa, ba, da, na, ta, wa, ma)
• be understood approximately 60% of the time (speech clarity)

At 30 months of age, your child should:

• consistently use two-word sentences
• ask for assistance
• answer yes/no questions
• be understood approximately 75% of the time
• be adding 100 new words per month
• imitate words and phrases easily

At 3 years of age, your child should:

• follow two-step directions ("go get your shoes and get in the car")
• use three- to five-word sentences
• ask "how" and "why" questions
• be understood 90% of the time by all listeners
• say most sounds correctly (except s, th, r, l and blends)

How to tell if your toddler needs speech therapy?

Every child develops at their own pace, and that includes learning to speak. Yet, there are guidelines to help determine if there might be a problem, like a speech delay, or something more serious. Referring to these guidelines and milestones, speech language pathologists can determine if further testing, or online speech therapy services, may be recommended.

We’ve created an online quiz to help you determine which language milestones your child has achieved, or if you might want to consider consulting with a speech language pathologist about your child’s speech development. Click the link below to start the quiz:

How old is your child?

What should you, the parent, look for?

Listed here are some milestones which can help you gauge your child’s language progress:

By the end of 6 months, your child should:

Smile at you

Make cooing sounds

Get quiet or smile when spoken to

Seem as though they recognize a parent's voice

Make different crying sounds for different needs

By the end of 12 months, your child should:

Giggles and laughs

Babble or make other sounds

Use their voice to show pleasure/displeasure

Look in the direction of sounds

Respond to changes in tone of voice from an adult

Pay attention to sounds made by objects/toys/music

By the end of 18 months, your child should:

Attempt to imitate speech sounds

Begin saying everyday words including, but not limited to, “mama,” “dada,” “doggie,” “baby,” and “go”

Respond to simple directions, such as "Come here"

Recognize common items, like "doggie"

Look when you point

By the end of 24 months, your child should:

Use P, B, M, H, and W in words

Follow simple directions, like “give me the ball,” or “push the (toy) car”

Put 2 words together when talking, or when asking questions, like “more apple,” or “where doggy?”

Respond to simple questions, like “where is your hat?” or “who is that?”

Name pictures in books, or point to them when you name what is in the picture

By their 3rd birthday, your child should:

Use K, G, F, T, D, and N in words

Ask “why?” and put 3 words together to talk

Follow simple, but compound directions, like “get the spoon, and put it on the table”

Say about 50 or more words, and be understood by others about 50% or more

Talk about things that are not in the room

By their 4th birthday, your child should:

Respond when you call from another room

Answer simple “WH” questions, like who, what, and where

Say plural words, and rhyming words, like “hat-cat”

Understand words for family, like brother, grandmother, and aunt

Talk about what happened during the day, and use about 4 sentences at a time

By their 5th birthday, your child should:

Understand words for order, like first, next, and last

Respond to “What did you say?”

Follow longer sentences

Use a variety of sentences when they speak

Be understood by others almost all the time

Can others understand what your child is saying?

One of the things we hear most often from parents of young children is that someone – a distant cousin, a new neighbor, the pediatrician – doesn’t understand what their child is saying. Without meeting the child, it’s hard for a speech therapist to determine what that means and what recommendations to make to the parent. Should you schedule a speech evaluation? Is it normal for people not to understand your child?

One of the formulas we often recommend to parents who want to quickly determine if their child’s intelligibility (or speech clarity) in conversation with unfamiliar listeners (or “strangers”) is normal, is as follows:

AGE IN YEARS / 4 x 100 = % UNDERSTOOD BY STRANGERS

Child aged 1 = 1/4 or 25% intelligible to strangers

Child aged 2 = 2/4 or 50% intelligible to strangers

Child aged 3 = 3/4 or 75% intelligible to strangers

Child aged 4 = 4/4 or 100% intelligible to strangers

( Source: Flipsen, 2006 )

What this means is that, for example, a 2-year-old in conversation with an unfamiliar listener (i.e. a distant relative, or a pediatrician who sees the child only twice a year) would only have 50% of what they say understood.

This formula gives parents a starting point to determine if their child’s speech is progressing typically or if they should consider an evaluation by a speech therapist.

Of course, a speech therapist goes into much more detail to determine if a child’s speech is developing on track or if treatment is warranted. For example, we use normative data that looks at each speech sound they make (“t” sound, “k” sound etc.) to determine if they are producing all of the sounds appropriate for their age.

If you or the people your child lives with still don’t understand what your child is saying, then intervention might be a good idea. Remember, speech therapy does no harm. To your child it’s just another opportunity to play.

Are you wondering what speech sounds your child should be saying at their age?  Download our free and simple chart here .

What is the definition of a "late talker"?

We define a late talker as a toddler (between 18-30 months), with a good understanding of language (receptive language) and with typically developed motor/play/cognitive/social skills, but with a limited spoken vocabulary for this age. These toddlers have difficulty with spoken or expressive language . 

Since late talker toddlers are oftentimes doing well in other areas, like social skills or receptive language, parents and pediatricians might assume that they will catch up on their own. Actually, many of these kids do outgrow their "late talking" on their own. But unfortunately, some of them do not catch up to other kids their age.

In fact 20-30% of kids do not outgrow "late talking" on their own.

What are the signs that my toddler might have a speech delay?

Below we list some signs that have been identified to help determine if a child is likely to have continuing language problems. These factors help make it easier to assess whether a late talker will be one of the 30% of children who do not outgrow their language struggles on their own.

Signs a child might be experiencing a language delay:

They are quiet as an infant, with little babbling

They have a history of ear infections

They are limited in the number of consonant sounds they can make (e.g. p, b, m, t, d, n, y, k, g, etc.)

They do not link pretend ideas and actions together while playing

They do not imitate or copy words

They use mostly nouns (names of people, places, things) and few verbs (action words)

They have difficulty playing with peers (underdeveloped social skills)

They have a family history of communication delay, or learning/academic difficulties

They have a mild comprehension (understanding) delay for their age

They use few gestures to communicate

Current research strongly suggests that a "wait-and-see" approach with late talkers is outdated and it can also delay treatment, which can make a big difference for the child.

What to do if your toddler is a late talker

If you've noticed your child has a limited vocabulary as well as any of these risk factors, consulting a speech-language pathologist may be a good idea. Research has shown that kids with the last three risk factors (family history, comprehension problems, or few gestures) have the greatest risk for a persistent language delay. If you are a busy parent,  online speech therapy services may be the most convenient option for your child.

What if your child catches up on their own?

At Better Speech, we recommend that even kids who seem to catch up on their own get speech therapy intervention. Why? Because even though many of these toddlers catch up by the time they start school, studies have shown that they continue to have problems with some aspects of language (e.g. grammar).  

Do you need some ideas for what to work on with your child? We have a free download with ideas for every day of the month! Get the calendar here.

At Better Speech we know you deserve speech therapy that works. 

We have experts in speech delay therapy at home and we work hard to assign the right therapist for you; not just the therapist that happens to be in your area. If you want to find out more about our services,  contact us to schedule a free consultation . 

References:

Ellis, E. & Thal, D. (2008). Early Language Delay and Risk for Language Impairment. Perspectives on Language Learning and Education, 15: 93-100.Telethon Institute for Child Health Research (2008, May 16). Mixed Results For Late-talking Toddlers. ScienceDaily. 16 May 2008. Web. 10 Jun. 2011.Rice, M. L., Taylor, C. L., & Zubrick, S.R. (2008). Language  outcomes of 7-year-old children with or without a history of late  language emergence at 24 months. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 51, 394-407.Olswang, L.B., Rodriguez, B. & Timler, G. (1998).  Recommending Intervention for Toddlers With Specific Language Learning  Difficulties: We May Not Have All the Answers, But We Know a Lot. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology, 7, 23 - 32.

Playing With Words 365

Educating, inspiring, and empowering parents & professionals in supporting young children's overall development

Your Child’s Speech and Language: 18-24 Months

October 17, 2012 by Katie Filed Under: Developmental Milestones , Speech & Language 101 44 Comments

Can you believe your little one is a year and a half old!? His second birthday will be right around the corner…have you started planning the party yet??? 😉 He is walking all over and getting into everything and should have at least several words he is using consistently now and by the end of this 6 month period he should be putting words together! Let’s see what else is in store for him…

Development from 18-24 Months

As I mentioned in my last segment in this series, the time period from 12-24 months has the largest span of “normal” in terms of speech and language development. Some 12 month olds have many words while others will not utter the first one for a couple more months. Some 18 month olds are putting 2 and 3 words together while others only have 10 words total. This is all normal…but can definitely make it harder to know if your child is on track.

Cognitively and motorically, your little guy is learning new things everyday. He is learning to walk up and down stairs, catching and throwing a ball, and might be starting to scribble little circles. He may (or may not) be interested in putting on and taking off his shoes and socks (my son at 21 months is OBSESSED with socks and shoes right now!) He may also start learning how to jump around 21 months or so and may start to get air! He is starting to know where things belong in your home and where to find them when he wants them. He may start to use toys in different ways and start to experiment with them…which means you better make sure you are keeping your eye on him! This is the time that you might find the entire roll of toilet paper in the bowl or find his trains in some really odd places . Remember how I said he will be using things in new and different ways? Your child’s problem solving skills are developing rapidly and he is starting to realize that he can use a chair or a table as a stool. Say he sees a cookie on the counter and he wants it. He is learning that he can simply pull one of your nesting tables over to the kitchen, climb on top and get that cookie! Your child isn’t being naughty, he is problem solving and this is such an important skill!

Slowly over this time period he should be more and more interested in books and should be able to sit for longer and longer periods of time to listen to the stories. He should be starting to be more of an active participant in story time by turning the pages and pointing to objects when named. He may start to point out objects in the pictures and name them as well. In fact, towards the end of this period you may find him sitting alone looking through books! I remember by daughter was so obsessed with books during this time that she actually slept with them . Which is why the theme of her second birthday party was Bookworm.

In social and play skill news, your little guy might be starting to “test” his caregivers. You tell him no, and he does it anyway! You try to redirect his climbing behavior but he turns around and climbs something else. Oh yes…it is getting exciting (Remember those problem solving skills that are developing? He wants to use them all.the.time.) He might have attachments to his favorite toys and should enjoy playing near (not really “with”) other children and when playing by himself, you may hear him talking to himself or narrating his play.  He may start to enjoy hugging other people around this time as well and should enjoy interacting with children and adults even if he has a shy personality.

Receptively (what he can understand) he should be able to follow simple directives and answer simple questions. When you ask him “Where’s daddy?” he should start to look around for daddy and maybe even find him! He should be able to follow directives like “Get your shoes” or “Kick the ball” and even “Put your dish in the sink” (Yes, my 21 month old knows how to put his dish in the sink!) As I mentioned earlier, he also should be able to point to common objects in pictures when named like balls, doggies, cookies, juice, and other things he may be interested in. My son at 21 months can point out a baseball vs. a football because this is something he is interested in, but I am not sure my daughter did the same at this age.

Expressively, around 18 months of age, your child should have a bare minimum of 8-10 spoken words but could have an upwards of 50 or more. However this is an average . Remember last time I mentioned that my own son at 19 months barely had 8 words but by 21 months he is well over the 50 word mark. During this time frame, your child should be learning new words daily. It is common, however, for your child to seem to learn 20 new words one day and yet not say another “new” word for a few days. Totally normal. It is also normal for a child to seem to “lose” words. For example, my son’s first word was “bye bye” at 9.5 months yet months later he stopped saying it. He was gaining new words and communicating well so I wasn’t worried. However, It is not normal for a child to talk and then stop talking or basically lose all his words . This is a red flag that something might be going on and you will want to bring this up to your pediatrician right away of your child was talking and then stops using words to communicate.

The biggest milestone that happens during this time regarding communication is the transition from the use of single words to the use of two word combinations! This is the beginning of your child using grammar and the beginning of your child using sentences ! It seems like just yesterday he was a sweet newborn sleeping in your arms and now he is starting to put two words together to talk about his world.

So how does this happen? We don’t really know, but sometime between 18 months and 2 years of age, usually once they have a good 50+ words in their expressive vocabulary, your child tends to enter the time that we refer to as the language explosion . He will begin to put two words together to communicate like “more cookie” or “big truck” and it will seem like he is learning new words by the hour. He also should be asking simple questions either with rising intonation. For example, “Daddy??” or “Where Daddy?”  By the time your child hits his second birthday he should have between 100-200+ words and should be starting to combine 2 words. It is such an exciting time!

Your child may be communicating more and more each day but his speech may still be hard to understand. This is ok! It takes years for little ones to learn how to say all the speech sounds in his/her language so at first his words can be difficult to understand, though as a parent you typically understand more than strangers can. However he should be using many different consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Sounds he should be using around this time are p, m, h, n, w, b, t, d but he may also be using k, g, f, v ,s and z. As he learns to talk, he will not be saying all the speech sounds correctly and he will probably leave some sounds out of some words, and this is OK. You can read a bit more about speech development HERE .

So what does the next year hold in terms of speech and language development? Check back next week as we discuss your child’s speech and language development 2-3 years!

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References: American Speech-Language Hearing Association Website (2011). How does your child hear and talk? Birth to one year. Retrieved from http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/01.htm (9-1-2012)

Lanza, J.R. & Flahive, L.K. (2008). LinguiSystems guide to communication milestones: 2009 Edition. East Moline, IL: LinguiSystems, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.linguisystems.com/pdf/Milestonesguide.pdf (9-1-2012)

McLaughlin, S. (1998). Introduction to language development.  San Diego, CA: Singular Publishing Group, INC.

DISCLAIMER: There is a wide range of “normal” when it comes to children’s development. The age ranges used in this series are only estimates. Please remember that this information is for educational purposes only and in no way replaces the assessment by a qualified medical professional. If you feel your child has delays in his/her communication skills, please speak to your pediatrician or locate a speech pathologist in your area for an assessment. Be sure to read the full TERMS OF USE on this site for more info. For tips on how to find an SLP in your area read HERE.

About Katie

Katie is a licensed, credentialed and certified pediatric speech-language pathologist and mom to four (8, 6, 3 and 6 months). Her passion for educating, inspiring and empowering parents of children with all abilities led her to start her blog playing with words 365 where she shares information about speech & language development & intervention strategies, parenting, photography and a little about her family life too. Katie has been working in the field of speech pathology for 12 years and is certified in The Hanen Centre’s It Takes Two to Talk ® and Target Word ® programs and holds a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). In addition to blogging and being a mommy, Katie works part time in her small private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can follow her on Facebook , Pinterest and Twitter .

October 17, 2012 at 10:43 am

My little guy is officially 18 months in 3 days yet he is not really using words yet. He makes lots of sounds like ma ma ma, da da da, ba Ba Ba, and most recently monkey sounds and uh oh. Mainly he whines a lot! Should I be concerned? I had brought it up to his doc at his 12 month but she felt like he was still on track for everything else and felt he was concentrating more on walking, climbing etc rather than talking. Is he a late bloomer or should I look into occupational theraphy? He went to therapist when he was younger for torticolis. We also have issues with feeding bit I don’t think that related but then again it could be. Thanks and I love your blog!

October 17, 2012 at 10:57 am

Hi Kristin and welcome to PWW365 🙂 Regarding your son, at 18 months with no words you may want to get him assessed by a speech-language pathologist. Some children are simply “late talkers” and catch up on their own (I was one, and my son is following my path) however some children need a little help. Your pedi was on track in the sense that we do look at the WHOLE child when considering if a child may need speech therapy, however in 6 months since his 12 month appt I’d want him to have made some progress in speech. An assessment will not hurt and you may find he starts talking up a storm before you even make it to the appt! Good luck to you!

October 19, 2012 at 3:07 am

None of my kids had more than ma ma da da ba ba and uh oh at 18 months, my daughter barely had more at 24 months, by 26 months however she was making 3-4 word sentences, apparently I was the same. My 20 month old boys have a few more words mainly “more” and “no”! I find it fascinating watching how different kids develop language differently.

October 19, 2012 at 3:37 pm

Lisel I agree it is so fascinating! My daughter was in no way advanced in language but she simply had much more at this age than my son has now.

October 20, 2012 at 8:12 pm

Just found your website through Pinterest. Wish I had read it sooner. My son just turned 2 two weeks ago and only uses about 10 words. He is our first and I think we just always knew what he wanted and didn’t make him work for it by using his words. He understands and follows directions really well. So I know he understands us, he just doesn’t talk. I also made the mistake of teaching him the sign for more and now he signs that for everything. I hope it’s not too late to implement your suggestions and ideas. I am giving him to the first of the year and then I guess we will need to start speech therapy. Thank you for your informative blog.

October 26, 2012 at 10:23 pm

Found you throught Pinterest too! What what a great post! My son is 17 months and not many words yet, but he is being raised biligual and I am amazed that he can tell it’s the same object in both languages or even tell that mommy speaks Spanish and Daddy English! You post really made me think about being present and mindful that he is learning from me constantly!

October 28, 2012 at 10:01 am

Welcome Stephanie, I am so glad you are finding my series helpful! 🙂 I LOVE that you are raising your son bilingual. What a lucky kid!

November 6, 2012 at 1:35 pm

Thank you for your website. We have 22 month old twin girls. We recently had them evaluated and will be using some Early Intervention in our area (one daughter qualified and one did not). Just curious…do you find twins are delayed more often then singleton children? I am looking forward to reading more and using ideas and activities from your site. Thank you for sharing!!

November 6, 2012 at 1:42 pm

Hi Michelle and welcome! To answer your question, it is common for twins to develop language at a slower rate that singletons. I actually hate to say they are “delayed” but there are several different factors that can play into twins’ developing language a bit slower. One is that twins are more likely to be preemies, for example. However I couple years ago I saw two sets of twins (one set of identical boys and one sent of B/G) for therapy..they were both 4 years old going on 5 and both sets had phonological delays (speech articulation difficulties). The identical boys had identical error patterns where as the B/G set did not. Fascinating! Anyway, I hope your girls continue to do well and I hope you stick around and join the conversations here at PWW365! 🙂

November 7, 2012 at 12:43 pm

This is a great site! I have a 22 month-old girl, and we have been working on learning new words and using them everyday. A month ago she would only saw a few words, and would point or make sounds instead of talking. Your section “how to help your child talk” has been of great help for us. Recently I’ve noticed that the first few times we practice a new word she says it backwards, and other times she would just make a sound with her mouth closed. Is this normal for her age? (On a note, we speak Spanish at home, but her English words are more accurate) Thank you!

November 7, 2012 at 1:48 pm

Welcome Mile! I am so happy to hear that my site is helping you learn how to help your child 😀 As far as new words, it can take children time to learn how to say new words. Regarding “backwards” I’d have to have an example. And the fact you are raising her bilingually is AWESOME but expect her to need a little more time to learn 🙂 PH and the closed mouth…some children go through a phase where they do this. Keep and eye on it and hopefully she will stop doing it.

November 9, 2012 at 9:16 am

Thank you for your insight! One example of her “backward” words would be “tea” instead of saying “eat”, or “pipe” instead of “pepi” (that’s the name of a horse at grandpa’s) I must say that we have been able to correct a few words after repeating them several times, but this happens a lot when she tries a new word. Thanks again!

November 27, 2012 at 9:27 pm

My daughter is 24 months old and she is starting to combine words “daddy doe”, but she is mostly very difficult to understand. She seems to mumble things or say them under her breath and sometimes is nasal (especially with “n” sounds). She cannot say “w” or “h” sounds at all, so she omits them from words, i tried teaching her to say “home” and after several days she now will repeat “ome”. She is very intelligent but appears to struggle at times to use words independent from prompts, but not all the time.

My son had only 10 words at 2, but caught up by 3 (he was in speech), and my other daughter was very advanced in her speech and language skills. So, i am struggling with my youngest and knowing if i should call to have her evaluated or not. The most basic red flags she seems to be ok, but she gets so frustrated when we don’t understand her that i can’t help but worry.

January 18, 2013 at 11:27 pm

I have been thankful to read your article and hear your examples of your own children’s differing speech development. My daughter spoke well before her first birthday and had easily over way 100 words by 18 months. My son however is 18 months and had only about 10 words – while in all his play it is evident that he is an intelligent little problem solver it has been difficult not to worry about the difference in their development -even when google searches confirmed he was within normal boundaries.

I knew my daughters speech was advanced but it has made gauging the development for her brothers speech more difficult.

January 20, 2013 at 8:02 pm

Oh Lauren, I understand! Even as an SLP, I have been watching my own son very carefully because of how different (and slower) his speech development has been. Like I have mentioned before, his motor skills though have always been advanced. The speech is coming along now 😉 Keep your eye on him and make sure he continues to add new words to his vocabulary. Good luck!

May 22, 2013 at 11:26 am

Hi there! I am a home childcare provider and one of my little ones who is 23 months old has no words. He also does not point, wave have any interest in using a spoon or crayon. I am quite concerned something is off with him. Should I be? The parents don’t seem to take me serious.

May 22, 2013 at 12:03 pm

Hi Kristina. Based on your description alone, yes I would be concerned and would want this child seen by an SLP. Good luck!

June 4, 2013 at 10:40 am

Thank you so much for your wonderful information!! My 18 month old is very advanced with his motor skills and has about 10 words he regularly uses, he’s said about 50 words. My worry is he’s said many words only a few times and stops using words he use to always say. My husband and Inlaws are very concerned, so now it’s making me worry. I’ve been a nanny for over 15 years and think his development is normal but I’m being pushed to the point of concern.

June 5, 2013 at 7:35 am

I love love love your site! I’m a speech pathologist as well, but used to work with adults in rehab hospital setting. Now I’m home with my 16 month old daughter. She already has about 80+ words used consistently and is starting to combine (Hi mama, bye bye daddy, etc). I feel as if I’ve lost all my learned techniques from grad school! Do you have any tips for helping her combine words more? I definitely model! Thank you so much 🙂 You’re awesome!

June 6, 2013 at 11:18 am

Just discovered your blog today. It is so helpful. You go beyond just listing the milestones and explain what they are about. It has really put my mind at ease about my 19 month old son who only has a dozen words (4 of which revolve around Dora the Explorer) but uses them in the right context and with the appropriate tone and inflections. As long as we continue to see growth and evolution, I won’t stress as much about the word count. Thanks for sharing your professional knowledge in an open forum. Really helps those of us who use “Dr. Google” too much. 😉

July 17, 2013 at 7:34 pm

I have a 19 month old that only babbles ‘dadada’ and makes noises. That is it. I am extremely concerned because my daughter at this age was already carrying on complete conversations with us. I know I should not compare the two, but my son has me worried. He was an early walker (9 months) and is extremely active. I spoke to his doctor at the 18 month appointment and they seemed to think he was developing fine to just wait it out. He does point but I am guilty of answering a lot of his needs before he asks them to be met (feeding when it’s time to eat a meal instead of when he’s crying for food, etc.). Should I get him evaluated? Thx!

November 18, 2013 at 7:17 am

I’m so happy to have found this site and will spend some time exploring it and hopefully can help my son speak more. He is 4 years and 3 months, currently being assessed for ASD. He is very intelligent, can read, write, spell, count (over 100 and backwards from 100) and do basic math. I’ve never actually sat and taught him these things, as in made an effort, he just absorbs it all! And seems to have the ability to just KNOW! That aside, his speech and language isn’t great, I’d average him around 18 months. He doesn’t tell us things like ” today at lunch I played with so-and-so.” But he does come out and tell me “I didn’t winned.” Which I now know means he didn’t finish 1 st at lunch. And that’s VERY expressive for him. It’s mostly “I not like it.” Or “I not eat that.” A lot of third person talk too. It’s shocking when he has moments of clarity and speaks a sentence! I am currently about to pick him up from school, and head to my mothers, he will say to me “go nonies?” Or maybe “we go nonies?” (Nonie is what he calls my mum/ his grandma). I find it sad that he is so very smart, yet unable to fully communicate. The school is working on this, and we will be seeing a speech and language therapist again in the new year. And December we may have a ASD diagnosis, fingers crossed. To anyone worried about their child, remember that they differ so much, but always go with your gut instinct, it’s better to ask and be told youre just a worrier, than worry and not know. . . .much love

November 30, 2013 at 1:40 pm

Hi, I have just read your post and thought is was really great. Do you have any advice for mamas with children who pick up language really quickly? My daughter has a vocabulary of several hundred words and is speaking in quite long sentences for her age (e.g. This moaning it was “Daddy take ‘dd’s name’ walk to park see girls”). She is 18 months. She is also picking up some words in French and Spanish and retaining them. Her memory is scarily good and she can recall events and describe them when they happened Weeks ago. I really don’t know how to best nurture this or how to go about helping her as it seems most language things are for older kids. She also counts to 11, know all her colours and some shapes. I would really appreciate any tips or any help you can give me. Thanks. Sammie

December 3, 2013 at 12:39 pm

Good evening , I just finished reading your article which i found though the brilliant site that is pinterest. My daughter is 19 months old and i feel she not really developing speech wise.She say daddie , hi and what sounds like one,two,three,four when climbing the steps on her slide but in struggling to teach her new words . She still babbles alot is that normal for her age or is it something i should be concerned about ? Xx

January 20, 2014 at 2:53 pm

Hi my son is 21months old. He says a total of 20 clear words. An can say three phrases which is byebye, all gone an uh-oh… He understands more than he says though! I can tell him to throw things in the trash, put his dishes in the sink an does exactly that! I wanted to know should I be worried that he doesn’t say more words?

January 21, 2014 at 11:02 am

Hi Raven, when it comes to speech & language development, we have to look at the whole child and not just the number of words he can say, to determine if he/she may need some help along. We have to look at how he uses those words, how he uses non verbal communication (such as gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, etc), and his overall development. Because of this, it is impossible for me to know if your child is on track. If you are concerned, I recommend getting a screening from a speech pathologist to ease your mind. Good luck!

January 20, 2014 at 8:25 pm

Hi, great blog! I am here, of course, because I have some concerns about my daughter. She is 21 months old and knows how to say about 20 words (some more pronounced than others). However, I noticed that many of the words, she expresses as sounds. For example, I’ll say cow and she’ll say moo, I’ll say duck and she’ll say quack. I’ll say cat and she’ll say meow. I’m not asking her about the animal sounds but she won’t repeat the words. The other concern is she will insist on calling both of her brothers Henry even though one is Henry and one is Charlie. She will not even attempt to repeat. Sometimes, it looks like she’s repeating but she’ll still say Henry not Charlie (or even something close to it). It seems like she says and hears something different. She also tends to use the same sound for a number of things. We are bilingual. We’re teaching her how to speak Polish but she hears her brothers speak English all the time. We can’t get them to stop. She hears us speak English sometimes when we’re on the phone etc. My eldest son developed regularly, my younger son almost spoke fluently by the age of 20 months. At 18 months he was able to sing a 4-verse song or say a 4-verse prayer. All my daughter can repeat at this age is “Amen”. Should I be concerned? I just want to say that she’s a great communicator but it’s all faces, sounds such as ooohhh with a variety of intonations. She points to pretty much anything you ask her so she knows the words. She follows many commands and if she doesn’t know it, she picks up really quickly. She’s just very reluctant to repeat words.

January 21, 2014 at 11:06 am

Hi Kelly, welcome! It sounds like your daughter has a lot of great skills! It is hard to know if her reluctance to repeat words is really an issue without seeing her in person. If you are concerned I would recommend getting her screened by an SLP to ease your mind. Good luck!

January 23, 2014 at 11:26 pm

Hello our son is 21months old he doesnt speak a single word just makes Sounds but follows all other instructions likegettin this climbing stairs is it normal

January 24, 2014 at 1:43 pm

Hi there, by 21 months old I’d want your child to have many words, so hearing that he is not speaking any words is concerning. I would try to get him in for an assessment by an SLP to see how you may be able to help him along. Good luck!

January 28, 2014 at 5:48 am

Can u please tell what is slp what do u think it can be Please advice

February 18, 2014 at 1:06 am

Hi, my son is 17 months and has about 10 words. He understands a lot more. My concern is that sometimes, when he is busy with something, he has no reaction when I call him. Should I be worried?he imitates everything, started to feed the toys. Tbanks

March 18, 2014 at 10:15 pm

We have a 18 month old and he just says mama and dada is this normal

September 18, 2014 at 6:44 am

I just recently found your site and am grateful for the information. We have my 22-mo old son in speech therapy twice a month and also weekly visits with a behavior specialist through the state’s Help Me Grow Program. He’s been evaluated by a couple different agencies and each ones says he is not on the ASD but he does have a significant language delay. At 18 months he was diagnosed at 9 months language. Starting at 6-9 months he consistently babbled and he even said Dada and Mama and his one word “good”. By 20 months he lost all his babbling and his sole word. Now he grunts or whines or squeals to communicate, or takes our hands and leads us to what he needs. He has been picking up sign language rapidly lately which I see as progress but he still doesn’t really point to what he wants. I guess my question is why do some children have language regression, and what is the prognosis for a child like mine? Will he ever speak, and if so, what age can I expect that? I know every child is different. Thank you.

September 19, 2014 at 4:44 pm

Unfortunately, we do not always know the cause of delays or regressions. As far as prognosis….again that is impossible for me to say, especially without working with your child. What I find useful for projecting possible prognoses is 1) Doing a very thorough assessment including gathering as much information on the child as possible from pregnancy on (including family history and relevant medical history) and 2) working with the child for several months to see how the child is learning and generalizing new skills. The combination of past and present knowledge can help write goals and plan and implement the best treatment possible.

July 30, 2015 at 10:08 am

Hi!! I was hoping to receive some advice/help about my little boy (turns 21 months old on Aug. 6th, 2015). He currently sees an OT and a ST. OT is to help with play/focus/attention, as he is a VERY active little boy, who has been described as “hyperactive” by his OT. I have a VERY hard time getting him to sit still to read/look at books, and have a hard time getting him to try to say words back to me or even trying to form words at all. He has a very limited vocabulary…dog, bye, hi/hey, bug (buh), balloon (ba), Mama, Daddy (Daa-ee), bird (buh), ball (bah), duck (duh), clock (dock with an “L” sound after), and please (bay or pay)…and that’s pretty much it. He knows a few signs…milk, more has morphed into want, and please. He will attempt to say please while signing, but WILL NOT attempt to say milk or more/want while signing. He has made extremely slow progress, but progress nonetheless. His ST is still in an evaluation period with him because she is swapping out from his original therapist who left (which he only saw for about 6 or so visits). I work with my son every day at home. I want so badly to help him…however possible. I asked his ST about coming in more than once a week (for 45 minutes), and she said now wouldn’t be good, but maybe later as he progresses. My husband and I feel like this…children can’t go to school for 45 minutes, once a week, and learn hardly anything, so what is the answer? Would more frequent visits help or hurt at this point? What more is out there for me to do/use to help him progress as quickly as possible?? Please, I feel like I’ve hit a wall, and just don’t know what I’m doing!! Thank you!!!

August 13, 2015 at 1:15 pm

Hello, I just stubbled upon your site doing research for my own blog post on using books to stimulate language in toddlers. I am also a mother of three and a SLP. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with your readers! It really helps to have a reference regarding speech-language developmental norms. Allyson

January 10, 2016 at 6:28 am

Hi, thanks for your article, my son is 20 months just babbles, says, dada and mama. I also have a 3 year old daughter she was talking and had had formed words by his age. I am wondering if having a them so close together has anything to do with him not speaking as much as she is largely outgoing and strong willed and he is quiet and goes with the flow??

April 14, 2016 at 6:00 pm

I am so happy i found this blog, my son is 19 months and it seems like he has lost words instead of learning new ones. He can say mama, da da, Bad, Dog, Bye, baba used to say car and if you show him a cow he will say moo. He seems to have the b’s down more. My pediatrician said not to worry as he is on track , he fully understands what you are asking of him and to do something he will go get his clothes and take them off, throw trash away but for some reason is not picking up any new words. He likes to point alot and say ah! We read to him all the time and get down to his level to try to get him to repeat us but nothing, should we be concerned?

September 20, 2016 at 11:54 pm

My boy will be 2 in 2 months.Iam little worried or was worried.He uses almost 50 to 55 words and learning new words daily.Started combining words like mummy come,where is daddy? and Daddy there.But not clear sometimes.Dear katie I have a doubt.pl answer Is it possible for this 22 months old to repeat every word or sentences that we talk to them and ask them to repeat.?This one most of the time repeats and sometimes No.

October 7, 2016 at 5:33 pm

HI MY 22 MONTH OLD BARELY SPEAKS AT ALL HE SAYS BUBBLE FOR BUBBLE GUPPIES AND I LOVE U AND DADDY THATS IT IM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT HIM ANY ADVICE

July 11, 2017 at 4:32 pm

Hi! Just wondering, my 17 month old has over 400 words (crazy!!) and puts them together in two, three, sometimes four plus word sentences. Yesterday he said as we were leaving a wedding shower “Take balloon Elliott please momma!” He also knows his colors, labeling things correctly himself “blue car, tall brown house” and can count to 30 and has memorized and can fill in every other word of several of his favorite books. So I haven’t been worried about his speaking – BUT in reading your article, I just realized I’ve never heard him ask a question! Not even like a “what is?” Or “where dog” or anything. How can I encourage him to ask questions. Should I worry at all about that? I thought he was doing great in this department until o realized that! Thanks!

October 31, 2017 at 9:00 am

Hi Katie, I am a mom of 2.8 years old boy. I stumbled upon your website from pinterest. I am currently searching for ways to help my son improve his speech as on his Developmental Pedia’s assessment last August 2017, his speech is delayed for 1 year. His speech therapy only started this month 1 a week due to tight schedule of the therapist. With this I am thinking of enrolling my son in a pre-school. so that he could pick up new words. I am a working mom and I could not reply on the caregiver’s ability to communicate with my son at this moment. Would you recommend it?

November 30, 2017 at 3:36 pm

hello! my son is 23 months , he says and knows exactly 20 words. he understands many words and follow commands and can identify items he doesn’t say yet. I just want to make sure that it’s ok for him not to say everything he knows. We read everyday , he knows about 11 solid letter from the alphabet by name and can identify them everywhere. I feel so much pressure with his 2nd birthday coming up and this 50 word vocabulary requirement that maybe he’s behind or maybe I’m just worried too much. What do you think? He also hasn’t done two word combos yet , he says “all done, bye-bye- , more banana” but not like car go or blue ball. I’m not sure if that should be concerning also. Thank you for you time , I would love to hear your thoughts.

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18 Month Online Milestone Checklist

How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about your child’s development. Developmental milestones are things most children (75% or more) can do by a certain age.  Check the milestones your child has reached by the end of 18 months by completing the checklist below.  Share it with your child’s doctor, teacher, and other providers, and be sure to talk about the milestones your child has reached and what to expect next.

If your child was born more than 3 weeks prematurely, use his/her  corrected age external icon external icon . If your child’s age falls between 2 checklist ages, use the checklist for the younger age.

Checking children’s development regularly is important.  CDC’s free  Milestone Tracker  app  is also available to complete the checklists, with reminders and helpful tips on the go!  Available on the  AppStore external icon  and  GooglePlay external icon .

Your Child at 18 Months

Milestones matter! Check the milestones your child has reached by 18 months by completing the checklist below.

*These fields are required.

CDC does not collect or share any personal information that can be used to identify you or your child.

What Most Babies Do by this Age:

Social/Emotional

Language/Communication

Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving)

Movement/Physical Development

Selected “not sure”? Watch for these milestones over the next week or two. Try some things with your child that gives him/her the chance to show the milestone. If you’re still not seeing the milestone, see the steps below.

Selected “not yet” or have other concerns or questions about your child’s development? Talk with your child’s doctor, teacher and/or another trusted provider. Share the checklist and any questions or concerns you might have. Ask about developmental screening. It’s recommended for all children. If you, the doctor, teacher, or other provider is still concerned after screening, ask to be connected with (1) a specialist who can learn more about your child AND (2) with services and other supports that may help. Visit www.cdc.gov/Concerned  for more information.

Points to show you something interesting

Puts hands out for you to wash them

Looks at a few pages in a book with you

Helps you dress him by pushing arm through sleeve or lifting up foot

Tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”

Follows one-step directions without any gestures, like giving you the toy when you say, “Give it to me.”

Copies you doing chores, like sweeping with a broom

Plays with toys in a simple way, like pushing a toy car

Walks without holding on to anyone or anything

Drinks from a cup without a lid and may spill sometimes

Feeds himself with his fingers

Tries to use a spoon

Climbs on and off a couch or chair without help

Moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by

18 month old toddler milestones: Development, growth, speech, language, and more

Pediatric sleep consultant

Medically reviewed by

Alan Salem, M.D., F.A.A.P.

Board-Certified Pediatrician

At 18 months old, your little one is well into their toddler stage. It may seem like they’re gaining new skills every day, and you can’t believe how quickly they’re growing out of being a baby.

In this article, we’ll go over important milestones that your toddler may start reaching as they approach this age – including 18 month speech milestones, language development, emotional development, and gross/fine motor milestones. 

We’ll also provide a handy 18 month old development checklist that you can refer to, and share tips to support your child’s development.

Editor's Note

When we discuss babies and development at Huckleberry, we use their adjusted age (vs. their actual age). Keep in mind that these milestones are developmental skills that around 75% of babies reach by 18 months – but babies hit different milestones at different times. If you have any concerns about your baby’s development, talk to their pediatrician. 

IN THIS ARTICLE:

18 month old toddler milestones at a glance

18 month developmental milestones, 18 month milestone checklist, 8 development tips for 18 months, 18 month developmental milestones faq.

Your 1.5 year old toddler is in a period of development and they may be gaining new skills faster than you can keep track of them. At this age, your child may start to meet new milestones, including:

Development: Many 18 month olds can walk with no support, and they may even be starting to go up small stairs and climb on and off the sofa. They may start to say a few more words, including a big one at this age – “no.” Toddlers at this age love to play and explore, and most continue to have tantrums.

Sleep: Most 1.5 year olds need about 13 to 14 hours of total sleep to be well rested, though sleep needs to vary from child to child. We recommend at least 11 hours of sleep at night and 1 nap during the day. Typically, children this age need about 5 hours of awake time before bed to be sufficiently tired.

Remember, each child's need for sleep varies, and what's normal and healthy can differ. While these are general guidelines for how many hours of sleep are recommended, it's equally important to pay attention to your child's mood and energy levels. These observations are key in determining their individual sleep needs. Note some children also experience a sudden disruption in sleep around this time, commonly referred to as the 18 month sleep regression .

Feeding: At 18 months, many toddlers may try to feed themselves using their fingers or a spoon – although their skills aren’t perfect yet. They may also try to drink out of a cup. Many 18 month olds continue to nurse, but they also continue to eat more and more solids. In general, strive for roughly three meals and two snacks per day. 

There are so many exciting developmental milestones to get ready for as your child approaches 18 months.

Physical development at 18 months

Your 1.5 year old’s motor skills are starting to develop rapidly and they start moving around more independently than ever.

Gross motor milestones

You may have asked yourself a few months ago, " When do babies start walking? " Now, most 18 month old toddlers are in the midst of becoming more and more confident about walking on their little legs. They may be taking steps without holding onto anything, and may even be climbing up the steps. Some 18 month olds can also climb on and off furniture (like a chair or sofa) by themselves [ 2 ].

Fine motor milestones

18 month olds may help (or try to help!) dress themselves and be able to feed themselves with their fingers or a spoon. Toddlers also start scribbling around this age, so it may be helpful to let them experiment with age-appropriate art supplies like washable markers and finger paints [ 3 ].

Speech, language, and communication development at 18 months

Language and speech development may start expanding around 18 months, which may make it easier to communicate with your child.

Language skills

Many 18 month olds know how to say between 3 and 20 simple words like “car” or “more,” on top of the names they have for their caregivers. They might not pronounce the words correctly, and that’s nothing to worry about – for example, “car” could be “kah.” 

On top of this, some 18 month olds may start to imitate some two-word phrases, like “All done!” or “More please.” [ 5 ]

Many 18 month olds may also understand and point to a few different body parts [ 6 ].

Following commands

18 month olds can often understand and follow simple one-part commands, even if they aren’t accompanied by any gestures [ 1 ]. For example, they might follow instructions like “Give me the toy,” or “Show me where it hurts.”

Pointing to show interest

Your toddler may also point or gesture toward things to show interest [ 1 ]. They could point because they want you to get them something, but they could also point simply to show you what piques their curiosity (like pointing to a horse you pass on the road) – which is a sweet way to learn about their interests.

Social and emotional development at 18 months

18 months is an important time for social and emotional development as well.

Exploring away from their “safe base”

Attachment is the emotional bond between you (and other caregivers) and your baby, and a secure attachment is built through consistency and safety. When toddlers are securely attached to their caregivers, they feel brave and safe enough to start being more independent [ 7 ]. You might notice your 18 month old (usually between 12 - 24 months) exploring on their own – away from you. But they’re probably still looking back at you to make sure you are close by.

“No” and temper tantrums

The toddler years are when your child starts to love the word “No.” They may know how to say “no,” or shake their head no. They may also have temper tantrums, or brief (but intense!) emotional outbursts. Tantrums and the “no” years can be stressful for parents, but it’s a completely normal part of development – studies show that up to 87% of children aged 18 to 24 months experience tantrums [ 8 ].

Playing pretend

By 18 months, they’re not only using items the way they’re intended, but they’re also able to play some simple pretend games by using their imagination. For example, an 18 month old might use a banana to pretend to be using the telephone [ 9 ].

Here’s a general checklist of milestones that some babies will start to reach by 18 months [ 10 ]. 

Remember that every child is unique, and there’s a pretty wide range of “normal” when it comes to the exact age at which children reach milestones. Some 18 month olds may have reached some of these milestones months ago, while others won’t meet them for several more months. 

Milestones to watch for at 18 months:

Walks with no support

Runs stiffly (probably falling often!)

Can climb on and off small chairs

Says more than 3 simple words

Moves away from you to explore, but looks back at you for reassurance

Looks at books with you and tries to turn pages

Helps you dress them

Scribbles with a crayon or marker

Tries to drink from a cup with no lid (may spill sometimes)

Feeds themselves with a spoon or fingers

Follows one-step directions with no gestures

Points to show you interesting things

There are so many things you can do as a parent or caregiver to help support your 18 month old’s development.

Tip #1: Support their speech development

1.5 year olds may say a few simple words, and their language skills will likely start developing more rapidly in the next few months. You can support your child’s language and speech development by teaching them the correct words and grammar to use for what they want to say [ 11 ].

For example, if your 18 month old says, “ Bah! ” (meaning “ball”), try responding, “Yes, that’s a ball. The ball is red. Watch the ball roll.” If they say, “ More! ” say, “Would you like some more?” You can also use words they already know as context to learn additional words. For example, you might say, “The dog is going on a walk outside,” if they already know the word “dog.”

Tip #2: Read books together

Reading to your 1.5 year old can help them with developing language skills as well as support literacy in the future. While you’re reading, make connections between the story and real life. For example, if there is a car in the book, you might ask, “That’s a car. Does Mama have a car?”

It’s also helpful to read the same book over and over – repetition is helpful! When the story is repeated, your little one may learn more. Point out different characters or pictures every time you read it, and allow your child to finish phrases during familiar parts of the story [ 12 ].

Tip #3: Have a plan to deal with tantrums

Toddlers are notorious for having temper tantrums , and their “no” phase may not end for a while yet. Although tantrums are a normal part of development, how you respond to them can make a big difference. 

As challenging as it can be at times, try to model calm when your 18 month old has a tantrum.  If your toddler pulls away when you try to comfort them, respect their space, acknowledge their feelings, and assure them that you're there for support whenever they feel ready to calm down. You could also try to distract your little one, for example by playing with a toy or directing their attention outside. 

Tip #4: Play pretend 

True pretend play, like playing “house,” typically starts around 2 years old [ 13 ]. Many 18 month olds also play pretend in simpler ways, like making animal sounds. They may also start to mimic adult behaviors, like pretending to cook in a toy kitchen or to drive a car. 

You can foster your child’s imagination all through their toddler years by encouraging pretend play. The great thing about pretend is that anything can become a toy – so give them access to safe things around the house that allow them to use their imagination, like clothes for dress-ups or figurines. Initiate pretend play if your little one hasn’t yet. For example, you can narrate the pretend situation: “Wow, you sound like a dinosaur when you make that sound. Are we dinosaurs today?”

Tip #5: Teach empathy

18 months isn’t too early to start teaching your little one the basics of empathy. At this age, children may start to notice and understand how others are feeling as they develop a sense of self and “other” [ 14 ].

You can foster empathy in 18 month olds by empathizing with your child, labeling feelings, and suggesting how your child can show empathy. For example, you could say something like, “I know it’s hard when we have to leave Grandma’s house. You’re feeling really sad.” Or, “That boy is crying and hurt. Let’s go see if he needs a bandaid.” 

Modeling empathy helps your toddler start to identify and label their emotions, which is an important social-emotional skill and key to empathizing with others.

Tip #6: Foster curiosity and independence

Toddlers with secure attachment to their caregivers often start to wander away from you at around 18 months – but stay close enough to look back and make sure you’re still near [ 1 ]. This newfound curiosity is aided by their developing movement abilities – they may walk around on their own now. It can feel scary to let your child explore away from you, even if it’s just across the room – and it may take some time to adjust to your child’s new acts of independence! 

Foster curiosity and independence. Encourage your child to explore in safe environments – while, at the same time, letting them know that you’ll always be right behind them if they need you.

Tip #7: Explore different foods

Your little one may be a picky eater; this is normal. Try to continue serving various foods, if possible, as part of your 18 month old’s feeding plan , regardless of whether or not they like it. Consider serving one food that you know they’ll eat with every meal – alongside other foods. Trust that your child will eat when they’re hungry, and try to avoid teaching your child that you’ll cook them whatever they want when they want it.

Tip #8: Go on playdates

Most 18 months are still engaging in parallel play, which is when toddlers play next to each other using the same toys or materials but with little to no engagement with each other. Even though it might seem at first glance like these kids aren’t playing together, parallel play is actually an essential part of your 18 month old’s development [ 15 ].

If your 1.5 year old doesn’t attend daycare, try to schedule play dates for them to play alongside other kids. Don’t worry if they don’t seem to interact much with other toddlers – know that they’re playing in a developmentally appropriate way!

Your 18 month old toddler is starting to enter important milestones, including gross and fine motor milestones, speech milestones/language development, and emotional development. Most children this age are:

Walking without holding onto anything or anyone, and climbing up a set of stairs or onto chairs

Saying around 3 to 20 words on top of their names for caregivers

Scribbling in circles or lines

Trying to help with daily activities like dressing or feeding themselves

Even though being aware of milestones can be helpful for parents to understand their baby’s development, they’re also just a guide . Each child enters into different milestones at different times. Try not to panic if your little one hasn’t met each thing that we’ve listed and consider where they’re at from a big-picture perspective. If you’re worried about your child’s development, talk to your doctor – early intervention is very effective [ 16 ].

If you’re curious about what lies ahead when it comes to development, check out what you may expect when your little one is a 2 year old . Take a look back at how far your baby has come by revisiting what they may have been like as a 15 month old .

Q: What should an 18 month be able to do?

At Huckleberry, we don’t love the word “should” – every child is unique and masters certain milestones at different times. In general, 18 month olds can stand and walk without any support and say a few words.

Q: What are 3 major physical milestones by 18 months of age?

3 of the most important physical milestones that your 18 month old will reach include standing and walking with no support, using a spoon and cup to feed themselves (with help), and scribbling with crayons or markers.

Q: What does an 18 month old understand?

Many 18 month old toddlers can understand simple commands with no accompanying gestures, like “Give me the toy.” or “Kiss mama.”

Q: How to help 18 month old reach milestones?

You can help your 18 month old reach important milestones by encouraging their independence and curiosity. If you’re concerned about the rate at which your child is reaching milestones, talk to your doctor.

Q: What milestones should an 18 month old have for pediatric visit?

At your child’s 18 month pediatric visit, expect your provider to administer the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) or the Modified Checklist for Autism (MCHAT) to screen for autism and other possible delays. They’ll also measure your child’s height, weight, and head circumference to make sure they’re on track. They’ll ask you questions about your child’s speech and behavior and check whether they’re meeting the milestones we listed above [17] .

Note: The content on this site is for informational purposes only and should not replace medical advice from your doctor, pediatrician, or medical professional. If you have questions or concerns, you should contact a medical professional.

CDC (2023). Important Milestones: Your Child By Eighteen Months. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-18mo.html

Misirliyan, S. et al. (2023). Development Milestones. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557518/

Nemours Health (2022). Communication and Your 1- to 2-Year-Old. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/c12yr.html

National Library of Medicine (2022). Developmental milestones record - 18 months. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002011.htm

Benoit, D. (2004). Infant-parent attachment: Definition, types, antecedents, measurement and outcome. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2724160/

Sisterhen, L & Wy, P. (2023). Temper Tantrums. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544286/

UNICEF (2023). Your toddler's developmental milestones at 18 months. https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-development/your-toddlers-developmental-milestones-18-months

CDC (n.d.) Your child at 18 months. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/pdf/checklists/checklists_18mo.pdf

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2023). Communication Milestones: 13 to 18 Months. https://www.asha.org/public/developmental-milestones/communication-milestones-13-to-18-months/

Department of Health and Human Services (n.d.). Talk, Read and Sing Together Every Day! https://www2.ed.gov/documents/early-learning/talk-read-sing/infant-toddler-en.pdf

National Library of Medicine (2023). Toddler development. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002010.htm

Nemour's Health (2024). Toddler Reading Time. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/reading-toddler.html

Scott, H. & Cogburn, M. (2023). Peer Play. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513223/

CDC (2023). Learn the Signs. Act Early. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/

Nemours Health (2022). Your Child's Checkup: 1.5 Years (18 Months). https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/checkup-18mos.html

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Toddler development at 18-24 months: what’s happening

Feelings At this age, toddlers start to experience new emotions like anger and frustration, guilt, shame, possessiveness and excitement. These ‘big’ emotions can be hard for your toddler to deal with, and you might see some tantrums as a result.

Although your toddler’s separation anxiety peaks at around 18 months, by 2 years it usually starts to settle down. But when your toddler plays, they might still want to be near you, a familiar adult or a sibling.

Your toddler is also beginning to think about how they feel and might link feelings with words. For example, your toddler might tell you they’re ‘sad’. They might show affection by giving you a kiss or hugging a doll, which is also part of developing empathy.

Everyday skills Around this time, toddlers are keen to do more things independently. For example, your toddler is learning to feed themselves using a spoon and cup, and maybe even a fork – there might even be fewer spills than before!

Your toddler might try to help when getting dressed and undressed. At this age, it’s easier for your toddler to take off socks, shoes and clothes without buttons.

Generally, your toddler might show signs that they’re ready for toilet training from 2 years on. But some children start to show signs of being ready earlier, at around 18 months.

Playing and learning Play is important because it’s how children learn .

At this age, your toddler will start imagining and creating through pretend play – for example, pretending to drink from a cup. As your toddler grows older, pretend play gets more complex, and you might find your toddler doing things like sweeping the floor with a tree branch. Your toddler will enjoy spending time with siblings and other children, even if they don’t play directly with others.

Talking Toddlers enjoy talking at this age. Your toddler’s words might even have up-and-down tones, just like an adult’s. You’ll most likely hear a mix of ‘babble’ and real words.

At 18 months , your toddler is learning words all the time – usually 1-2 words a week, or maybe even a word a day. Your toddler might name and point at familiar objects, people and body parts – for example, ears, nose or toes. Your toddler might also make animal sounds like ‘moo’ or say the same sound or word over and over.

Your toddler knows their own name and the idea of ‘mine’. They’re getting better at understanding simple sentences and instructions like ‘Bring it to Mum’ or ‘Let’s go for a walk’. You’ll be able to understand more of what your toddler says to you.

By 2 years , your toddler might be able to say ‘I’, ‘you’ and ‘me’ and use sentences with 2-3 words – for example, ‘Mummy car’ or ‘me do it’.

Moving Toddlers usually walk on their own by 18 months and begin to run. Your toddler will probably walk up and down stairs or climb furniture with your help. Throwing and kicking a ball, scribbling with pencils or crayons, and building small towers of blocks might be some of your toddler’s favourite things.

It’s a good idea to look at how you can make your home safe for your active toddler to move around in.

At this age, your toddler might also:

• ask for ‘more’ and say ‘no’ when asked to do something
• copy you – for example, they might help you sweep the floor
• sit themselves in a small chair
• walk around carrying larger objects
• use one hand more than the other by 2 years.

When your toddler learns a new skill, celebrate the achievement with plenty of praise and positive attention . It’s also a good idea to help and encourage your toddler to keep doing the things they’ve learned, even if those things are difficult.

Helping toddler development at 18-24 months

Here are simple things you can do to help your toddler’s development at this age:

• Be there for your toddler: if you’re nearby while your toddler plays and explores, it gives your toddler confidence to try new things on their own. This can help your toddler to be independent and self-confident later on.
• Give your toddler the chance to play with others: play is a great way for your toddler to learn how to be with other children, make friends and develop social skills like sharing and taking turns.
• Spend time playing outdoors : being out and about with you lets your toddler explore the world and test out their growing physical skills. When you’re outside, remember to be safe in the sun .
• Encourage your toddler to practise everyday skills like feeding themselves , drinking from a cup and getting dressed . These skills involve both small and big muscle movements, as well as your toddler’s ability to think about what they’re doing.
• Talk with your toddler : naming and talking about everyday things – body parts, toys and household items like spoons or chairs – develops language skills. At this age, you can teach your toddler that a ‘chair’ can be a ‘big chair’, ‘red chair’ or even a ‘big red chair’.
• Give meaning to your toddler’s talking by listening and talking back. If your toddler says ‘Mama milk’, you might reply by saying ‘You want Mum to get you some milk?’ This encourages conversation and builds your toddler’s communication skills. It also makes your toddler feel valued and loved.
• Read with your toddler : you can encourage your toddler’s talking and imagination by reading together, telling stories, singing songs and reciting nursery rhymes. These activities also help your toddler learn to read as they get older.

Parenting toddlers at 18-24 months

As a parent, you’re always learning. It’s OK to feel confident about what you know. And it’s also OK to admit you don’t know something and ask questions or get help.

It’s also important to look after yourself. Looking after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally is good for you, and it’s good for your toddler. When you’re well, you can give your toddler the loving attention they need to grow and thrive. You can also guide your toddler’s behaviour in positive ways , even when you find their behaviour challenging.

And remember that part of looking after yourself is asking for help, especially if you’re feeling stressed , anxious or angry . There are many people who can support you and your toddler, including your partner, friends, relatives, child and family health nurse and GP .

Never shake, hit or verbally abuse a toddler. You risk harming your child, even if you don’t mean to. If you feel like you can’t cope, it’s OK to take some time out until you feel calmer. Gently put your toddler in a safe place like a cot. Go to another room to breathe deeply, or call your state or territory parenting helpline .

When to be concerned about toddler development at 18 months

You know your toddler best. So it’s a good idea to see your child and family health nurse or GP if you have any concerns or notice that your 18-month-old toddler has any of the following issues.

Seeing, hearing and communicating Your toddler:

• has trouble seeing or hearing things
• doesn’t say any single words
• can’t put 2 words together – for example, ‘More drink’
• doesn’t point, wave or use other gestures
• doesn’t follow simple instructions – for example, ‘Please give me the ball’.

Behaviour and play Your toddler doesn’t enjoy eye contact or cuddles with you or isn’t showing their feelings.

Movement and motor skills Your toddler:

• isn’t walking on their own
• uses one hand a lot more than the other (usually children don’t use one hand more than the other until closer to 2 years).

When to be concerned about toddler development at 2 years

It’s a good idea to see your child and family health nurse or GP if you notice your 2-year-old has any of the following issues.

• isn’t putting 2 or more words together – for example, ‘Red car’ or ‘Me go too’
• can’t follow simple instructions – for example, ‘Get your shoes, please’.

Behaviour and play Your toddler:

• isn’t showing their feelings
• doesn’t come to you for affection or comfort
• doesn’t copy actions or words – for example, when singing ‘Heads, shoulders, knees and toes’
• doesn’t pretend during play – for example, doesn’t pretend to talk on the phone.
• can’t walk up and down stairs, even if holding on to you or a rail
• can’t run
• finds it hard to handle small objects – for example, a pencil or crayon
• isn’t scribbling.

See a child health professional if you notice your toddler is losing skills they had before.

It’s also a good idea to see your child and family health nurse or GP if you or your partner experiences the signs of postnatal depression in birthing mothers or postnatal depression in non-birthing parents . Signs of postnatal depression include feeling sad and crying for no obvious reason, feeling irritable, having difficulty coping and feeling very anxious.

Development usually happens in the same order in most children, but skills might develop at different ages or times. If you’re wondering whether your toddler’s development is on track, or if you feel that something isn’t quite right, it’s best to get help early. See your child and family health nurse or GP.

Languages other than English

• Arabic (PDF: 238kb)
• Dari (PDF: 236kb)
• Dinka (PDF: 242kb)
• Hakha Chin (PDF: 177kb)
• Karen (PDF: 219kb)
• Persian (PDF: 238kb)
• Simplified Chinese (PDF: 373kb)
• Swahili (PDF: 174kb)
• Tamil (PDF: 234kb)
• Vietnamese (PDF: 246kb)

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A place to ask questions related to parenting and receive answers based on science, share relevant research, and discuss theories

Clarity on Language Milestones (especially at 18 months)?

Are there any language experts here that can weigh in on what's actually "normal" for this age? Google gives me everything from "pointing is good" to "50 words that are clear to understand". I know every kid develops at their own pace, but I can't seem to get a clear idea of what the average kid is doing and what is cause for concern.

I'm asking because my 17-month old is very expressive - she points, babbles, pulls on our clothes, hands us things she's interested in, signs "all done", and generally can get her point across. She can also follow a lot of instructions, like "put your water on the shelf", "put the ball in the box", "sit down", etc.

However, as far as actual "words" go, she doesn't say much. No mama, just barely started saying nana (banana), and generally does not produce words on her own (other than the sign for "all done"). We are a single language household and talk to/with her all the time.

I'm going to talk to her pediatrician at her 18-month appointment, but in the meantime, it's very frustrating to see such massive ranges of what she "should" be doing at this stage. According to some articles it seems I should have enrolled her in speech therapy yesterday, and others say I might want to wait until she's closer to two because she may have a language explosion. I'd love to know more about what the science says, as well as if there is any merit to some of the research I've read that links late speech development with lower IQ.

Anecdotal stories of your own late talkers are also welcome.

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Conservative professor reaches multimillion-dollar settlement after free speech lawsuit.

A California community college district agreed to pay $2.4 million to a conservative professor in a recent settlement agreement after years of legal battles between the two parties.

“After five years of administrative misconduct, a decisive courtroom display exonerated me of all allegations and exposed that Kern Community College District engaged in flagrant retaliation for my questioning of partisan policies and wasteful expenditures,” Matthew Garrett reacted in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Facing an imminent ruling in my favor and the prospect of paying millions of dollars in damages, KCCD had only one viable option: settlement.” 

Garrett, previously a tenured history professor at Bakersfield College in Southern California, filed a federal lawsuit against the Kern Community College District (KCCD) in 2021. In the lawsuit, Garrett claimed school officials retaliated against him and a colleague for questioning if grant money was being improperly used to fund social justice initiatives on campus. 

Garrett also claimed that he and other faculty members of a free speech coalition on campus were targeted with false allegations after they asked questions during a campus diversity meeting in October 2022. 

The district board of trustees voted to fire him in April 2023, alleging he had engaged in multiple instances of “immoral and unprofessional conduct,” which Garrett adamantly denied.

The professor contested his suspension in court. The two parties agreed to a settlement last month to end all disputes and claims surrounding Garrett’s employment after Garrett’s lawyers argued his case before an administrative law judge in May.

The district pledged to deliver a $2.4 million payment to Garrett as part of the settlement agreement that was obtained by Fox News Digital. The agreement covers “alleged general and emotional distress damages” as well as attorney fees. The total payment includes a one-time payment of $154,520.00 for back wages and medical benefits since his dismissal.

Under the settlement, Garrett agreed to resign from his position in the district. Administrators also agreed to withdraw its reports and accusations of unprofessional conduct from Garrett’s record and seal documents related to punitive action it took against him from his personnel file.

The settlement says the agreement isn’t “an admission of any wrongdoing or liability by either the District or Garrett.”

A district spokesman for KCCD provided the following statement to Fox News Digital.

“The Kern Community College District (KCCD) has settled all issues with Matthew Garrett. Matthew Garrett has voluntarily resigned from his employment and all litigation on this matter has been resolved. KCCD believes the settlement is in the best interest of the District and allows us to focus on the future and continue to deliver quality higher education for students of Kern County without any further legal distractions. To be clear, the dispute with Matthew Garrett was a disciplinary matter due to his disruptive actions on campus, none of which concerned freedom of speech. Kern Community College District unequivocally supports the right for our students and faculty to share their views and opinions on campus and elsewhere. As a District, we create an environment that provides our diverse students and communities with the opportunity to professionally engage with new ideas.”

“As this is a confidential personnel matter, we will not comment further.”

Garrett said he was grateful for the support he’s received and declared the settlement a victory.

“I am grateful to the many who stood by my side during this difficult time and invite them to join in our triumph. To my colleagues at Bakersfield College and nationwide, I say: Keep the faith; we are winning the battle, one case at a time,” his statement continued.

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Communication Milestones: 19 to 24 Months

These communication milestones cover hearing, speech, and language development in children.

Each child develops uniquely, even within the same family, and may meet certain milestones earlier or later than others. If your child does not meet many of the milestones within their age range, visit ASHA ProFind to find an ASHA-certified audiologist or speech-language pathologist (SLP) for an assessment.

• Birth to 1 Year
• 13 to 18 Months
• 19 to 24 Months
• 2 to 3 Years
• 3 to 4 Years
• 4 to 5 Years

What should my child be able to do?

• Uses and understands at least 50 different words for food, toys, animals, and body parts. Speech may not always be clear—like du for “shoe” or dah for “dog.” 33 , 42 , 43 , 23 , 12 , 16 , 15 , 26 , 20
• Puts two or more words together—like more water or go outside . 42 , 43 , 26 , 20
• Follows two-step directions—like “Get the spoon, and put it on the table.” 43 , 17
• Uses words like me, mine, and you . 43 , 26 , 20
• Uses words to ask for help. 26 , 20
• Uses possessives, like Daddy’s sock . 38

What can I do to help?

• Talk about sounds around your house. Listen to the clock tick, and say “t-t-t.” Make car or plane sounds, like “v-v-v-v.”
• Play with sounds at bath time. Blow bubbles, and make the sound “b-b-b-b.” Pop bubbles, and make a “p-p-p-p” sound.
• Talk to your child as you do things and go places. For example, when taking a walk, point to and name what you see. Say things like, “I see a dog. The dog says ‘woof.’ This is a big dog. This dog is brown.”
• Give your child two-step directions, like “Get the ball and put it in the box.”
• Use short words and sentences that your child can repeat. Add to words your child says. For example, if they say car , you can say, “You're right! That is a big red car.”
• Tell stories or read to your child every day. Try to find books with large pictures and a few words on each page. Talk about the pictures on each page or things you see around you.
• Have your child point to pictures, body parts, or objects that you name.
• Ask your child to name pictures. They may not answer at first. Just name the pictures for them. One day, they will surprise you by telling you the name.
• Talk to your child in the languages you are most comfortable using. If your family is multilingual, give your child many chances to hear and practice your languages daily. Learning multiple languages will not cause speech or language problems.
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Chemotherapy causes a reversible decrease in VMP1/MIR21 DNA methylation in granulocytes from breast cancer survivors

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Background: DNA methylation alterations within the VMP1/MIR21 gene region, a potential epigenetic biomarker of systemic inflammation, have been demonstrated in mononuclear blood cells from early breast cancer (BC) patients after chemotherapy. Whether these changes are present in granulocytes, persist in the years after treatment, and affect VMP1 or MIR21 gene expression, remains unknown. Aim: We aimed to investigate whether adjuvant chemotherapy alters the DNA methylation and gene expression of VMP1/MIR21 in granulocytes from postmenopausal BC patients and, if so, whether these treatment-induced changes are reversible in the first two years after completed chemotherapy. Methods: Whole blood samples were obtained from 30 postmenopausal BC patients before chemotherapy and every six months for two years, and from 10 healthy age- and BMI-matched controls. DNA and RNA was extracted from isolated granulocytes, and DNA methylation of four CpG sites located in the gene body of VMP1, which is situated in the promoter region of MIR21, was assessed through bisulfite pyrosequencing. qPCR was used for assessment of VMP1 and MIR21 expression. Results: VMP1/MIR21 was significantly demethylated in granulocytes from BC patients shortly after completed chemotherapy compared to before (10 percentage points decrease, p<0.0001). Six months thereafter, DNA methylation values were significantly increased (6 percentage points, p = 0.002), and they were further increased to pre-chemotherapy levels 12, 18 and 24 months post chemotherapy. Chemotherapy did not cause significant changes in the expression of VMP1 or MIR21. Conclusion: The unique follow-up samples in this study demonstrated that chemotherapy induced a transient reduction in DNA methylation of the VMP1/MIR21 region in granulocytes from postmenopausal BC patients. Although transient, chemotherapy-induced epigenetic changes in blood cells may contribute to the increased risk of inflammatory-related comorbidities in BC survivors.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

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