Late talkers: when should you worry about your child's language?

Short answer: Children learn to talk at different speeds, but some markers are worth knowing. According to the CDC, most children say at least two words together by age 2, say about 50 words by 30 months, and talk well enough for others to understand most of the time by age 3. Understanding, pointing and gestures matter as much as spoken words. If you're concerned — and always if a child loses words or skills they had — talk to your health visitor or doctor. A hearing check is usually one of the first steps. Talking, reading and singing together every day helps.

In the playground, a child of the same age is chatting in sentences. Yours points and babbles. And the worrying starts. Language develops within wide margins, but there are moments when it's sensible to get things checked — and earlier is always better than waiting.

What most children do by…

The CDC's milestones show what most children (around three in four) can do by each age. Many reach them sooner.

  • 9 months: makes lots of different sounds like “mamamama” and “bababa”, looks when you call their name.
  • 15 months: tries to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada”, looks at familiar objects when you name them, points to ask for something.
  • 2 years: says at least two words together, like “more milk”, and points to things in a book when asked.
  • 30 months: says about 50 words, and puts two or more words together including an action word, like “doggie run”.
  • 3 years: has back-and-forth conversations and talks well enough for others to understand most of the time.

Understanding counts as much as talking

A child who says little but understands a lot — who fetches the right shoe or closes the door when asked — is often doing fine. Understanding usually runs ahead of talking. Pointing, waving and gestures are all communication too.

A child who points to show you something is already communicating.

Signs worth getting checked

  • Not responding to their name, or few sounds or gestures, by around 9 to 12 months.
  • No words, or no pointing, by around 15 to 18 months.
  • Not putting two words together by around 2 to 2½ years.
  • Speech that's very hard for familiar people to understand by 3.
  • Losing words or skills they used to have — at any age, always get this checked.
  • Little eye contact or interest in sharing attention with you.

Check hearing first

Hearing problems — including temporary ones from glue ear after ear infections — can slow speech. A hearing test is often one of the first steps if there are concerns. See ear infections in children.

What helps at home

  • Talk about what you're doing: “We're putting your coat on. Arm in!”
  • Name and point: “Look, a cat.” Then add more as they grow: “Look, a black cat.”
  • Wait after asking a question. Count to ten in your head; children need more time than we expect.
  • Repeat and add a word or two: they say “car”, you say “Yes, a red car.”
  • Model rather than correct: instead of “No, say ‘ate’”, try “Yes, you ate it all up!”
  • Share books every day, even if you just talk about the pictures.
  • Sing nursery rhymes and action songs; rhythm and repetition help language.
  • Face-to-face time over screens: children learn language from people who respond to them.
  • Use dummies only for sleep, if at all — it's hard to practise talking with a dummy in.

Children learning more than one language

Growing up with more than one language doesn't cause language delay. When thinking about vocabulary, count words in all their languages together. Speak to your child in the language you're most comfortable and fluent in — rich, warm conversation matters more than which language it is.

Where to get help

Talk to your health visitor, GP or paediatrician. They can check development and hearing and refer you to a speech and language therapist if needed; in some areas you can refer yourself. Speech and Language UK has information about typical stages and what to do if you're worried. Stammering is common in young children as language develops; ask for advice if it lasts more than a few months or worries you or your child.

Getting it checked early isn't panicking. Most of the time you'll be reassured — and if help is needed, early help works best.

Related reading

Support your toddler's language: Talking with Your Toddler (PDF, English) explains how to stimulate your child's language development, from first words to full stories.

Sources

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — CDC's developmental milestones.
  2. NHS — Help your baby learn to talk.
  3. NHS — Stammering.
  4. Speech and Language UK — Information for parents.
  5. Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists — RCSLT.

Written by the Bloom Guides editorial team. Last updated: 20 October 2026. General information only — not a substitute for advice from your health visitor, doctor or speech and language therapist.

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