Speech Delay: When to Wait, When to Ask, and What to Do at Home

Speech is where comparison hurts most. Here is what the evidence actually says, without panic and without "just wait and see" as a policy.

Rough milestones (not deadlines)

• By 12 months: babbles, understands "no", 0-3 words.
• By 18 months: ~20-50 words, follows one-step directions.
• By 24 months: 100-200 words, two-word phrases.
• By 36 months: 500+ words, 3-4 word sentences.

Ask sooner if

• At 18 months: fewer than 10 words and does not point or gesture.
• At 24 months: no two-word combinations.
• Any age: losing words, or very limited eye contact.

If any apply, a paediatrician or speech-language pathologist is the right next conversation.

Daily naming helps most

Five to ten minutes of joint attention beats an hour of background stimulation. Sit together, show a picture, say the word, wait, celebrate the attempt.

When in doubt, ask the professional. When waiting, keep naming.

This article is educational and does not replace professional medical advice.