When my daughter was 18 months old, she had only about 12-15 words in her vocabulary. I started wondering, How many words should a baby say by 18 months? Was she behind?
A speech therapist and a friend reassured me that babies exposed to multiple languages often start talking later. My daughter was exposed to Chinese, English and Romanian.
Sure enough, after 21 months, she had a language explosion, suddenly speaking in both Chinese and English. Now, at 2.5 years old, she’s forming 4-5 word sentences and can retell a story, such as describing her day at daycare.
If you’re a parent worried about speech milestones, you’re not alone. Let’s dive into the science of language development, typical speech milestones, and common misconceptions about speech delays.
Speech Milestones by Age: What’s Normal?
Speech and language development vary widely, but here’s a scientifically backed guide on how many words babies should say by 12 months, 15 months, 16 months, 18 months, and 2 years, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP Speech & Language Milestones) and the CDC (CDC’s Developmental Milestones).
12 Months: When Do Babies Start Talking?
How many words should a 12-month-old say?
- Words Expected: 1-3 words (e.g., “Mama,” “Dada,” favorite object)
- Other Communication Skills: Uses gestures like waving, pointing, baby cooing and babbling
- Understands: Basic words like “no,” responds to name
💡 Tip: Encourage your baby by responding to their baby noises and repeating simple words.
15-16 Months: Growing Vocabulary
How many words should a 15-16 month-old say?
- Says 5-10 words consistently.
- Starts using baby language to express wants.
- Understands simple instructions like “Bring me your toy.”
💡 Tip: If your baby is quiet, engage them in interactive play and reduce screen time.
18 Months: How Many Words By 18 Months?
How many words should an 18-month-old say?
- Says 10-50 words clearly.
- Uses single words to express needs, like “milk” or “up.”
- Understands simple questions like “Where’s the ball?”
💡 Tip: Try reading books with simple pictures and asking, “What’s this?”
2 Years: When Do Toddlers Start Talking More?
How many words should a 2-year-old say?
- Says 50-200+ words.
- Forms two-word phrases like “Want cookie.”
- Asks simple who, what, where questions.
💡 Tip: Encourage your child by narrating your actions (“I’m cutting an apple”) and asking open-ended questions.
Common Myths About Speech Delay
1. Myth: “Bilingual Children Talk Later”
✅ Truth: It may seem like bilingual children speak later, but they actually learn two languages at once, distributing their words across both. The truth is:
- Bilingual babies may appear to start talking later, but they are learning twice as much.
- They quickly catch up and often develop stronger problem-solving skills and better memory.
- They may mix languages at first (e.g., saying “agua” for water and “milk” in English), but this is normal.
💡 Tip: If you’re raising a bilingual child, don’t stress! Keep speaking naturally, and their language skills will grow in both languages over time.
Source: Speech and language delay in children: Prevalence and risk factors
2. Myth: “Speech Delay Means a Learning Disability”
✅ Truth: Many late talkers catch up by age 3. Speech delay alone does not mean a cognitive delay, but if a child struggles with both understanding and expressing words, it’s good to check with a professional.
3. Myth: “More Screen Time Helps Speech”
❌ Truth: Screen time actually delays language development in young children. Live conversations and reading books are far more effective in building vocabulary.
Source: Mobile Media Device Use is Associated with Expressive Language Delay in 18-Month-Old Children
4. Myth: “Speech Development and Motor Skills Aren’t Related”
❌ Truth: Speech and motor skills are closely connected. Babies who focus on gross motor development (like crawling and walking, see other types of development milestones) may sometimes experience a temporary delay in speech because their brain is prioritizing movement skills.
Research suggests that the oral motor muscles used for talking are also linked to feeding skills—chewing different textures helps strengthen the muscles needed for speech.
💡 Tip: Let your baby explore textures, chew different foods, and blow bubbles to strengthen their mouth muscles for speech!
When to Be Concerned: Speech Delay Signs
If your baby is not meeting these child milestones, consider speaking with a pediatrician or speech therapist.
- 12 months: No baby noises, babbling, or first words.
- 18 months: Less than 10 words, no gestures.
- 2 years: Not forming two-word phrases or struggling to communicate needs.
💡 Tip: Early intervention is key—the earlier a speech delay is addressed, the better the outcome!
What If My Baby Says a Lot But Isn’t Clear?
Some toddlers speak a lot but their words may not be easily understood.
- By 18 months, about 25% of speech should be clear.
- By 2 years, it should be 50% understandable.
- By 3 years, most people should understand 75% of what they say.
- By 4 years, their speech should be mostly clear to strangers.
💡 Tip: If your toddler is talking but hard to understand, focus on slow, clear speech, and try repeating words correctly without forcing corrections.
How to Help Your Toddler Talk More
Want to encourage your child’s speech development? Try these research-backed methods:
- Narrate everything – Talk about daily activities.
- Read books daily – Even 5 minutes makes a difference.
- Use gestures & facial expressions – They reinforce words.
- Pause and wait – Give your child time to respond.
- Limit screen time – Engage in real conversations instead.
Bonus: Fun Speech-Boosting Activities for Toddlers
Here are some simple, research-backed ways to help your toddler talk more:
🎶 Sing Songs: Songs like “Wheels on the Bus” encourage repetitive speech.
📚 Read Every Day: Choose interactive books with flaps or textures.
🧩 Play Pretend: Role-playing (e.g., tea parties, toy kitchens) boosts language skills.
🎈 Blow Bubbles: Strengthens mouth muscles for clearer speech.
🚗 Talk While Driving: Narrate what you see outside—“Look, a big truck!”
Final Takeaway
✨ Speech development varies from child to child!
✨ If your baby isn’t talking much yet, give them time, interact often, and stay patient.
✨ If you’re concerned, don’t hesitate to check in with a speech therapist.
💬 How many words is your little one saying? Comment below!