When Should My Child Start Talking?

Look for communication, not only perfect words

Early language includes eye contact, gestures, pointing, taking turns with sounds, understanding familiar words, and trying to get your attention. The CDC’s milestone checklists can help you notice skills most children show by a certain age without turning development into a pass-or-fail test.

By around 18 months, many children try several words besides “mama” or “dada.” By age 2, many put at least two words together. Pronunciation may still be hard to understand. A child’s health history, hearing, languages, and opportunities to communicate all matter.

Build language into ordinary moments

Talk about what your child is looking at or doing. Pause so they can respond with a sound, gesture, sign, or word. Repeat their message and add one small idea: if they say “truck,” you might say, “Big truck goes!” Shared books, songs, pretend play, and face-to-face routines give language a reason to grow.

• Follow your child’s attention
• Name actions and feelings
• Pause and wait for a response
• Read the same favorite books again
• Respond to gestures as real communication

Ask early when something feels off

Bring your observations to your child’s health-care provider. Ask about a developmental screening, a hearing check, and your state’s early-intervention program. You do not need to wait for a child to “catch up” before asking a question, and families can contact early intervention directly in the United States.

Seek prompt professional guidance if your child loses words or other skills, rarely responds to sound or their name, or you have any concern about development. An online guide cannot evaluate an individual child.