If you’ve ever watched another toddler chatter away at the playground while your own child stays quiet, you know the quiet worry that follows you home. “Should she be saying more by now?” “Is he just shy?” “Am I overreacting?” You are not overreacting, and you are not alone. These are some of the most common questions we hear from families.
The tricky part is that children genuinely do develop on their own timelines. One child may be stringing together two-word phrases at 18 months while another is still building a single-word vocabulary. Both can be perfectly typical. So how do you know the difference between a child who is simply taking their time and a child who could use a little support?
What “on track” tends to look like
Milestones are guideposts, not deadlines, but they give us a helpful frame. Here is a rough picture of expressive language in the early years:
- By 12 months: a few first words like “mama,” “dada,” or “bye,” plus babbling that sounds like real conversation.
- By 18 months: somewhere around 10–20 words, and a clear effort to imitate the words you say.
- By 24 months: roughly 50 words and the beginning of two-word combinations like “more juice” or “daddy go.”
- By 36 months: short sentences, and speech that familiar adults can understand most of the time.
Signs it’s worth a closer look
More important than any single word count is the overall pattern. We pay attention when we see things like:
- Few or no words by 18 months, or no two-word phrases by age two.
- Limited interest in communicating — not pointing, waving, or trying to show you things.
- Loss of words or skills the child once had.
- Difficulty understanding simple directions.
- Frequent frustration or meltdowns that seem tied to not being understood.
That last one matters more than parents often realize. A child who has a lot to say but no reliable way to say it is a child who is working very hard all day long. Communication is connection, and when it breaks down, everyone in the house feels it.
What you can do at home right now
Whether or not your child ends up needing therapy, these everyday habits build language:
- Narrate your day. Talk through what you’re doing in simple, clear phrases: “Washing hands. Warm water. All done!”
- Follow their lead. Whatever your child is looking at or reaching for is the most teachable moment of the day. Name it, talk about it, and wait.
- Add the magic of the pause. After you ask a question or name something, count silently to five. Children often need that extra beat to respond.
- Read together, but don’t just read. Point, ask, and let them turn the pages. The conversation around the book matters as much as the words on it.
When to reach out
If anything on this page made you nod and think “yes, that’s us,” a screening is a low-pressure way to get answers. A speech and language screening is a shortened, 30-minute look that helps a Speech-Language Pathologist observe your child and determine whether a full evaluation is even needed. Often, families leave reassured. Sometimes, they leave with a clear plan. Either way, you stop wondering.
Trusting your gut is not the same as panicking. You know your child better than any chart does. If something feels off, it’s always okay to ask.
Ready to talk it through?
Communication Cottage Therapy offers a free 15-minute consultation to answer your questions and help you decide on next steps. We provide in-home and virtual Speech, Occupational, and Physical Therapy to children across Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas. Reach out anytime — we’d love to meet your family.
