My Baby Isn't Talking
The short answer
First words typically appear between 10 and 14 months, but there's enormous variation in what's normal. What matters most at first is whether your baby is communicating - pointing, gesturing, making eye contact, and babbling with different sounds - even if actual words haven't arrived yet.
By Age
What to expect by age
Words aren't expected yet. At this age, you should be hearing babbling - repetitive consonant-vowel combinations like "bababa" or "mamama." Your baby should also be responding to their name and turning toward sounds. These are the building blocks of language, and they're more important right now than words.
Many babies say their first word around 12 months, but "word" is a loose term at this age. It might be "dada" used consistently for dad, or "buh" for ball - it doesn't need to sound perfect. If your baby is babbling with variety, pointing at things, and clearly understanding some of what you say ("Where's the dog?"), language is developing even without clear words.
Your baby might have a few words, or they might still be relying on gestures and babbling. Both can be fine. What matters is the trajectory: are they adding new sounds? Do they understand simple instructions? Are they pointing and sharing attention with you? Receptive language (what they understand) usually develops ahead of expressive language (what they say).
By 18 months, most pediatricians expect at least a few meaningful words. If your baby has no words by 18 months, an evaluation is recommended. But context matters - babies in bilingual homes sometimes take a bit longer to produce words in either language (though they understand both), and this is a normal part of bilingual development, not a delay.
Between 18 and 24 months, vocabulary typically explodes. If your toddler has fewer than 50 words by 24 months or isn't starting to combine two words ("more milk," "daddy go"), a speech-language evaluation is a good idea. Early intervention for speech is extremely effective, and many "late talkers" who get support catch up completely.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby is under 12 months and babbling with a variety of consonant sounds, even though no clear words have emerged.
- Your baby understands more than they can say - they follow simple directions, look at things you name, and clearly comprehend you.
- You're raising your baby with two or more languages - bilingual babies may say first words slightly later but typically catch up by age 2.
- Your baby uses gestures like pointing, waving, and reaching to communicate their needs effectively.
- Your baby has a few words but isn't as talkative as other babies you know - vocabulary size varies enormously within the normal range.
- Your baby is over 12 months and isn't babbling with consonant sounds (like "ba," "da," "ma") - babbling variety is an important precursor to words.
- Your baby is 18 months with no meaningful words at all, even in a bilingual home.
- Your baby doesn't seem to understand simple language - they don't respond to "no," don't look where you point, and don't follow basic requests.
- Your baby used to babble more and seems to have become quieter over time.
- Your baby has lost words they were previously using - any loss of language is a reason for prompt evaluation.
- Your baby is over 12 months and doesn't respond to sounds, their name, or voices - a hearing evaluation should be the first step, as hearing issues are a common and treatable cause of speech delays.
- Your baby is over 18 months with no words AND doesn't point, gesture, or make eye contact to communicate.
Sources
Related Resources
Related Speech Concerns
My Baby Is Losing Words or Skills
If your child was consistently using words and has truly stopped, this is something to act on promptly. Regression - the genuine loss of skills a child previously had - is different from a normal plateau or a toddler being too busy to talk, and it always warrants a conversation with your pediatrician sooner rather than later.
Baby Not Babbling
Babbling with consonant sounds like "ba," "da," and "ma" typically begins between 6 and 9 months and is an important building block for speech. Babies develop at different rates, but if your baby is not making any consonant sounds by 9 months, a hearing check is a good first step.
Baby Not Laughing at Peek-a-Boo
Most babies start showing delight during peek-a-boo between 6 and 9 months, when they develop "object permanence" - the understanding that things still exist when hidden. If your baby isn't laughing at peek-a-boo yet, consider their age and overall social engagement. Some babies prefer other games, and some show enjoyment through smiles or excited movements rather than laughter. What matters most is whether your baby is socially engaged with you overall.
Baby Not Making Vowel Sounds
Most babies begin making vowel sounds - those lovely "oooh," "aaah," and "eee" sounds - around 2 to 3 months of age. This early cooing is one of the first steps in language development. Some babies are naturally quieter than others, but if your baby isn't making any vowel sounds by 4 months, it's worth checking in with your pediatrician to make sure hearing and development are on track.
Baby Not Responding to Own Name Consistently
Most babies start recognizing and responding to their own name between 5 and 7 months, though consistent response may take until 9 months. It's common for babies to sometimes ignore their name when they're focused on something interesting - this is normal. However, if your baby rarely or never turns when you say their name by 9 months, it's worth discussing with your pediatrician to check hearing and development.
Baby Not Turning to Sounds
Babies typically begin turning toward sounds around 4 to 6 months of age. If your baby isn't consistently looking toward voices or noises by 6 months, it's worth having their hearing checked. In many cases, something as simple as fluid in the ears can temporarily affect hearing, and early identification leads to the best outcomes.