Toddler Only Saying a Few Words
The short answer
By 18 months, most toddlers say around 10 to 20 words, and by age 2, they typically have 50 or more. If your toddler has fewer words than expected but is understanding language well, using gestures, and learning new words (even slowly), they may simply be on the later end of normal. But if the gap keeps growing, an evaluation can provide clarity and support.
By Age
What to expect by age
Many toddlers say their first real words between 12 and 15 months, though some take longer. Having 1 to 5 words at this stage is common. What matters most is whether your child is communicating in other ways - pointing, waving, reaching, making eye contact, and babbling with varied sounds. These are all strong signs that spoken words are on their way.
By 15-18 months, most toddlers have around 10-20 words, though there's a wide range. If your child has fewer than 5 words at 18 months, mention it to your pediatrician. However, if they're understanding language, following simple directions, and communicating with gestures and sounds, they may just be building up to a vocabulary burst.
This is when vocabulary typically takes off. Many toddlers experience a "word explosion" somewhere between 18 and 24 months, rapidly going from 20 words to 50 or more. If your child hasn't had this burst by age 2 and has fewer than 50 words, they're considered a late talker. A speech evaluation can help determine whether they'll catch up on their own or need support.
By age 2, children should have at least 50 words and be combining them into simple phrases. By age 3, most children have 200-1,000 words and are speaking in sentences. If your 2-year-old is still using only a handful of words, speech therapy can help bridge the gap. Early intervention at this stage has excellent outcomes.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your 12-15-month-old has just a few words but is babbling actively, pointing, and understanding what you say - words are coming.
- Your 18-month-old has about 10 words and is adding one or two new ones each week - slow and steady growth is still progress.
- Your toddler understands far more than they say - strong receptive language usually means expressive language will follow.
- Your toddler is in a bilingual household and has fewer words in each language individually, but their combined vocabulary across both languages is on track.
- Your child just had a major developmental leap in motor skills (like starting to walk) and speech has temporarily slowed - this can happen.
- Your child has fewer than 5 words at 18 months.
- Your child has fewer than 50 words at 24 months or is not learning new words.
- Your child seems to understand very little of what you say, in addition to having few spoken words.
- Your child is 2 years old with fewer than 10 words and is not using any gestures to communicate - this combination suggests a significant delay.
- Your child has lost words they previously used consistently - any regression in language should be evaluated urgently.
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.