When should my child start talking? Speech milestones from 18 months to 5 years

"Shouldn't she be talking more by now?" is one of the most common questions parents ask. Children develop at different speeds, but there are useful milestones to look out for, and lots you can do every day to help.

Language milestones

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists what most children (about 3 in 4) can do by each age. Some highlights for talking:

• By 18 months: tries to say three or more words besides "mama" or "dada".
• By 2 years: says at least two words together, like "more milk", and points to things in a book when you ask.
• By 30 months: says about 50 words, and puts two or more words together with an action word, like "doggie run".
• By 3 years: has a conversation with at least two back-and-forth exchanges, asks "who", "what", "where" or "why" questions, and says their first name when asked.
• By 4 years: says sentences with four or more words, and some words from a song, story or nursery rhyme.
• By 5 years: tells a story with at least two events, and keeps a conversation going with more than three back-and-forth exchanges.

See the full lists, including social and movement milestones, on the CDC's developmental milestones page. The CDC also has a free milestone tracker app.

Everyday ways to grow language

• Talk through your day: "Now we're washing the tomatoes. Splash, splash!"
• Read together every day. Name the pictures and ask questions: "Where's the cat? What's he doing?"
• Build on their words. If your child says "car", answer "Yes, a big red car!"
• Offer choices: "Apple or banana?" gives your child a reason to talk.
• Sing songs and rhymes with actions. Rhythm and repetition help words stick.
• Pause and wait. Give your child time to answer, even if it takes a while.
• Turn off background TV. It cuts down how much adults talk to children.
• Watch together and talk about what you see, if your child watches videos. A screen can spark words, but it can't replace a conversation with you.

Speaking more than one language at home doesn't cause speech delay. Bilingual children sometimes mix languages, and that's normal. Keep speaking the languages you're most comfortable in.

When to talk to your doctor

The CDC's advice is simple: don't wait. Talk to your child's doctor if your child:

• isn't meeting one or more milestones
• has lost words or skills they used to have
• or if you have any other concerns

Ask about a hearing test too. Hearing problems are a common and very treatable cause of late talking. Early support from a speech therapist makes a real difference, and there's no harm in checking.

This article is general information, not medical advice.