Every child develops at their own pace, but there are milestones that help parents know what to expect. Use these as a guide, not a test.
By 12 months
Babbles with changing sounds such as "bababa" and "dadada", responds to their name, and uses gestures like waving and pointing.
By 18 months
Uses several single words, follows simple instructions such as "give me the ball", and points to show you things.
By 2 years
Uses at least 50 words and starts joining two words ("more milk", "daddy gone").
By 3 years
Speaks in short sentences that familiar adults understand most of the time, and asks simple questions.
When to book an assessment
Book a hearing test and speech-language assessment if your child has no words by 16 months, no two-word phrases by 2 years, loses words they used to say, or does not respond to sound. Early support makes a real difference.
This article is general information and does not replace an assessment by a qualified clinician.