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.
Thousands of parents search for this exact thing. You are not alone.This is one of the most-searched concerns on our site.
By Age
What to expect by age
6-9 months
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.
10-12 months
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.
13-15 months
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).
16-18 months
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.
19-24 months
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
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
Worrying about your baby means you care. That is a good thing.
Related Speech Concerns
Speech Delay in My Child
Speech delay means a child is developing speech and language skills in the expected order but at a slower pace than typical. It's one of the most common developmental concerns - affecting about 10-15% of toddlers - and early intervention through speech therapy is remarkably effective, with many children catching up fully by school age.
My Child Is a Late Talker
Late talkers are children who have fewer than 50 words or aren't combining words by age 2, but are developing normally in other areas. About half of late talkers catch up on their own by age 3, but the other half go on to have lasting language delays. Early evaluation and speech therapy can make a big difference, so it's worth acting even if you're told to "wait and see."
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.
My Baby Isn't Babbling at 9 Months
Most babies are babbling with consonant-vowel sounds like "baba" or "dada" by 9 months. If your baby isn't babbling at all by this age, it's important to check their hearing first and then consider a speech evaluation. Babbling is a key building block for later language, and early intervention can make a big difference.
Baby Not Saying Mama or Dada
Most babies say "mama" or "dada" with meaning between 10 and 14 months, though they may babble these sounds earlier without attaching them to a person. If your baby is babbling with consonant sounds, making eye contact, and communicating with gestures, the specific words will likely follow in their own time.
My Baby Isn't Pointing
Pointing typically develops between 12 and 14 months and is considered one of the most important social communication milestones. It shows your baby wants to share their world with you. If your baby isn't pointing by 18 months, a developmental evaluation is recommended - but there are lots of other ways babies start communicating that are worth noticing too.