Toddler Only Communicating by Crying or Screaming
Medically reviewed by Dr. Emily Torres, PhD, CCC-SLP · Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist
Content reviewed against published AAP, ASHA, CDC guidelines
Last reviewed:
Speech and communication milestones vary widely, and worries about toddler only communicating by crying or screaming, here is what you need to know.
The short answer
Toddlers who rely heavily on crying and screaming to communicate are usually frustrated because their language skills have not caught up with their desires. They know what they want but do not have the words to express it. This is a very common phase between 12-24 months. Teaching simple sign language, acknowledging their frustration, and modeling short phrases can help bridge the gap. If your toddler has very few or no words by 18 months and relies entirely on crying, a speech evaluation may be helpful.
Key takeaways
- Toddlers who rely heavily on crying and screaming to communicate are usually frustrated because their language skills have not caught up with their desires. They know what they want but do not have the words to express it. This is a very common phase between 12-24 months. Teaching simple sign language, acknowledging their frustration, and modeling short phrases can help bridge the gap. If your toddler has very few or no words by 18 months and relies entirely on crying, a speech evaluation may be helpful.
- Usually normal when: A 12-15 month old who has a few words but still mostly cries or points to communicate
- Call your doctor if: Your child has lost words they previously used (language regression)
- Varies by age — see the age-by-age breakdown below
This is one of the most common questions parents ask. Searching for answers means you care.
What Parents Should Know
According to AAP, ASHA, CDC guidelines, toddlers who rely heavily on crying and screaming to communicate are usually frustrated because their language skills have not caught up with their desires. They know what they want but do not have the words to express it. This is a very common phase between 12-24 months. Teaching simple sign language, acknowledging their frustration, and modeling short phrases can help bridge the gap. If your toddler has very few or no words by 18 months and relies entirely on crying, a speech evaluation may be helpful. At 12-18 months, at this age, many toddlers have only a handful of words and rely heavily on pointing, grunting, and crying to communicate. This is within normal range. Teaching 5-10 basic signs (more, all done, milk, help, eat) can dramatically reduce frustration while verbal language catches up. Respond to their attempts to communicate by naming what they want: "You want the ball! Ball!". It is generally considered normal when a 12-15 month old who has a few words but still mostly cries or points to communicate. However, you should contact your pediatrician promptly if your child has lost words they previously used (language regression).
Normal vs. Concerning
By Age
What to expect by age
12-18 months
At this age, many toddlers have only a handful of words and rely heavily on pointing, grunting, and crying to communicate. This is within normal range. Teaching 5-10 basic signs (more, all done, milk, help, eat) can dramatically reduce frustration while verbal language catches up. Respond to their attempts to communicate by naming what they want: "You want the ball! Ball!"
18-24 months
By 18 months, toddlers typically have at least 10-20 words and should be starting to use them to request things. If your child still relies primarily on crying or screaming to communicate needs at this age, consider a speech-language evaluation. Some children benefit from early intervention speech therapy, which focuses on functional communication skills.
2-3 years
By age 2, most toddlers use words and short phrases to express needs. Continued heavy reliance on crying and screaming at this age - especially if your child has fewer than 50 words or is not combining words - warrants speech therapy evaluation. Frustration-based tantrums are still normal at this age, but your child should also be using words for basic requests like food, drink, help, and comfort.
What to Tell Your Pediatrician
- Describe when you first noticed toddler only communicating by crying or screaming and how it has changed over time.
- Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
- Mention if your toddler has fewer than 10 words by 18 months and relies on crying for most communication.
- Mention if your child does not point or use gestures to supplement crying.
- Let your doctor know if you have noticed any related concerns, such as changes in feeding, sleep, or movement patterns.
- Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- A 12-15 month old who has a few words but still mostly cries or points to communicate
- Crying from frustration when a toddler cannot find the right word in the moment
- Screaming during tantrums even when the child has good language skills at other times
- Increased frustration and crying during illness, teething, or overtiredness
- Your toddler has fewer than 10 words by 18 months and relies on crying for most communication
- Your child does not point or use gestures to supplement crying
- Frustration from communication difficulties is causing frequent intense tantrums
- Your child seems to understand what you say but cannot express themselves verbally
- Your child has lost words they previously used (language regression)
- Your child does not respond to their name, does not point, and does not use any gestures by 15 months
- Your child has no words at all by 18 months
What You Can Do at Home
- Keep track of when you notice toddler only communicating by crying or screaming — noting the time of day, duration, and any triggers can help your pediatrician.
- Remember that a 12-15 month old who has a few words but still mostly cries or points to communicate — this is generally within the range of normal.
- At 12-18 months, focus on observation rather than intervention unless your pediatrician advises otherwise.
- Talk, read, and sing to your baby frequently. Narrate daily activities to build language exposure.
- While monitoring at home, seek immediate care if your child has lost words they previously used (language regression).
Related Conditions
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 Using Gestures
Gestures - like pointing, waving, reaching, clapping, and shaking their head - are among the most important early communication milestones. Most babies start using gestures between 9 and 12 months. Gestures actually predict later language development better than early words do, so if your baby is gesturing, their language is likely developing well even if words are slow to come.
Toddler Tantrums and Meltdowns
Tantrums are a completely normal and expected part of development, peaking between ages 1.5 and 3. They happen because the emotional centers of your toddler's brain are developing faster than the parts that control reasoning and impulse regulation. On average, toddlers have one tantrum per day, and each typically lasts 2-15 minutes.
Related Resources
Milestone Checklists by Age
Track your baby's developmental milestones from birth to 5 years with age-specific checklists.
Excessive Crying Triage
Determine whether crying patterns need medical attention.
Month-by-Month Development
Detailed monthly development guides from birth through 24 months.
When to Call the Doctor
General guide on when to call the pediatrician, visit urgent care, or go to the ER.
Frequently asked questions
Is toddler only communicating by crying or screaming normal?
When should I call the doctor about toddler only communicating by crying or screaming?
When is toddler only communicating by crying or screaming normal?
What causes toddler only communicating by crying or screaming?
What should I mention to my pediatrician about toddler only communicating by crying or screaming?
Is toddler only communicating by crying or screaming normal at 12-18 months?
Is toddler only communicating by crying or screaming normal at 18-24 months?
Should I go to the ER for toddler only communicating by crying or screaming?
Does toddler only communicating by crying or screaming go away on its own?
References
Doctor Visit Checklist
Bring this checklist to your next pediatrician visit to discuss Toddler Only Communicating by Crying or Screaming.
Things to mention
- Describe when you first noticed toddler only communicating by crying or screaming and how it has changed over time.
- Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
- Mention if your toddler has fewer than 10 words by 18 months and relies on crying for most communication.
- Mention if your child does not point or use gestures to supplement crying.
- Let your doctor know if you have noticed any related concerns, such as changes in feeding, sleep, or movement patterns.
- Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.
Observations to share
- Your toddler has fewer than 10 words by 18 months and relies on crying for most communication
- Your child does not point or use gestures to supplement crying
- Frustration from communication difficulties is causing frequent intense tantrums
Urgent signs to report immediately
- Your child has lost words they previously used (language regression)
- Your child does not respond to their name, does not point, and does not use any gestures by 15 months
- Your child has no words at all by 18 months
My notes
From ismybabyalright.com — free, evidence-based baby health guides
All content follows our editorial policy and is reviewed against published clinical guidelines.
2,705 evidence-based guides6 authoritative medical sources5 medical advisory board members
Related Resources
Bottom line
Most cases of toddler only communicating by crying or screaming are normal. Talk to your pediatrician if your child has lost words they previously used (language regression).
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician. Worrying about your baby means you care — that is a good thing.
Was this page helpful?
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 Using Gestures
Gestures - like pointing, waving, reaching, clapping, and shaking their head - are among the most important early communication milestones. Most babies start using gestures between 9 and 12 months. Gestures actually predict later language development better than early words do, so if your baby is gesturing, their language is likely developing well even if words are slow to come.
Toddler Tantrums and Meltdowns
Tantrums are a completely normal and expected part of development, peaking between ages 1.5 and 3. They happen because the emotional centers of your toddler's brain are developing faster than the parts that control reasoning and impulse regulation. On average, toddlers have one tantrum per day, and each typically lasts 2-15 minutes.
Accent vs Speech Disorder in Bilingual Toddlers
When toddlers grow up hearing more than one language, they naturally blend sounds, patterns, and accents from both languages. This is normal and healthy, not a speech disorder. A bilingual child may pronounce some sounds differently than monolingual peers because they are learning the sound systems of two languages simultaneously. True speech disorders affect both languages equally, while accent influence appears only in specific sounds borrowed from one language to another.
Ear Fluid Affecting Baby's Speech Development
Chronic or recurrent middle ear fluid (otitis media with effusion) can temporarily reduce hearing by 15 to 40 decibels, which is like hearing through water. During critical periods of language learning, this muffled hearing can impact speech and language development. If your baby has frequent ear infections or persistent fluid, discuss the potential speech impact with your pediatrician.